The game between the two-time champion and runner-up of Cuba, Grand Masters (GM) Carlos Albornoz and Yasser Quesada ended in a draw when the eighth round of the National Chess Championship was played today in this city.
This division of honors kept the challenger Yasser in the first position of the contest now with five points out of seven possible, escorted by the International Master (IM) Arnaldo Fernández who also adds five units, but out of eight possibilities.
The duel between Albornoz with white and Quesada with black, exhibited an English defense that lasted until 50 moves when both chess players shook hands to sign the armistice.
For his part, GM Arnaldo Fernández was the winner in this round, after beating local GM Lelys Martínez in 26 moves of a Dutch, while GM Luis Ernesto González also disposed of Michel Díaz in 54 moves of a Semi-Tarrasch.
Matchups between GM Isán Ortiz and his counterpart Omar Almeida in 25 of a Pirc ended in draws, as did IM Henry Soto and GM Ermes Espinosa in 23 moves of a Dutch Stonewall.
Today GM Elier Miranda was on rest, who is in sixth place in the tournament, with 3.5 points out of a possible seven.
