Leinier Domínguez Says Goodbye to the Chess World Championship with His Best International Performance

August 18, 2023

Cuban Grandmaster Leinier Domínguez, who represents the USA in the Chess World Cup taking place in Baku, Azerbaijan, lost this Wednesday against Fabiano Caruana in the quarterfinals of the competition. After a match that the World Chess Federation described as "tense and complicated," the Havana native exits the tournament having improved his historical performance as well as his rating.

Caruana, who also competes for the USA, won with great difficulty and found himself "in a tight spot" against Domínguez, acknowledged the official website of the Federation. It was a closely contested and quite balanced game, they added, until Domínguez made a slip that Caruana did not hesitate to exploit to turn the match in his favor. The winner will advance to the semifinals, although it has not yet been decided against whom he will compete.

Domínguez has faced Caruana on more than 60 occasions. In 2009, when they met in the world cup in Khanty Mansiysk, Russia, the Cuban lost. However, the last time they played—in a tournament held last year in the USA—they agreed to a draw.

During the round of 16, the so-called Idol of Güines defeated Serbian Alexey Sarana and placed himself among the eight best chess players in the competition. His victory with the black pieces, in 32 moves, earned him $25,000 and improved his record. Until his confrontation with Caruana, he had accumulated five wins and seven draws.