Leinier Domínguez and Thalía Cervantes two Cubans in the 2022 United States Chess Championship

October 18, 2022

Leinier Domínguez and Thalía Cervantes are the two chess players of Cuban nationality participating in the 2022 United States Championship. Both managed to triumph with white pieces in the eleventh round and enter the penultimate day of competition in positions that still allow them to fight for the crown.

The Güinero Leinier Domínguez had to make 131 moves to defeat the talented fifteen-year-old Christopher Yoo, who opted for the Scandinavian Defense and fought at a disadvantage during much of the game.

Thus, Domínguez maintained his undefeated record, achieved his second victory in the tournament and reached 6.5 points, trailing Fabiano Caruana (7.5) and Ray Robson (7) and tied with Sam Sevian.

Today he will face a tough opponent in the young Jeffery Xiong.

Meanwhile, the sensational Thalía Cervantes achieved her fourth consecutive success by defeating Ashritha Eswaran in a Reti Opening where she gained an early advantage that she converted after 43 moves.

In the previous rounds the Havana native had defeated, in this order, Tatev Abrahamyan, Sabina-Francesca Foisor and Megan Lee.

In this way she reached seven points and is marching in third place alone, one point behind Jennifer Yu —precisely her opponent this Tuesday— and only half a point behind the stellar Irina Krush.

In the previous edition of the North American event, Leinier had achieved fourth place and Thalía seventh.