Havana, May 30 (JIT).- The Cuban champion, Luis Ernesto Quesada, achieved victory over the American Evan Park and remained without losing sight of the top of the Absolute Continental Chess Championship of the Americas 2024, which closed its round eight in Medellín, Colombia.

The current national champion led the white pieces during 35 sets of a Ninzo India defense, successfully exploited weaknesses on the enemy kingside and gained a decisive advantage with a tactical coup that began with the sacrifice of a rook.

With that result he extended his undefeated record and with an accumulated 6.5 points he maintains fifth place after applying the tiebreaker system. With half a line more, the Chilean Cristóbal Henríquez and the Cuban Roberto García, a player who currently represents Colombia, share the lead.

Henríquez agreed to peace with the American Jeffery Xiong – another who escorts the leaders – while García took advantage of the victory over the Brazilian Alexander Fier to rise to the privileged position.

Havana's Omar Almeida and Santiago's Lelys Martínez once again avoided defeat, but those results left them with six points, valid for occupying seats further away from the vanguard.

The man from the capital appears in the 15th place after sharing honors with the Venezuelan Fabián Ernesto Vivas, while the indomitable sealed his fight with the Argentine Ilan Schnaider without a winner, and rests in 19th place.

To complete the task of the Island's exponents, the young Daniel Hidalgo recovered from the setback of the previous day with a victory over the Uruguayan Gabriel Curi, but his 5.5 points place him in 41st place.

The coffee fair is scheduled for 11 rounds by the Swiss system and as an added attraction is its qualifying nature for the upcoming World Cup, as it will define the granting of four places.

Participants will also have the option to compete in quick game and Blitz chess tournaments.