With a firm step in which he only lost a draw with Ricardo Chávez, Santiago Guevara became the champion of the 2024 Senior Category Open, a seven-round Swiss modality, which was organized by the Salvadoran Chess Federation (FSA).
This tournament is the most important chess event of the year in El Salvador in the adult category and is valid for international ranking and the formation of national teams.
In the last round of the tournament, Guevara faced the International Master Jorge Girón, whom he defeated in a game that lasted three hours and 14 minutes.
“Throughout the game I played aggressively and from home I had the mentality that I could win the game,” said the champion, who showed his joy in achieving his strategy that led him to victory.
To achieve his victory, Guevara previously defeated Erick Marvin Guevera, Lemnys Arias, Manuel Meléndez, Daniel Medrano and Jeremías Bolaños.
For the young chess player, one of the decisive moves against Girón was that “he let me pass a pawn and with that I managed to trap his king, and I won the second pawn from him.”
In total there were fifty moves on the board, which led Guevara to win the championship. “I feel very happy about the result,” he said.
With this success, Santiago completed the requirements to obtain the title of Master Candidate, a recognition granted by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), and has added points in the international ranking that will allow him to consolidate himself as the second best ranked player in Latin America. in the U11 category, only behind Faustino Oro, from Argentina.
Last December, Santiago was recognized with the Male New Athlete of the Year award at the Esfuerzo y Gloria awards gala, organized by INDES.
“The FSA remains committed to the development of its promising young players, like Santiago, providing them with advanced technical training and facilitating their incorporation into training programs endorsed by FIDE. We fully trust that very soon these young talents will bring many joys to chess in our country,” commented David Blanco, president of the Salvadoran Chess Federation.
Positions
1. Santiago Guevara 6.5
2. FM Ricardo Chávez 6.0
3. IM Jorge Girón 5.5
4. IM Carlos Burgos 5.5
5. Lemnys Arias 5.0
6. Erick Andrés Guevara 5.0
7. Carlos Baiza 5.0
8. Marvin Andrés Guevara 5.0
9. Rigoberto Alas 5.0
10. Carlos Ibarra 5.0
#Santiago #Guevara #crowned #Top #Category #Open #Diario #Página
