Walter Arencibia Rodríguez

A chess player from Holguín who has held the title of Grand Master since 1990. He was proclaimed World Youth Champion in 1986 and has represented Cuba in numerous international events with outstanding results.

He was born in Holguín. He began playing chess at a very young age, encouraged by an uncle who taught him the first steps in the game of science at age eight. At age 9 he joined the special chess program in the municipality of Holguín, guided by professors Adelquis Remón and Luis Pupo.

He began playing in the third category at age 10 and qualified for the second. Between 1979 and 1983 he participated in 4 National School Games where he obtained 3 individual gold medals and one gold and two bronze medals for teams. At age 12 he obtains the youth championship of Holguín, but cannot play in the National tournament due to not being of the required age. He is promoted to the National ESPA in 1983.

At age 13 he participates in a national semifinal for seniors, an event in which he competed on six occasions until 1986. In 1985 he became National Youth Champion.

In 1986 he proclaimed himself World Youth Champion at the tournament held in Gousdal, Norway.

Since 1985 he has been in all the finals to compete for Cuba's national title, and has participated in the "Capablanca" since age 15.

In an interview conducted with him in 1993, Walter said:
"When a chess player graduates to Grand Master, they generally strive for perfection in their game, that is my case. I have left conquered goals behind, now I propose to be one day a candidate for the crown of the world; the ceiling of aspirations must be set very high, to jump with the necessary confidence and not break one's head".

National Events

National Youth Championships
1982 – fifth place
1983 – third place
1984 – second place
1985 – champion

He has participated in several Chess Championships.

International Events
World Chess Olympiads
Dubai, United Arab Emirates, 1986
Novi Sad, Yugoslavia, 1990
Moscow, Russia, 1994
Yerevan, Armenia, 1996
Kalmykia, Russia, 1998
Istanbul, Turkey, 2000
Bled, Slovenia, 2002
World Team Cups
Lucerne, Switzerland, 1993
Lucerne, Switzerland, 1997
Yerevan, Armenia, 2001

Capablanca In Memoriam
1983 – XVIII Tournament (Obtains the National Expert parchment)
1984 - XIX Tournament held in Cienfuegos (obtains the FIDE Master title)
1986 – XXI Tournament (Obtains his second International Master norm)

Other Events
Pan-American Team Tournament in Brazil 1991
Radio Rebelde Tournaments
Tournaments in India
Open tournaments in Hungary
"Carlos M. de Céspedes" Tournaments
"Migoyan" Tournaments
Carlos Torres Repetto Open, in Mexico
Events in El Salvador, Spain, Italy
First Panama Open, 2011, second place ELO 2511

Merits and Distinctions
In 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1998, 1999 and 2000 selected among the 10 best athletes of Holguín.
In 1987 he was presented with the Axe of Holguín.
In 1990 selected as best athlete of the year in Holguín.

Chosen among the 15 most outstanding athletes of the past century in Holguín.

Walter Arencibia is the technical director of the national women's chess team (2012)

Source: Ecured