GM Alex Lenderman has scored 2.5/3 to help bring the U.S. into clear first after four rounds.
The U.S. team earned a decisive victory (4-0) over an overmatched Uruguay team in round 3 and a draw against pre-event favorite Cuba in round 4. A stumble by Cuba against Brazil in round 3 has left the Americans in clear first place after four rounds.
| Round 3 on 2013/01/26 at 16:00 | ||||||||
| Bo. | 2 |
CUB |
Rtg | – | 4 |
BRA |
Rtg | 1½:2½ |
| 1.1 | GM | Dominguez Perez, Leinier | 2723 | – | GM | Mecking, Henrique | 2604 | ½ – ½ |
| 1.2 | GM | Bruzon Batista, Lazaro | 2701 | – | GM | Milos, Gilberto | 2580 | ½ – ½ |
| 1.3 | GM | Quesada Perez, Yuniesky | 2595 | – | GM | El Debs, Felipe De Cresce | 2525 | ½ – ½ |
| 1.4 | GM | Ortiz Suarez, Isan Reynaldo | 2595 | – | GM | Matsuura, Everaldo | 2475 | 0 – 1 |
| Bo. | 3 |
USA |
Rtg | – | 1 |
URU |
Rtg | 4 : 0 |
| 2.1 | GM | Onischuk, Alexander | 2660 | – | GM | Rodriguez Vila, Andres | 2508 | 1 – 0 |
| 2.2 | GM | Akobian, Varuzhan | 2615 | – | IM | Roselli Mailhe, Bernardo | 2449 | 1 – 0 |
| 2.3 | GM | Robson, Ray | 2615 | – | FM | Larrea, Manuel | 2261 | 1 – 0 |
| 2.4 | GM | Lenderman, Aleksandr | 2619 | – | FM | Izquierdo, Daniel | 2247 | 1 – 0 |
Heading into play on Friday, GM Alex Onishcuk stated that although the Cuban team had just a slightly higher average rating than the Americans, the presence of two 2700+ GMs gave the appearance of a more difficult challenge.
“Generally, 27 points is an insignificant difference,” Onishcuk said. “However, the Cuban team with two 2700-plus players seems a bit stronger. The title, most probably, will be decided in our matches with Cuba.”
| Bo. | 3 |
USA |
Rtg | – | 2 |
CUB |
Rtg | 2 : 2 |
| 2.1 | GM | Onischuk, Alexander | 2660 | – | GM | Dominguez Perez, Leinier | 2723 | ½ – ½ |
| 2.2 | GM | Robson, Ray | 2615 | – | GM | Bruzon Batista, Lazaro | 2701 | ½ – ½ |
| 2.3 | GM | Lenderman, Aleksandr | 2619 | – | GM | Quesada Perez, Yuniesky | 2595 | ½ – ½ |
| 2.4 | GM | Shankland, Samuel L | 2595 | – | GM | Ortiz Suarez, Isan Reynaldo | 2595 | ½ – ½ |
Onischuk’s prediciton seems prescient, but the U.S. still has to fend off the host country, Brazil, which followed an upset victory over Cuba in round 3 with a disappointing draw against Uruguay.
The U.S. can secure guaranteed first place and a ticket to the World Team Championship with a victory over Brazil in round 5.*
*Update: Event organizers switched pairings for rounds 5 and 6 in order to prevent some teams from getting three whites/blacks in a row. So the U.S. will take on Uruguay in round 5 and Brazil in round 6.
| UPDATED: Round 6 on 2013/01/29 at 16:00 | |||||
| No. | Team | Team | Res. | : | Res. |
| 1 |
USA |
BRA |
: | ||
| 2 |
CUB |
URU |
: | ||
| UPDATED: Round 5 on 2013/01/28 at 16:00 | |||||
| No. | Team | Team | Res. | : | Res. |
| 1 |
BRA |
CUB |
: | ||
| 2 |
URU |
USA |
: | ||