joeyj
13 May 2014
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http://philboxing.com

The 49th edition of the Capablanca Memorial Tournament 2014 is underway and is being played on 8-18th May at the Habana Riviera Hotel in La Havana, Cuba. The event is organized by the Cuban Chess Federation and the Instituto Nacional de Deportes Educación Física y Recreación (INDER). 

The Elite Group is a Category 19 with a rating average of 2721, and is a 6-player double round-robin tournament, composed of five(5) former Capablanca Memorial Champions and Wesley So a first timer in this prestigious tournament. 

Participants: 
1. Domínguez Perez, Leinier CUB 2768 (2004, 2008 & 2009 winner) 
2. Ivanchuk , Vassily UKR 2753 (2005, 2006, 2007, 2010, 2011 & 2012 winner) 
3. So, Wesley (PHI) 2731 (first-timer) 
4. Almási, Zoltan HUN 2693 (2013 winner) 
5. Vallejo Pons , Francisco ESP 2700 (2001 winner) 
6. Bruzon Batista, Lazaro CUB 2682 (2002 winner) 

R5:  Almasi, Zoltan(HUN)2693-So, Wesley(PHI)2731 : 0-1

After 5 rounds of play, at halfway mark, of the 10-round double round-robin event @ 49^th Capablanca Memorial(2014), GM Wesley So (PHI)2731 snatched the sole lead scoring 3.5/5  (+2-0=3) by beating his perennial co-leader since R3 the defending champion GM Almasi, Zoltan (HUN)2693 who resigned after the 48^th move of  a  French Defense: Winawer. Poisoned Pawn Variation Main Line (C18).   The other previous round-4 leader, top seed Domínguez Perez, Leinier (CUB)2768 made a quick 13-mover draw [Ruy Lopez, Closed (C92)]  with his compatriot Bruzon Batista, Lazaro(CUB)2682 to score 3.0/5(+1-0=4).

The game between  Ivanchuk, Vassily (UKR)2753 and Vallejo Pons, Francisco (ESP)2700 was won by Vallejo Pons when Ivanchuk conceded defeat (his second in five matches)  in the 53^rd  move of a   Giuoco Piano (C53).

Round 5 results

Dominguez Perez, Leinier vs Bruzon Batista, Lazaro ½-½ 
Ivanchuk, Vassily vs Vallejo Pons, Francisco 0-1 
Almasi, Zoltan vs So, Wesley 0-1 

Standings after 5 rounds

1. So, Wesley g PHI 2731 ; 3½ 
2. Dominguez Perez, Leinier g CUB 2768 : 3
3-4. Almasi, Zoltan g HUN 2693 : 2½ 
3-4. Bruzon Batista, Lazaro g CUB 2682 : 2½
5. Vallejo Pons, Francisco g ESP 2700 : 2 
6. Ivanchuk, Vassily g UKR 2753 : 1½       

Live ratings of GM Wesley So (PHI)2731) and his scheduled opponents until R10.

With R5 win, GM Wesley So … Live rating of 2740.2, now ranks #19 in the Live Chess Ratings of the Top chess players in the world. @ http://2700chess.com.   Additionally, it is the 2nd Personal Best/Highest Live Rating recorded by  Wesley So.  His Personal Best/Highest Live rating was 2740.3 recorded on 17 Jan 2014 @ R5 of Tata Steel Chess 2014. 

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