Isam Ortiz

Cuban Grand Master of chess. He has participated in national and international events. Selected among the 10 most outstanding athletes of Holguín in 2011. In the July 2013 registry he has 2,609 ELO rating points.

He was born in Holguín, Cuba, and from an early age he was drawn to chess.

In July 2008 the IM wins the XVII edition of the International Chess Open "Cidade das Burgas", in Spain, achieving his first International Grand Master norm, finishing undefeated in the nine days of competition. In the last round, he drew with Romanian GM Manolache leading the final standings alone, totaling seven and a half points.
He is selected among the most outstanding athletes of Holguín in 2011.

On May 15, 2013 he obtains second place in the VIII Continental Chess Tournament, qualifying for the 2013 Chess World Cup. He signed a draw with Argentine GM Diego Flores after 28 moves of an English opening in which he played Black, and was the only one to obtain 8.5 points, one less than Peruvian GM Julio Granda, who retained first place from a year before. Ortis's overall result was six wins, three draws and only one loss[4].
Bruzón and Isam Ortiz at the VIII Continental Chess Tournament

Bruzón and Isam Ortiz at the VIII Continental Chess Tournament
He participates in the World Chess Cup, held in Tromso, Norway, where on August 11 he defeated Hungarian Judit Polgar (2696) number 54 and principal figure of women's chess worldwide, staging one of the surprises of the day by winning with White pieces in 65 moves of an English opening[5]. On August 14 he was defeated by Frenchman Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.

In October 2013 he obtains first place in the open chess tournament of the Central University of Bogotá, in Colombia. He is the current chess champion of Cuba (2013).