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• 12 / 31 / 2009

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Havana Grand Master (GM) Leinier Dominguez has remained in the world's chess elite, defining his selection as best chess player of the year in 2009, a period in which he held an-over-2,700 point rating.

 Winning a 15th category Capablanca Memorial and participating in three Grand Slam tournaments enhanced the performance by the idol from Guines town in Havana province.

He holds currently 2,719 Elo units that place him in 21st world position and as Latin American leader in his discipline, the Cuban News Agency (CAN) reported on Wednesday.

The best woman chess player was GM Maritza Arribas, the Cuban chess queen for the ninth time, and FIDE Master (FM) Yusnel  bacallao, from Matanzas province, was chosen as best new player of the year, after his debut out of the island and having reached 2,500 Elo points, according to the ACN.

The national commission selected also FM Carlos Hevia, from Havana, as best junior player and GM Lazaro Bruzon as senior champion, leading the list of 10 outstanding chess players. FIDE Masters Pedro Morales, from Havana and Carlos Larduet, from Santiago de Cuba, were chosen as best players among those physically challenged, and Gerardo Anaya (international) and Jose Luis Ramirez (national) were selected as best umpires.

Source: PL