Michel Alejandro Diaz joined the leaders. In the Elite the top did not change with Volodar Murzin alone.
While in the Elite group of the International Capablanca in Memoriam Chess Tournament Varadero 2025 the Russian favourite Volodar Murzin continues to lead, in the Open the top position has grown and it is the Cuban Michel Alejandro Díaz who is in charge.
Michel Alejandro, who already knows what it is to reign in these competitions, defeated in the fifth round the also host Ineymig Hernández and climbed to the vanguard that was shared earlier by the Canadian Alexandre Lesiege, the Cuban Luis Lázaro Agüero and the Azeri Azer Mirzoev.
All four now have 4.5 points, as Lesiege and Mirzoev agreed peace between them and Agüero still signed an armistice against Cuba’s Omar Almeida.
For the sixth matchday they have agreed that could clear the way or become even more complicated: Michel Alejandro will have to play with black pieces against Lesiege and Mirzoev will also be on the dark side of the board against Agüero.
In the Elite, Mirzoev enjoyed an individual rest – since there are only five players in that section – but he maintained his advantage because he has three out of a possible four points, and the closest to that total are Denmark’s Jonas Buhl-Bjerre and Russia’s Arseniy Nesterov.
During the fifth round Bjerre overcame Macedonia’s Evgeny Romanov in 41 moves of a French defence, and Nesterov caused the second consecutive setback for Cuba’s Carlos Daniel Albornoz after 48 moves of a Queen’s Pawn opening.
Albornoz and Romanov close the order with just one unit.
For Thursday the duels will be at the expense of Bjerre-Albornoz and Nesterov-Murzin. Romanov is free.
CENTRAL AMERICAN YOUTH IN FULL BATTLE
The Central American under-20 tournament is taking place in the halls of the Hotel Meliá Internacional in Varadero, in a clear demonstration of the talent that abounds among the youngest players.
In the open sector, Cuba’s José Hernández is the sole leader with 4.5 points out of a possible five and his next rival will be Lilirbel Neira, also from home, who with four points is one of the players sharing second to fifth place.
In the women’s section, Cuba’s Jinela de la Caridad Rodríguez and Lianet Díaz, both with four points, are at the top.
