Cuba announces complete team for online World Chess Olympiad, planned to replace the in-person competition, previously scheduled for this coming August in Moscow.
Organizers were obliged to cancel the most important international chess event due to the COVID-19 pandemic, instead promoting the virtual event, which will take place July 22 and involve mixed national teams of six members each.
The Cuban selection was announced recently and features winners of past national championships, including Pinar del Río’s Lisandra Ordaz and Carlos Daniel Albornoz from Camagüey, the latter in compliance with the established competition requisite of including players from the under-20 division.
To complete the group are Yusnel Bacallao, from Matanzas; Villa Clara’s Yasser Quesada; Yerisbel Miranda, another representative from Pinar del Río; and also from Camagüey, the promising Ineymig Hernández, the team’s female under-20 player.
National Commissioner Carlos Rivero, commented to Jit that the opinions of coaches, as well as results in both online and in-person competitions were taken into consideration in selecting team members.
The competition’s rules also stipulate the inclusion of six substitute players. Chosen for these positions were Holguin’s Isán Ortiz; Luis Ernesto Quesada from Ciego de Avila; Yaniela Forgas and Oleiny Linares from Santiago de Cuba; as well as two under-20 players from Villa Clara, Jerzy Jesús Pérez and Roxangel Obregón.
Rivero acknowledged that participating in the event implies a double effort, as there are technological requirements that may not be available to all players involved. Provincial Sports Directorates will provide support in this regard.
For this type of event, Jit points out, an Internet connection with a adequate speed is required, as well as cameras that allow for live broadcasting of players in each game.
Yet to be disclosed are the digital platform to be utilized, the required pace of play, and the placing of teams for the draw.
According to previous reports, the results of the men's and women's teams at the 2018 World Chess Olympiad in Batumi will be used to determine the groups and subsequently, pairings for the matches.
