Photo taken from Jit

Havana, February 5 (RHC)-- The fourth round of the National Men's Chess Championship being played in Holguin promises excitement, especially in duels like the one between the current leader Henry Soto and Omar Almeida, one of those following him closely.

A native of Mayabeque, Soto reached 2.5 points in three salutes this Saturday after beating Ermes Espinosa from Villaclare, and now he will move the white pieces against Almeida, who has two stripes.

Almeida, a man with 21 national tournaments played, won in a more recent duel against the host Rider Diaz and is in the opinion of experts one of those who could dispute the podium at the Sports Museum in Holguin.

This Sunday, the encounter between Luis Ernesto Quesada from Avileña and Carlos Daniel Albornoz from Camagüey, the two men with the highest ranking among the 12 contenders of the event and who currently have two and 1.5 units, respectively, is also expected to be attractive.

The host Isán Ortiz, owner of two points and another of the favorites, will face Santiago's Lelys Martínez (2 points), Havana's Alexey Fernández (2) will face Ermes (1), and Holguín's Rider Díaz (0.5) will oppose Villaclareño Jerzy Jesús Pérez (0).

The Sunday duels will be completed with the talented Havana's Dylan Berdayes (1) against Elier Miranda (1.5) from Villaclareño.

The latter comes from dominating the semifinal stage and from what he has shown, he seems to be fit for a good result in the current segment in which the medals will be shared after 11 rounds by the Swiss system.