Baseball

Pinar del Rio defeated 12-5 to Matanzas on Wednesday, supported by solid relay of Vladimir Gutierrez and offensive of Giorvis Duvergel, to match 1 win apiece the Grand Final of the 53rd Cuban Baseball Championship.

Rookie Gutierrez entered the 2nd inning replacing starter Julio Alfredo Martinez and 1st relief pitcher Liván Moinelo, and was awarded the win after 6 chapters in which allowed just 3 hits to the demanding Matanzas' Los Cocodrilos.

In the clash, celebrated at the Victoria de Giron stadium in the city of Matanzas, the hosts took the lead in the 1st inning with 5 runs product of 5 hits, including 1 double from designated batter Ariel Sanchez who also drove in 2.

But the joy was short as Pinar del Rio showed off its offensive and made 7 in the 2nd chapter, thanks to 3 fateful tickets by the local pitchers.

For the victors, William Saavedra gave solo homer as well as Giorvis Duvergel but with loaded bases against the defeated Lázaro Blanco, 3rd of the 12 pitchers used by Victor Mesa.

Duvergel led Pinar del Rio's offensive with 5-3, with 2 runs scored and 5 trailers, seconded by outfielder Andres Quiala, with 1 double and 3 RBIs.

In addition to failing the relief pitching so far Matanzas' talisman in this post-season, losers didn't have a timely hitting in several times to leave 11 runners on.

The Grand Final will be resumed at the Pinar del Rio's Captain San Luis stadium on Friday.

Sport Cooperation

A Sport Cooperation Agreement was signed at the Secretariat of State for Youth and Sports of Timor Leste by Miguel Manetelu, representative of that entity, and Luis Rodriguez Laffitte, Ambassador of Cuba in that nation.

The document, prepared by Cubadeportes company in coordination with Sports Confederation of Timor Leste, establishes a collaboration for a renewable period at the end of each year.

The agreement continues the existing bilateral cooperation in boxing, athletics and volleyball, started in 2011.

Miguel Manetelu, representative of the Southeast Asian nation, expressed the interest of his government to continue increasing cooperation with Cuba in different sports and said the arrival of 3 Cuban coaches are expected to the city of Dili in May, to initiate the collaboration program.

For their part, the Caribbean instructors already present in Timor Leste said that local athletes have potential enough to become, in a short period, elite athletes who can represent their country in regional and international events.

At the signing ceremony were also present the Vice President of the Sports Confederation of Timor Leste, Afranio Xavier Amaral, and directors of the local Secretariat of State for Youth and Sports.

Chess

Cuban GM Dominguez Leinier made tables with his Hungarian counterpart Peter Leko in the 3rd round of the Russia's Team Championship which takes place until February 13th in Krasnodar Loo.

Dominguez, owner of 2757 ELO points, led white pieces on the 3rd board of St. Petersburg team and agreed the peace after 41 moves of a Spanish Opening.

This was the 9th tie between both players who know each other well and have worked together.

Despite this result, the St. Petersburg team suffered its 1st setback after falling 2-4 to the Malachite team thanks to the wins of Russian GM Alexander Grischuk and Moldavian GM Viktor Bologan facing Russian GMs Nikita Vitiugov and Aleksandr Shimanov, respectively.

After the 3rd round, the Malachite and University (Belorechensk) teams dominate the overall table with 6 points, product of 3 wins, which are followed by the Yugra, the SHSM and St. Petersburg teams, all with 4 points and placed in that order.