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.





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



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