Chess: Carlos Torre Memorial Chess Tournament in Merida, Mexico

Cuban GM Lazaro Bruzón is leading a group of eight chess players with 3.5 points after the second double round on Friday at the Carlos Torre Memorial chess tournament in Merida, Mexico.

Bruzón celebrated his third consecutive win after beating Cuban Maikel Góngora but signed a draw with Peruvian Emilio Córdova in the second match on Friday.

Bruzon won twice on Thursday during the first day of the tournament. He beat Ukrainian Irina Andrenko and Cuban Michel Díaz.

The Cuban Grand Master plays Ukrainian Andrey Baryshpolets today, Saturday.

Soccer: Club World Cup Final

The Spanish soccer club FC Barcelona is refusing to rule Lionel Messi out of Sunday's Club World Cup final, despite the fact the Argentinian star was diagnosed with a stomach complaint before Thursday's semifinal.

Luis Suarez made up for the absence of Neymar and Lionel Messi, who missed semifinal game due to a renal colic, scoring a hat trick on Thursday as Barcelona beat Guangzhou Evergrande 3-0 to advance to the finals.

Neymar's chances of playing Argentine River Plate in the final in Yokohama seems to be progressing.

The Brazilian striker sat out Barcelona's training on Monday and Tuesday, before doing some workouts in front of media at the start of Wednesday's session.

Neymar's was a substitute in the semifinal, but stepped up his training routine on Friday, running the perimeter of the pitch with a coach, then doing some dribbling drills and sprinting with the ball, isolated from the other players.

Dani Alves missed Friday's practice with a bruised foot, but is expected to be fit for Sunday's match.

TENNIS: Santo Domingo Tournament

Cuban tennis men's double by William Dorantes and Marcos Lazo ended third in the Future F3 Tennis Tournament in Santo Domingo, The Dominican Republic.

The Cuban team was relegated to bronze after losing in semifinals to Argentinian Mateo Nicolás Martínez and Mexican Luis Patiño two sets to zero in 48 minutes, first 6-1 and 6-2 in the second.

Martínez-Patiño, however, were beaten by South African Keith-Patrick Crowley and US Max Schnur in the finals 0-2.

The Cuban double team had previously defeated Dominicans Julio Armando and Nick Hardt and won in quarterfinals because the Argentinian double of Juan Ignacio Galarza and Facundo Mena didn't show up for the match.
 

Brazilian Wins Pipe Masters Surfing Championship in Hawaii

Adriano de Souza has become the first Brazilian to win the prestigious Pipe Masters surfing championship in Hawaii, and the second to be crowned world champion.

De Souza clinched the title in the north shore of Oahu after he beat fellow Brazilian Gabriel Medina in the final, the Latin American country’s first ever number one in the World Surfing League. 

The new champion thanked his deceased brother for buying him his first ever surfboard.

"It's an incredible feeling," he said after he was carried off the beach by a large crowd of Brazilian fans.

The Brazilian Ministry of Sports tweeted out that "the surfing world is (Brazilian colors) green and yellow once again! Congratulations." 

Medina’s second place earned him the “Triple Crown” as the surfer with the highest total tally from three contests in Hawaii at Haleiwa, Sunset and Pipeline.

He has been attributed with setting off the “Brazilian Wave" after his 2014 world title, motivating other young Brazilians to take part in the sport.