Chess

Cuban Chess GM Leinier Domínguez drew in the 2nd stage of the Chess Grand Prix 2014-2015, being played in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi.

Dominguez, leading the Latin-American positions, drew with Russian GM Peter Svidler, in 78 moves of a Ruy López opening, Chigorin variant in a journey where the only winner was Uzbekistan's GM Rustam Kasimdzhanov, who won with black pieces over Shakhriyar Mamedyarov in only 40 moves of a Reti opening.

Leading the positions are Russian Gms Evgeny Tomashevsky, Alexander Grischuk, and dutch GM Anish Giri, who won in the 1st date while those who drew were Russian GMs Dmitry Jakovenko and Dmitry Andreikin and French GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, now they all have 1.5 points.

Today, in the 3rd date, we will have the games between Kasimdzhanov-Giri and Tomashevsky-Grischuk, while the Cuban figure, the only Latin-American in the tournament, will play against French Vachier-Lagrave.

Baseball

The III World Baseball Cup, U-12 category, will take place from July 24th to August 2nd in the city of Tainan, Taipei China, attended by 12 teams, including Cuba, world runner-up in the 1st edition held in 2011, though it did not participate in the 2nd edition in 2013.

The event, which has been given to Chinese Taipei for the next 3 editions (2015, 2017 and 2019), will feature 12 nations divided into America (6), Asia (3), Europe (2), and Oceania (1).

There will be the United States, Cuba, Venezuela, Mexico, Brazil, Nicaragua, Japan, Chinese Taipei, South Korea, France, Russia, and Australia and will be the 1st time in the history of these World Cups that the first 4 countries of the world ranking, Japan, United States, Cuba and China Taipei, participate in unison.

Chinese Taipei won the inaugural FIFA U-12 in 2011, defeating Cuba, meanwhile, the States triumphed in the previous lid in 2013, after defeating Taipei.

Volleyball

Cuban fans are excited about the return of the Volleyball World League at the Havana's Sports City Coliseum when on June 5th and 6th Cuba will play against Bulgaria.

Last year, the Cuban team --11th in the world ranking-- finished in 21st place among 28 contenders, as a 3rd group leader seat that gave it the right to ascend to the 2nd level in the announced contest.

The national team will debut on May 16th as visitor to Canada and will then travel to Argentina to rival the locals from May 29th to the 31st. They will then take on Bulgarian, Argentine and Canadian teams in consecutive weeks in Havana.

So, the League returns to the format of meetings among the 12 contenders in this intermediate step comprising 3 sections as follows: Group C, covers Bulgaria (9th in the world ranking), Cuba (11th), Canada (14th) and Argentina (6th); Group D will house France (12th), Japan (21st), South Korea (16th) and the Czech Republic while Group E shows Belgium (20th), Portugal (27th), Finland (17th) and the Netherlands (25th). The final 4 casts will fight from July 10th-11th in Bulgaria.

This 26th classic edition includes 32 teams this Season, in which Group A has the United States (current champion), Brazil, Italy, Australia, Iran, Poland, Russia and Serbia while other 12 teams will battle in the 3rd step.

Serena Williams Maintains Top Spot in WTA Ranking

U.S. tennis ace Serena Williams continued to lead the Women's Tennis Association, WTA, singles rankings on Monday as world number one, while Czech Petra Kvitova moved 1 step up to 3rd place.

Williams, who has earned 9,777 points, is followed by Russian Maria Sharapova with 8,210 points, while Puerto Rican Monica Puig moved from 60th to 52nd spot. The WTA Ranking is as follows:

1. Serena Williams (USA) 9,777 points

2. Maria Sharapova (RUSSIA) 8,210

3. Petra Kvitova (CZECH) 6,291

4. Simona Halep (ROMANIA) 5,672

5. Caroline Wozniacki (DENMARK) 4,565

6. Ana Ivanovic (SERBIA) 4,425

7. Eugenie Bouchard (CANADA) 4,365

8. Agnieszka Radwanska (POLAND) 3,975

9. Ekaterina Makarova (RUSSIA) 3,285

10. Andrea Petkovic (GERMANY) 3,150.