So gets early lead in US Open

Wesley So and Hikaru Nakamura made two points and wound up tied for the lead, along with three others, after the third round of the US Championship in St. Louis, Missouri.

So, 23, the world’s No. 2, had one win and two draws in the 12player, all-play-all-event at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of St. Louis.

The 29-year1.5 old Nakamura, ranked seventh in the world, failed to take the solo lead after he was held to a draw by 16-year-old Jeffrey Xiong, the 2016 junior world champion – the youngest ever.

Also with two points were Daniel Noroditsky, 23, of California, local GM Yaroslav Zherebukh and veteran Alexander Onischuk of Texas. World No. 3 Fabiano Caruana, 24, the defending champion, posted his third consecutive draw and was in a group of five players at each.

** * In Shenzhen, China, hometown bet Ding Liren retained the lead following eightround play at the Shenzhen Masters Classic.

Liren, 24, who is No. 15 in the latest world rankings, had a half point lead at 5.0 and in position for his first major victory entering the final two rounds.

Dutch GM Anish Giri, the tourney’s top-seed, is alone in second with 4.5. He is followed by Peter Svidler (Russia) and Pentala Harikrishna of India at 4.0 apiece. Next were Yu Yangi (China), 3.5 and Michael Adams (England), 3.0.