Bruzón surrenders his king and Leinier draws in penultimate round of the USA Chess Championship

October 18, 2021

The Cuban-American Grandmaster Leinier Domínguez achieved his ninth draw on the tenth and penultimate round of the US Chess Championship, keeping him undefeated one day before the tournament closes.

Domínguez split the match with Jeffery Xiong in 34 moves, placing him with 5.5 points one step away from the top. In the final round he will face Dariusz Swiercz.

The painful note came from Lázaro Bruzón, who fell playing with black pieces in 42 moves against Dariusz Swiercz, Leinier's opponent on Monday. This is his third loss in the championship.

The Cuban has three losses and seven draws, with no wins, one date from the end. Today Monday he will face Grandmaster Aleksandr Lenderman, one of the competition's leaders.

As a distinctive note, on Sunday the 18-year-old chess player Carissa Yipp became the women's champion of the US Championship, after winning her fifth consecutive game and placing herself, with eight points, out of reach of the other competitors with one match still to play.

Meanwhile, the young Thalía Cervantes also drew in 38 moves against Irina Krush. With one victory, two losses and seven draws, the Cuban's debut in the competition has been satisfactory.

Her time in the championship ends on Monday against Gulrukhbegim Tokhirjonova.