The 2026 Best in the West reaches Round 5 at Hobsons Bay Chess Club in Altona. This five-round Swiss runs on classical time, 60 minutes plus 30-second increments. The tournament sits at the midpoint with positions still fluid. Hobsons Bay hosted a solid field, and results remain tight across the board. Round 5 will shake up the final standings considerably. The concluding rounds promise to reward the sharpest preparation.