Le Quang Liem of Viet Nam sits at second place at the SPICE Cup after five rounds. — Photo news.zing.vn

HA NOI (VNS) — Vietnamese Grandmaster Le Quang Liem won the fifth round at the annual SPICE Cup Open, the highest rated international invitational tournament in the US.

Liem, ELo-rated 2697, defeated US player Corrales Jimenez Fidel, rated 2523, yesterday. The former world blitz champion also beat another US rival, Troff Kayden, in the fourth round after 53 moves.

With one draw and four wins, Liem has accumulated 4.5 points to place second in the tournament after American Aleksandr Shimanov who also has 4.5 points but ranks higher due to a different auxiliary index.

Today, Liem will play against Chandra Akshat of the US, currently sitting in third place with four points.

The US$15,000 event, sponsored by Webster University and the Susan Polgar Foundation, will run until October 22 at the Crowne Plaza Clayton Hotel in Missouri.

Liem's strong game follows a recent runner-up finish at the Millionaire Chess Tournament on October 13 in Las Vegas. He lost to US rival Hikaru Nakamura, but took home a hefty award of $50,000. — VNS