Photo: Calixto N. Llanes

Havana, May 12 (JIT)-- Russlan Ponomariov did not disappoint. He arrived in this city as a favorite and ratified that condition, becoming the second Ukrainian to ascend to the throne in the history of the Capablanca in Memoriam international chess tournaments.

The 2022 world champion today extended the trail left by his compatriot Vassily Ivanchuk, the top winner of these events with eight reigns, after having downplayed from the beginning the fact that none of his rivals came close to his record. 

The predictions came true and Ponomariov took the crown of the elite group in the 57th edition of the Cuban classic, by achieving the unattainable 6.5 points with the draws signed in the closing against the Indian Aryan Chopra, after 20 plays of a defense Sicilian.

On the way to the title he achieved four wins, five draws and lost once against the Dane Mads Andersen, completing the double round facing the other five contenders who animated the event with category XV of the International Chess Federation (Fide, for its part). acronym in French).

As an additional reward he added 8.6 units to his Elo, in addition to the respect of a fan who gathered every afternoon at the Habana Libre hotel to follow his games.

Cubans Carlos Daniel Albornoz and Luis Ernesto Quesada also said goodbye to the fight with a draw, after the 36 moves of the Peón Dama opening that marked their particular duel. The first one closed his performance with 5.5 stripes, half more than his partner.

With that result Albornoz secured the second seat, since at the other table the Norwegian Evgueny Romanov said goodbye with a victory over Andersen, which also served to boost Luis Ernesto to the third place on the podium.

POSITIONS OF THE ELITE GROUP

1- Ruslan Ponomariov (UKR-6.5 points); 2- Carlos Daniel Albornoz (CUB-5.5); 3-Luis Ernesto Quesada (CUB-5); 4- Mads Andersen (DEN-4.5); 5- Aryam Chopra (IND-4.5); 6- Evgueny Romanov (NOR-4).