2024-02-20 01:32:53
After a National Championship without pain or glories, Cuban chess now has a new leader: Luis Quesada from Avila, who was crowned after a tense mini tournament of quick games against the other two favorites, Omar Almeida – whose victory was almost a given. sitting until the last moment – and Carlos Daniel Albornoz.
At the end of the tenth round of the tournament this Wednesday, held in Holguín, Las Tunas player Michel Díaz demanded a review of his game against Almeida and the referees declared it a draw. The decision cost the Havana native an exhausting series of rapid games against Albornoz, whom he dispatched without difficulty, and Quesada, against whom he failed in the second round. It was the fifth time that the man from Avila competed for the Cuban chess crown.
Of the 26 registered competitors, Albornoz had accumulated about 6.5 points after agreeing to a draw this Wednesday with Lelys Martínez, like Almeida and Quesada. With six points, they were followed by Martínez and Dulan Berdayes and, with 5.5, Kemel Gallo, for whom his victory against Rider Díaz was more than fruitful: not only did he finish in sixth place in the championship, but he added 49 points to his coefficient. Elo – now with 2,348 – and achieved his second International Master standard.
The confrontation between Albornoz, Quesada and Almeida could be seen coming from their triple tie this Tuesday
The confrontation between Albornoz, Quesada and Almeida could be seen coming from their triple tie this Tuesday. The Cuban Chess Federation, which covered each segment of the competition, attributed Almeida with more chances of winning, although it did not rule out that Martínez or Berdayes could cause a surprise on the ninth day.
“We remind you that, if there is a tie for first place at the end of the competition, quick games would have to be played to define; if there were two tied, they would play a matchand if there were more, then a mini-tournament,” the Federation warned this Tuesday.
As for the women’s section of the championship, which played its seventh round this Wednesday in Pinar del Río, it also produced some surprise that Obregón defeated Yersisbel Miranda, who had a better chance, according to the Federation, of winning. The woman from Villa Clara, current youth champion, is one of the favorites of the tournament and has 5.5 points.
The Cuban National Chess Championship celebrates its 71st edition after a controversial invitation from the Federation to emigrated chess players, who could participate in it on condition that they disassociate themselves from the federations for which they currently play and only if they maintained a “respectful” attitude. ” with the regime after his departure from the country.
The Cuban National Chess Championship celebrates its 71st edition after a controversial invitation from the Federation to emigrated chess players
No prestigious player responded and the tournament began with 26 players who, despite having participated in international tournaments, have not decided to go into exile. Naturalized in the United States, Leinier Domínguez – the most outstanding Cuban player since José Raúl Capablanca and current eighth best chess player in the world –, for whom the Federation said there was the possibility of an “exception”, did not comment on the draconian conditions of the ruling party. .
The one who did so was Lázaro Bruzón, also a resident of the United States, who rebuked the Federation for arrogating to itself the right to decide what a “respectful attitude” was in a country whose Government is the first to disrespect its citizens. Bruzón, who holds the record for national titles – with six victories in the championship – was one of the most critical voices of the repression that Havana unleashed against the protesters on July 11, 2021.
Having ruled out those who were once the island’s representatives in elite tournaments, the Cuban Federation now sets its sights on Albornoz. Young and talented, the man from Camagüey is one of the few teachers his age who can stand up for the Island in international competitions. The praise given to him by the official press after each success is reminiscent of what Domínguez and Bruzón once enjoyed, which he now denies.
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