So sustains comeback, rips Karjakin

Wesley So trounced reigning World Challenger Sergey Karjakin of Russia in 64 moves of an English showdown to move to joint second after six rounds of the Shamkir Chess-Gashimov Memorial 2017 in Azerbaijan Thursday night.

So, 23, brilliantly turned a drawish game into a winner, gaining a pawn at endgame to earn the full point that hiked his total to 3.5 points in a tie with Bulgarian Veselin Topalov and Englishman Michael Adams.

Topalov repelled Ukrainian Pavel Eljanov in 60 moves of a Queen’s Indian while Adams halved the point with Indian Pentala Harikrishna in 37 moves of a Ruy Lopez.

It was the second straight win for So, who earlier downed former world champion Vladimir Kramnik of Russia to bounce back into contention after a loss and three draws.