Cuban chess player Lázaro Bruzón drew against the world number 2

October 7, 2021

The Grand Masters Lázaro Bruzón and Leinier Domínguez played their respective opening matches in the 2021 edition of the United States Chess Championship, which began with the presence of a dozen players gathered in the already traditional venue of San Luis.

A debutant in these competitions and removed from master-level play for years, Bruzón (ELO 2645) was never at a disadvantage against the colossal Fabiano Caruana, a player with a rating of 2800, and his performance had the added merit of achieving it with the black pieces.

The game (Spanish Opening, Berlin Defense) lasted 44 moves, and the native of Las Tunas managed to enjoy a certain advantage that he subsequently did not attempt to press to the limit, perhaps due to the lack of confidence generated by several years without participating in elite chess. Thus, he forced a draw through triple repetition and took half a point that was not in the calculations of almost any specialist.

It was exactly ten years since these two players had last faced each other across the board. The head-to-head record between them now stands at 2.5-1.5 in favor of Caruana, who in 2018 contested the world crown held by Norwegian Magnus Carlsen.

For his part, Domínguez (2760) also played with the black pieces and agreed to a draw against Aleksandr Lenderman (2607) in 64 moves of a Queen's Pawn game.

The Idol of Güines, who almost managed to win in the 2019 edition (ultimately finishing behind Hikaru Nakamura, the big absentee this time), had a pair of victories against said rival in this type of competition.

The event, which will distribute 194 thousand dollars in prizes, will be played in 11 rounds with games of 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, and 30 minutes for the rest of the game with an increment of 30 seconds per move.

There will be a rest day every four rounds.