American Grandmaster Sam Shankland delivered a dominant performance to win the XIX American Continental Chess Championship, which concluded at the Hotel Dorados Conventions & Resorts in Oaxtepec, Mexico.
The 11-round Swiss tournament, held from June 1 to June 11, 2026, was organized by the National Chess Federation of Mexico (FENAMAC) and the Chess Confederation of the Americas (CCA) as the โJorge Vega Fernรกndez In Memoriam,โ honoring the legendary former continental president.
Shankland (2647) finished alone at the top of the standings with an outstanding score of 9.5/11 points, leaving the rest of the field 1.5-points behind.
With this triumph, the American grandmaster successfully defended the Continental Championship title he won last year in Brazil. This victory also marks his third career continental championship, adding to his previous titles from the 2018 and 2025 editions. Alongside the trophy, Shankland took home the guaranteed $4,000 first prize from the tournament’s overall $20,000 prize fund.
The stakes in Oaxtepec were exceptionally high, as the event served as a direct qualifier for the next world championship cycle. By finishing in the top four, Shankland along with Juan Carlos Obregon Rivero (Mexico), Sandro Mareco (Argentina), and Alexandr Fier (Brazil), who took the next three spots on tiebreaks, officially qualified for the FIDE World Cup of the 2027 World Championship cycle.
The 11-round classical event featured a field of 126 players representing 19 different chess federations from across the American continent, including 17 Grandmasters and 27 International Masters. Following the conclusion of the classical tournament, the venue will also host the XIX Continental Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships.
Final standings:
1 GM Shankland Sam USA 2647 – 9.5
2 GM Obregon Rivero Juan Carlos MEX 2446 – 8
3 GM Mareco Sandro ARG 2546 – 8
4 GM Fier Alexandr BRA 2553 – 8
5 GM Santiago Yago De Moura BRA 2479 – 8
6 FM Sanchez Negreiros Jose Alberto PER 2349 – 8
7 IM Jimenez Garcia Emmanuel CRC 2349 – 7.5
8 GM Peralta Fernando ARG 2552 – 7.5
9 IM Martinez Ramirez Lennis CUB 2395 – 7.5
10 IM Lu Maximillian USA 2466 – 7.5
11 IM Diaz Rosas Julio Cesar MEX 2368 – 7.5
12 GM Cori Jorge PER 2613 – 7
13 GM Berdayes Ason Dylan Isidro CUB 2460 – 7
14 IM Sandoval Mercado Carlos MEX 2422 – 7
15 IM Lopez Rayo Santiago COL 2418 – 7
16 FM Garcia Guerrero Isaac Antonio MEX 2400 – 7
17 IM Noboa Silva Kevin ECU 2398 – 7
18 GM Salinas Herrera Pablo CHI 2454 – 7
19 IM Valderrama Quiceno Esteban Alb COL 2383 – 7
20 GM Rios Gomez Cristhian Camilo COL 2405 – 7
21 IM Plotkin Mark CAN 2360 – 7
22 IM Flores Quillas Diego Saul Rodri PER 2406 – 7
23 IM Campos Gomez Manuel COL 2364 – 7
24 IM Diaz Perez Michel Alejandro CUB 2425 – 7
25 IM Figueredo Losada Leonel MEX 2287 – 7
26 CM Diaz Guerrero Jesus Daniel MEX 2102 – 7
27 GM Galaviz Medina Sion Radamantys MEX 2513 – 6.5
28 GM Arenas David COL 2339 – 6.5
29 GM Avila Pavas Santiago COL 2516 – 6.5
30 GM Cardoso Cardoso Jose Gabriel COL 2527 – 6.5
31 IM Torres Rosas Luis Carlos MEX 2312 – 6.5
32 GM Martinez Duany Lelys Stanley CUB 2455 – 6.5
33 GM Vasquez Schroeder Rodrigo CHI 2474 – 6.5
34 Delgado Romero Marco PER 2373 – 6.5
35 WIM Argote Heredia Valentina w COL 2167 – 6.5
36 FM Ordonez Bonilla Ricardo Andres GUA 2116 – 6.5
37 IM Sanchez Alvarez Roberto Carlos PAN 2344 – 6.5
38 FM Piccoli Lucas Fonseca BRA 2279 – 6.5
39 FM Solares Orozco Kebert CUB 2374 – 6.5
40 FM Reyes Zavaleta Cristhian Yamil PER 2193 – 6.5
41 FM Montes Orozco Miguel Angel MEX 2295 – 6.5
42 FM Cu Hor Winston Darwin GUA 2311 – 6
43 FM Garzon Camelo Andres Santiago COL 2367 – 6
