It’s official, GM Wesley So made it to the Top 10 in the November 2014 FIDE Ratings List.
The sad news, however, is that Wesley So now officially bears the US flag, and not the Philippines. But we still cling to the fact that he’s still Filipino at heart:
I am a proud Filipino, always will be a Filipino at heart, and never forget where I came from. I am thankful for all the support in the past.
— Wesley So in Chessdom interview
Me with GM Wesley So during the 2008 Battle of GM’s in Manila, Philippines.
On the side note, there are three GM’s who are in the 2800 level, namely: Magnus Carlsen (2863), Fabiano Caruana (2839), and Veselin Topalov (2800).
Check out the top 100 list here.
Meanwhile, we’ll find out how our very own Wesley So will fare against the rest of the world’s best in the 77th Tata Steel Chess Tournament to be held in Wijk aan Zee, et. al., from 9 to 15 of January, 2015.
November 4, 2014 at 6:30 am
Congratulations Wesley! So he is not a dual citizen?
November 4, 2014 at 10:14 am
I believe he’s still a Filipino citizen, though his parents have already relocated to Canada, and he’s based in the US. He just switched chess federation from NCFP to USCF.
November 7, 2014 at 2:14 pm
Susan Polgar says that due to the delay in his transfer, Wesley missed the chance for the World Championship cycle and will be eligible to join again but not for about 2 years or so. (https://twitter.com/2700chess/status/527884558898069505) Now that he’s officially US, does this mean that the 50,000 eur transfer fee has been paid to NCFP?
November 8, 2014 at 1:37 am
That actually I don’t know. It could be that, and someone raised the fund for him, or maybe the NCFP had a change of heart and conceded after all. The real reason wasn’t disclosed at all.