Only a few years ago, the Giuoco Piano was a museum piece at the elite level, thought to be played out. With so many Ruy Lopez Berlins around, White is now trying again, which is quite refreshing, although notice there aren't so many top level Two Knights (3 ... Nf6) games lately, as White can play 4. d3 with a Giuoco Pianissimo. Here Black answers 10. d4 with 10 ... Ng6 which is a Strong Point variation where Black maintains the center Pawn at e5 (often with ... Qe7). After 25. Bxg6 hxg6, first we have another QRRN vs QRRN which can be tricky, and second Black's ugly doubled g Pawns are hard to attack. White seemed to be shuffling pieces around in the middlegame without accomplishing anything; guiding the game in this direction was a clever choice by So against the tactically sharp Nepo who was a red hot 7/7 in the Olympiad up to then. Black picked up the stray Pa4, then they traded into a major piece endgame where Black was better, then 42 ... Rxh4! deserves a diagram:

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Now 43. e7? Qh3 mates the White King (44. e8=Q+ Kh7) after dealing with some spite checks, thus 43. Re4 Rxe4 (43 ... Rh6 per Fritz) 44. fxe4 Qxe4 with a won Q vs Q ending. White played on as it was a team tournament; 51. Qxc6 Qc4+ trades down to an easy win.

This drawn match result ultimately proved crucial in the Olympiad standings, as the US finished First with the Ukraine Second and Russia Third. Wesley So won First Place on Board 3 with an undefeated +7 score.

Juniors and students are invited to follow Wesley's games on his player page in real time. The Wesley So Forever Fan Club International (WSFFCI) turn his games into a live event with diagrams and analysis; this one starts on Page 7653 for further review. Even better, the entire anti-Wesley faction was banished from that page two years ago so the atmosphere is fun and friendly.