By Kristel Satumbaga
Grandmaster Magnus Carlsen proved who’s the boss as he dumped Wesley So, 5.5-3.5, to win the chess24 Banter Series duel.
Carlsen practically toyed with So in the first game that saw the Danish play a notoriously bad first two moves, which was jokingly called in the circle as the “Bongcloud” opening, and still won that match.
Carlsen pocketed $12,000 (roughly P600,000) while So, born in Cavite but is now representing
the United States, settled for $6,000 purse (roughly P300,000).
The win further enhanced Carlsen’s status as the best of the game after So put some doubt in it when the two wound up tied for first in the Saint Louis Rapid and Blitz event last week.
What made Carlsen’s victory more impressive was when he employed the
Bongcloud that is a joke opening meant at putting the opponent in a positional advantage early.
So, who beat Carlsen to become world champion in Fischer Random last year, however, failed to deliver though.
So will have a chance to redeem himself as he already secured a spot in the next Magnus Carlsen Chess Tour.
