Photo courtesy Monroi.com

by Jennifer Shahade

World Open Champion Varuzhan Akobian leads the Continental Championships (July 10-20, Cali, Columbia) together with Julio Granda Zuniga of Peru. Both have 4.5/5 and face off today. The American delegation includes nine players, six of whom are GMs.



Continental Results after five rounds (Americans and leaders)

1-2- Julio Granda Zuniga and Varuzhan Akobian- 4.5/5
3-10- Giovanni Vescovi, Andrez Vila Rodriguez, Alexander Ivanov, Manuel Hoyos Leon, Sergey Kudrin, Emilio Cordova, Andre Diamant, and Jorge Renteria- 4/5
11-27- Jaan Ehlvest, Dmitry Gurevich, Boris Gulko and Robert Hungaski- 3.5/5
49-67- Fabio La Rota- 2.5/5
68-86- Gregory Marzkon- 2/5

For complete standings, go to the official website.

In rounds four and five, Varuzhan won back to back victories, including an impressive attacking victory over Canadian GM Kevin Spragget.

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Alexander Ivanov has 4/5, including the following victory over a Mexican IM.

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Ivanov's winning finesse 41...Rh2! is actually necessary, because otherwise there is no way for Black to progress.