Maritza Arribas

Havana, Feb 8 (JIT) - Santiago's Maritza Arribas was crowned this Friday in the Blitz games segment, hours before her debut in the National Women's Chess Championship 2025, based in Santa Clara, facing the host Melisa Rodriguez.

The accumulated 7.5 points out of a possible nine cleared the path to the throne traveled by the experienced player, who continues to face each challenge regardless of the passing of the years, with which such a demanding modality implies, with duels of three minutes, plus two seconds added after each move.

Maritza was happy to have another trophy in her trophy cabinet and assured that she will take on the classic matches with similar enthusiasm and desire to win, which allowed her to harvest seven wins in the blitz games, one board and only one setback, this one at the hands of the local Roxángel Obregón.

The remaining podium positions were shared by Yerisbel Miranda from Pinar del Río and Ivette Catalá from Matanzas, both with seven units and placed in that order after applying the tiebreaker system. Incidentally, Catalá was the first champion of this type of competition, which began to be held in 2012.

Thus, the scene was set at the Guillermo Garcia Chess Palace for the battles for the Cuban women's throne, to which the 24 players who will face each other during 10 rounds by the Swiss system aspire.

In addition to the match between Maritza and Melissa, the one between Yerisbel and Yaniela Forgas from Santiago should be very interesting.