Luis Ernesto Quesada showed a devastating pace on Wednesday to be crowned with 8.5 points in the blitz mode of the Americas 2024 Absolute Continental Chess Championship of the Americas, which continues in the Colombian city of Medellin.

On the road to the throne, the player from Ciego de Avila achieved eight wins and just one draw, to extend the good performance exhibited in the classical segment of the competition, in which he occupies the fifth place without the shadow of a setback.

The success gave him an increase of 17.5 units to his Elo in the fastest speciality of the Science Game, this time played in four-minute games, plus two seconds of increment after each move.

Quesada, the reigning national champion, was joined on the podium by two other Cuban-born players representing other countries. Roberto García (COL) and Fidel Corrales (USA) accumulated eight scratches, but anchored in places two and three, in that order, after the tie-break system was applied.

Santiago’s Lelys Martinez and Havana’s Omar Almeida closed with a similar total of seven scores, placing ninth and 11th, respectively.

Carlos Rivero, president of the Cuban Chess Federation (FCA), praised the performance of the Cubans, especially the champion.

«Eight wins, a spectacular performance in a tournament with players from more than 20 countries. We continue to demonstrate the good moment of chess in Cuba,» commented the director to JIT, who is taking part in the activities organised by the organisers to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the International Chess Federation (FIDE).

«As part of the celebrations here during these days, our federation was presented with a plaque in recognition of its work and contribution to the development of chess,» Rivero added.

The governing bodies of chess in Peru and Colombia deserved the same distinction.

The 2024 Absolute Continental brings together more than 300 players, who are also battling for one of the four places available for the next World Cup.