After five rounds of the European Chess Championship held in Katowice, a group of six players has emerged at the top, each having accumulated 4½ points out of a possible 5. This strong performance follows a calm draw between two of the initial frontrunners, Eduardo Iturrizaga and Robert Hovhannisyan. Four other participants have joined them in the lead, securing their positions with decisive wins.
The competition remains fierce, with a significant contingent of 44 players closely trailing, holding a score of 4 points. Notably, several of the highly-rated players, including Igor Kovalenko, are already a full point behind the leaders in this extensive 501-player Swiss open tournament.
