Cuban Crowned Pan American Women’s Chess Champion

Story from the Periodico of Las Tunas, Cuba HAVANA, Cuba, May 14, (acn).— International Master (IM) Zirka Frometa of Cuba won the Pan American Chess Championship with seven of nine possible points in the tournament held in the Salvadoran capital of San Salvador. The player from Santiago de Cuba brought back memories of some of her best moments as a player after finishing with a stalemate against host country competitor IM Sonia Zepeda and finishing with six wins, two ties and only one loss. The loss was against teammate GM Martiza Arribas, who finished third overall with six points. Arribas had four wins, four ties and one loss to Ecuadorian IM Evelyn Moncayo. According to a report in the Salvadoran media, second place went to the young FIDE Master (FM) Yuanling Yuan of Canada, with 6.5 points, who won her final match against IM Lorena Zepeda of El Salvador. Moncayo finished fourth with six points and the Zepeda sisters, Lorena and Sonia, had 5.5 each. Last year’s tournament was held in San Luis, Argentina and the best Cuba was able to manage was a fourth place finish by GM Sulennis Pina, fifth by IM Yaniet Marrero and seventh by GM Vivian Roman. The title in 2007 went to GM Sarai Sanchez of Venezuela who fell to eighth this time with 5.5. points.