So tied with 2 others for lead

FILIPINO grandmaster Wesley So, currently ranked no. 6 in the world, drew with Jeffrey Xiong in the fifth round Sunday to keep his share on the lead in the 2018 United States Chess Championship in St. Louis Missouri.

After playing the Catalan Opening, So has 3.5 points with Samuel Shankland and Varuzhan Akobian.

Shankland drew with Fabiano Caruana in 44 moves of a Queen’s Gambit Accepted, while Akobian halved his point with Zviad Izovia in 52 moves of an English Opening.

Caruana is at third spot with 3.0 points.

The 2785.5 ELO-rated So will next meet Izovia in round 6.