44 IM Baules Rodriguez Jorge Luis PAN 2283 – 6
45 FM Reyes Zavaleta Fabian Ricardo PER 2282 – 6
46 IM Valdes Romero Leonardo CRC 2326 – 6
47 Ortiz Marcos NCA 2246 – 6
48 FM Fogo Esquivel Levi Kalani Alexander MEX 2090 – 6
49 WGM Cervantes Landeiro Thalia w USA 2262 – 6
50 Vazquez Pineda Jorge Hector MEX 1951 – 6
51 FM Tapie Amione Pablo Adib MEX 2138 – 6
52 WIM Jimenez Salas Maria Teresa w PER 2189 – 6
53 WIM Mogollon Tobar Nicolle Julieth w COL 2103 – 6
54 Pacheco Sierra Diego Sebastian MEX 2013 – 6
55 FM Avila Rodriguez Joshua Adrian MEX 2274 – 5.5
56 FM Mateus Alejandro COL 2229 – 5.5
57 WIM Mayorga Araya Sofia w CRC 2011 – 5.5
58 IM Juarez Flores Carlos A. GUA 2308 – 5.5
59 CM Toro Castaneda Elizabeth w COL 2030 – 5.5
60 Ruiz Perez Juan Octavio MEX 2102 – 5.5
61 FM Gutierrez Delgado Yusuan A. CUB 2278 – 5.5
62 FM Curi Gabriel URU 2078 – 5.5
63 Ordonez Gonzalez Gabriel COL 1934 – 5.5
64 CM Monroy Lopez Gustavo Adolfo GUA 2062 – 5.5
65 CM Lopez Fuentes Wilberth Sebastian MEX 2030 – 5.5
66 Hernandez Vazquez Gerardo MEX 1984 – 5.5
67 FM Alfaro William NCA 2118 – 5.5
68 CM Avendano Porras Rodrigo CRC 2031 – 5.5
69 WFM Duarte Cramer Lily Jeanette w MEX 1949 – 5.5
70 WFM Lopez Rayo Isabella w COL 1996 – 5.5
71 Martinez Castaneda Allan MEX 2061 – 5.5
72 WIM Miranda Rodriguez Tania w MEX 2057 – 5
73 CM Carvalho Guillermo URU 2059 – 5
74 Diaz Gonzalez Jardon Emmanuel MEX 1995 – 5
75 FM Linares Orellana Hector Jose GUA 2021 – 5
76 FM Gonzalez Zharikov Andrey MEX 2212 – 5
77 Quesada Leon Joshua CRC 2046 – 5
78 FM Palma Villanueva Miguel Tadeo MEX 2290 – 5
79 Leon Infante Bryan CUB 2162 – 5
80 Robledo Flores Emanuel MEX 1959 – 5
81 Leal Escamilla Daniel Zinedine MEX 2050 – 5
82 WCM Conde Mares Vanya Briseyda w MEX 1893 – 5
83 WIM Mateus Martha w COL 1951 – 5
84 Montiel Sanchez Victor Manuel MEX 1996 – 5
85 WFM Caicedo Rios Layla Yasmira w PAN 1820 – 5
86 Fernandez Concepcion Rafael Antonio DOM 1932 – 5
87 Cienfuegos Torres Cristopher Alejandro MEX 1714 – 5
88 WIM Caballero Quijano Mitzy Mishell w PER 2057 – 4.5
89 FM Varela Velazquez Carlos Francisco MEX 2269 – 4.5
90 Morales Perez Ghisell w COL 1939 – 4.5
91 Luna Rodriguez Sebastian MEX 1808 – 4.5
92 WFM Luna Monsalve Sofia w COL 1882 – 4.5
93 Angeles Vera Mario Alberto MEX 2005 – 4.5
94 AGM Mendoza Osorio Ernesto MEX 1853 – 4.5
95 Telles Fukushima Karla Akemi w MEX 1943 – 4.5
96 Sepliarsky Mario ARG 2034 – 4.5
97 Galvan Rodriguez Irving Gamaliel MEX 1755 – 4.5
98 WCM Canales Chinchilla Victoria w CRC 1804 – 4.5
99 WIM Ortez Andrea w ESA 2024 – 4.5
100 Ibarra Bautista Nimrod MEX 0 – 4.5
101 CM Bedi Vaibhav AHO 1920 – 4
102 CM Garcia Almaguer Juan Manuel MEX 2128 – 4
103 CM Garmendia Vega Gabriel CHI 2109 – 4
104 Garcia Espinoza Yosed Emanuel MEX 1836 – 4
105 Diaz Gonzalez Ana Sofia w COL 1883 – 4
106 Campos Gorgonio Eduardo Arturo MEX 1850 – 4
107 Martinez Nestor Ian Marco MEX 1718 – 4
108 Duarte Cramer Evelynn Renata w MEX 1601 – 4
109 Shaffer Alexander PUR 1691 – 4
110 Escobar Alfaro Salvador MEX 1830 – 4
111 Gadea Fernando URU 1827 – 4
112 De Alba Boudreau Pablo Elliott MEX 1937 – 3.5
113 AIM Takahashi Michael USA 2089 – 3.5
114 Jackson Leo Daniel Olivera USA 1886 – 3.5
115 Sanchez Garcia Oscar Ernesto MEX 1814 – 3.5
116 Orocio Mendoza Egbert David MEX 1968 – 3.5
117 Valadez Sepulveda Joel Isaac MEX 1865 – 3.5
118 Morales Segura Francisco MEX 1736 – 3
119 IM Estrada Nieto Julian MEX 2153 – 3
120 Torres Perez Carlos Miguel MEX 1454 – 3
121 Barrios Cruz Mario Antonio MEX 1766 – 3
122 Cisneros Arevalo Francisco MEX 1570 – 3
123 CM Vargas Ramos Rogelio Alberto PAN 1715 – 3
124 Moccero Eduardo URU 1746 – 2.5
125 Sosa Guzman Daniel MEX 0 – 2
126 Villegas Trejo Octavio Santiago MEX 0 – 2
