Cuba’s Bruzon Becomes Ibero-American Chess Champ

Cuba’s Bruzon Becomes Ibero-American Chess Champ
By Maryla García Santos

Huelva, Spain, Nov 18, (P26).-Cuban GM Lazaro Bruzon won the title of the First Ibero-American Chess Championship after beating Spain’s IM Manuel Perez in the second game of the final match.

Playing with whites, Bruzon had his opponent’s king surrender in 45 moves, according to information posted on the tournament’s website.

The Cuban chess player was unbeaten during the whole tournament. During the qualifying round, Bruzon held the lead of Pool A with three wins and two draws, accumulating 4 of 5 possible points.

In the semifinal match, he beat Ecuador’s GM Carlos Matamoros in the rapid games after having tied in the classic games.

And in the final match, he drew with his rival in the first classic game, but defeated him in the second one.

Cuban GM Reynaldo Vera, who also participated in the Championship, shared the 13^th and 14 ^th positions with Dominican IM Ramon Mateo

The First Ibero-American Chess Championship was held from November 10 through 18 in the halls of the Las Mercedes convent, in Ayamonte, in the Spanish city of Huelva.

Twenty-four players—including 12 grandmasters and 8 international masters—from 16 nations took part in the tournament.