FILIPINO grandmaster Wesley So’s black king was on the run following a series of checks, but he still escaped with a draw in 37 moves of his Sicilian Defense with Samuel Shankland on Thursday in Round 2 of the 2017 US Chess Championship at the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis in St. Louis, Missouri.
A repetition of moves by Shankland’s queen at queenside allowed So to settle for his first draw in two games.
Because of this, he found himself sharing the lead with three others.
So has 1.5 points with first day co-leader Hikaru Nakamura, Alexander Onischuk and Varuzhan Akobian.
In Round 1, So beat Alexander Shabalov in 29 moves of an English Opening to grab the opening lead with Nakamura.
Nakamura, who started his campaign with a 65-move triumph over Ray Robson, settled for a draw in 58 moves with world no. 3 player Fabiano Caruano.
Onischuk earned a chance to catch up with So and Nakamura after he put away Shabalov in 44 moves.
Akobian also caught up with So when he prevailed over Gata Kamsky in 23 moves.
So will be meeting Caruana in the third round, and then Onischuk in the fourth.
A total of $194,000 cash prize is at stake in the 11-round tournament.
The champion will earn $50,000, with the runner-up taking home $35,000.