Chess game to be replayed because of a short draw

Antonio Jr - Wesley So result nullified

Wesley So clearly dominated the Phoenix Petroleum - Dapitan City Battle of GMs strong round robin competition collecting 5,0/5 in the first rounds and defeating his strongest competitors for first place - GM Torre and GM Gomez. After such a strong performance the result from round 6 Antonio Jr - Wesley So 1/2 - 1/2 came as a slight surprise.

The game itself was not the shortest that could be seen at round robin events, but it was a non fighting draw. Wesley So surprised Antonio Jr in the opening, and the players agreed to the draw in an equal position, but with a lot of material on the board after 22 moves played. Clearly this is a product of the intensive schedule and the multiple double rounds at the event and the current standings, but that did not seem to concern the organizers. The National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) and its President Prospero Pichay decided the results should not stand and the game has to be replayed.

The NCFP president justified the decision in front of local journalists, stating that this is not the first time the NCFP is ruling to replay a game due to non fighting draw, as the general rule followed is that a game has to have 30 moves.

All results until round 6

The ruling in the Antonio Jr - Wesley So match rises again the debate of short draws and chess. Although it cannot fully prevent arranged games, the general opinion of the organizers is that adopting anti draw rules the quality of the games is rising.

More on short draws

Discussion about Antonio Jr - Wesley So game - the readers opinion about the case

Sofia rule - one of the possible anti draw regulations

No short draws at the Olympiad