In the opening match of the Grand Finale against Gukesh, Wesley So encountered an early stumbling block. As observed by GM Simon Williams, So “got tricked” in the opening to skyrocket the evaluation bar in favor of White. Before long, the American found himself in an almost untenable position, ultimately conceding the game.
The second game saw an Italian opening, with Gukesh adopting an aggressive, audacious, albeit somewhat reckless approach. Remarkably, he needed just a draw to advance to the next round of the winners’ bracket. However, as IM Jovanka Houska aptly noted, chess is a game played by two individuals, and Wesley So missed a golden opportunity to seize an early advantage.
As the clock ticked down and both players grappled with extreme time pressure, the position spiraled into chaos. In a critical juncture, So blundered once more, this time relinquishing an entire piece and, with it, the second game and the match, which ended 2-0 in Gukesh’s favor. Reflecting on the intense battle, Wesley So shared his thoughts with Dina Belenkaya, saying: “Gukesh played like a machine today! […] I was also a bit nervous because it’s the first day!”
The match undoubtedly brimmed with tension, as indicated by the heart rates of the players, which soared above 130 beats per minute, with Wesley So even peaking at 165!”