Despite reaching a draw on Friday, Lisandra Ordaz from Pinar del Rio remained alone at the top of the National Chess Championship among women, and perhaps this is a good sign that she is in a position to retain her 2020 crown in Holguin.
Havana, February 5 (RHC)-- Despite reaching a draw on Friday, Lisandra Ordaz from Pinar del Rio remained alone at the top of the National Chess Championship among women, and perhaps this is a good sign that she is in a position to retain her 2020 crown in Holguin.
Ordaz divided honors with Maritza Arribas from Santiago in 21 moves of a Petrov defense and reached 2.5 points in three rounds. Although she is only half a unit ahead of her nearest rival and there is still a long way to go to the throne, this already makes her the player "to beat" by the rest of the contenders.
Yaniela Forgas, who started the day as co-leader of the tournament, was surpassed by Yerisbel Miranda from Pinar del Rio and was left with two points, sharing the places of escort with her rival and Zirka Frómeta, also from Santiago de Cuba.
The latter is the "veteran" of the group, arrived directly to the final due to the absence of Lisandra Llaudy from Holguín, and has become a complicated obstacle for her younger opponents. She beat Karen Gutierrez from Matanzas in 53 moves of a Caro Kann defense to hold on to the lead.
Oleiny Linares (SCU) also finished the day happy after beating Yoanna Gonzalez (HAB), and Ineymig Hernandez (CMG) thanks to her victory over young Patricia Hernandez (VCL). The other tie of the round was between Leannet Bosch (SCU) and Yuleisy Hernandez (HAB).
The tournament, played at the Eradio Domínguez provincial academy, has as a novelty the possibility that, during the hours of play, you can follow online everything that happens in the room through the Google Meet application, as explained by the organizers.
Scores after three rounds: Ordaz (2.5), Yaniela, Zirka and Yerisbel (2), Ineymig, Patricia, Leannet, Yuleisy and Maritza (1.5), Oleiny (1), Karen and Yoanna (0.5).
Pairing of the fourth round: Ordaz-Yuleisy, Karen-Leannet, Oleiny-Zirka, Yerisbel-Yoanna, Ineymig-Yaniela and Maritza-Patricia (The first ones with white pieces).
Details for your file: Zirka has been three times champion of Cuba. She won for the first time in 1981, repeated in 1983 and the last time she enjoyed a scepter was in 1987. She has competed in six World Olympiads and won the bronze medal defending third board in the Dubai 1986 edition.
The game of Yaniela-Yerisbel:
1.f4 d5 2.Nf3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 Nf6 5.d3 c5 6.c3 0-0 7.0-0 Nc6 8.Dc2 d4 9.e4 dxe3 10.De2 Bf5 11.Td1 Ng4 12. Axe3 Nxe3 13.Dxe3 Db6 14.Td2 Axd3 15.Ca3 Tad8 16.Tad1 Aa6 17.Ng5 Txd2 18.Txd2 Td8 19.Ce4 Txd2 20.Dxd2 Ad3 21.Df2 Nd4 22. Rh1 Ce6 23.Dd2 c4 24.Nf2 Nc5 25.Ad5 Dd6 26.Bf3 a6 27.Nxd3 b5 28.Nb1 Nxd3 29.b3 Dc5 30.Rg2 e5 31.b4 Dd6 32. fxe5 Dxe5 33.Rf1 Ah6 34.De2 Dg5 35.Dd1 De3 36.De2 Dc1+ 37.Dd1 Db2 38.Ae2 Ae3 39.Rg2 Ac1 40.Ca3 Dxa3 41.Axd3 cxd3 (0-1).