2013 Universiade Games: Good Players are Lucky

Good Players are Lucky

Impossible becomes possible. Wesley So of the Philippines takes the individual gold medal in the 2013 Universiade Games in Kazan as lady luck favors So. Before the start of the final round, So was tied for 1-6 place but got a lower tie break score among the leaders and needed a win to bag a medal.

Zaven Andriasian held So to a draw in only 26 moves. Luckily, the other top board also ended in a draw as the six leaders were joined by three other 5.5 pointers who won their last round game. At the end 9 players tied for 1st - 9th place. And the impossible happens 5(five) of So's early opponents won their final round game .Zhou Jianchao, Robert Hovhanisyan; Jacek Tomczak; Marian Jurcik and A.Baryshpolets won their games to increased the tie break points of So. After the second tie break ,three players are still tied all with 47.5 tie break. The 3rd tie break saw So and Andriasian still tied with 43 points. The fourth tie break using the performance rating So edges Andriasian 2714 - 2704 .As the Philippines celebrates for its 1st gold medal in the games ,the organizers announce another tie breaker this time the Armageddon tie break with White given 5 minutes against Black 4 minutes . Black will win if the game ended in a draw. After the drawing of lots So got the Black pieces and the rest is history.