Havana, July 29 (PL)-- Roxángel Obregón from Villaclare took a point and a half in Friday's double round and leads the selective tournament in Santa Clara, which will define the Cuban representative in the World Junior Chess Championship in Mexico 2023.

Roxángel triumphed against Yaima Pino from Camagüey and extended her perfect pace to four successes, then agreed peace with Elizabeth Luis from Pinar del Rio and reached 4.5 units.

"She is almost "untreatable". In the afternoon game she had an advantage that seemed to materialize. If she achieved it, she was very close to win the place in the world championship," said coach Rodney Perez from the headquarters.

"In general, the best thing was the combativeness shown by all the participants. Almost no draws have been signed and the ones that happened came after quite a struggle", acknowledged the strategist, present as representative of the Cuban Chess Federation.

Ineymig Hernandez, another of the favorites, appears behind Roxangel. The Camagüey native reached four points after defeating Gretel Caballero from Mayabequense and Leannet Marian Bosch from Santiago de Cuba on Friday.

Ten of the best players under 20 years of age on the island are facing each other in the tournament. They are looking for the only place in dispute for the universal appointment that will be held in the Aztec capital from September 20 to October 2.

The Guillermo Garcia Chess Palace also hosts the men's competition with nine candidates. The top is shared by Kemel Gallo from Espiritu and Brayan Torres from Santiago, owners of 3.5 points. However, the former has already enjoyed the day off, which puts him at an advantage.

In the fifth round, both sealed their duel without a winner, while Reyson Rodriguez from Holguín and Jerzy Jesus Perez from Villaclareño Jerzy Jesus Perez won.

The latter defeated Leduard Gonzalez from Camagüey to confirm the criteria of the specialists who consider him among the strong contenders for the first place.

Recent winner of the Central Caribbean U-20 championship, Jerzy barely managed half a unit in the first two games, but he has risen and is already escorting the leaders with three.

The sixth round in both events is scheduled for today, Saturday. The spotlight will be on the Ineymig-Roxangel duel, which could complicate or clear their paths.

Jerzy will be waiting from the audience for what happens on the boards, especially when Brayan tests his strength against local Jorge de Jesus Perez (1.5 points) and Kemel against Kebert Solares (3).