In the fifth round there were eight wins and only four draws, an honorable percentage of decisive games!
Irina Krush continues her good form with a win over the much higher rated Robert Hess, and Jesse Kraai beat Jaan Ehlvest with Black to join the group in third to sixth places.
Here are the fifth round results in full.
| Bd | Names | rating | Results | Names | rating |
| 1 | GM Yuri Shulman (3) | 2613 | 0.5-0.5 | GM Hikaru Nakamura (3) | 2733 |
| 2 | GM Gata Kamsky (3) | 2702 | 1-0 | GM Larry Christiansen (3) | 2578 |
| 3 | GM Alexander Onischuk (3) | 2699 | 1-0 | GM Varuzhan Akobian (3) | 2599 |
| 4 | GM Alexander Stripunsky (3) | 2570 | 0.5-0.5 | GM Alex Yermolinsky (2.5) | 2528 |
| 5 | GM Jaan Ehlvest (2) | 2591 | 0-1 | GM Jesse Kraai (2.5) | 2492 |
| 6 | IM Irina Krush (2) | 2455 | 1-0 | GM Robert Hess (2) | 2590 |
| 7 | GM Joel Benjamin (1.5) | 2565 | 1-0 | GM Aleksandr Lenderman (1.5) | 2598 |
| 8 | GM Melikset Khachiyan (1.5) | 2539 | 0-1 | GM Alexander Shabalov (1.5) | 2585 |
| 9 | GM Sergey Kudrin (1.5) | 2571 | 0-1 | GM Gregory Kaidanov (1.5) | 2577 |
| 10 | GM Ben Finegold (1.5) | 2539 | 1-0 | IM Levon Altounian (1.5) | 2454 |
| 11 | IM Samuel Shankland (1) | 2507 | 0.5-0.5 | GM Ray Robson (1.5) | 2569 |
| 12 | GM Vinay Bhat (1) | 2547 | 0.5-0.5 | GM Dmitry Gurevich (0.5) | 2488 |
Just behind the leaders, in the sixth round pairings Nakamura will be a strong favourite on board two, especially with the white pieces, whereas the battle on board three is more evenly matched.
| 1 | GM Alexander Onischuk (4) | 2699 | GM Gata Kamsky (4) | 2702 | |
| 2 | GM Hikaru Nakamura (3.5) | 2733 | GM Jesse Kraai(3.5) | 2492 | |
| 3 | GM Alexander Stripunsky (3.5) | 2570 | GM Yury Shulman (3.5) | 2613 | |
| 4 | GM Varuzhan Akobian (3) | 2599 | GM Alex Yermolinsky(3) | 2528 | |
| 5 | GM Larry Christiansen (3) | 2578 | IM Irina Krush (3) | 2455 | |
| 6 | GM Alexander Shabalov(2.5) | 2585 | GM Gregory Kaidanov(2.5) | 2577 | |
| 7 | GM Ben Finegold (2.5) | 2539 | GM Joel Benjamin (2.5) | 2565 | |
| 8 | GM Ray Robson (2) | 2569 | GM Jaan Ehlvest (2) | 2591 | |
| 9 | IM Levon Altounian(1.5) | 2454 | GM Robert Hess(2) | 2590 | |
| 10 | GM Aleksandr Lenderman(1.5) | 2598 | GM Sergey Kudrin (1.5) | 2571 | |
| 11 | GM Vinay Bhat(1.5) | 2547 | IM Samuel Shankland(1.5) | 2507 | |
| 12 | GM Dmitry Gurevich(1) | 2488 | GM Melikset Khachiyan (1.5) | 2539 |
Onischuk is apparently unbeaten for nearly fifty US Championship games. Will he demonstrate why, or will his record go later today?
You can watch the games live and can find more information on the official tournament site.
