None of the favourites reached the third round at the top of the table.

A second round of unexpected results left an unexpected lead after the second round of the National Women’s Chess Championship 2025, which is already sending out interesting signals from Santa Clara.

Perhaps the only outcome that was in line with expectations was the division of honours between Santiago’s Maritza Arribas and local Roxángel Obregón, which left them with an accumulated 1.5 points and behind the trio of winners.

That group was made up of host Lorena Beatriz Montejo, Matanzas’ Haden Zuaznabal and Cienfuegos’ Legna García, after defeating much more experienced opponents, some of whom were members of the most recent Olympic team.

Montejo, in command of the black pieces, defeated Santiago de Cuba’s Yaniela Forgas after 47 moves of a Queen’s pawn opening, while Haden also successfully led the dark figures to tilt the king of Camagüey’s Ineymig Hernández in 48 moves of a Sicilian defence.

For Legna, happiness came on move 30 of a Queen’s Pawn opening in her duel against local Amanda Muñiz, in which she enjoyed the first move.

Few would have dared to predict such a panorama in the vanguard, which does not include Yerisbel Miranda from Pinar del Río or Oleiny Linares from Santiago, just to mention two of the favourites.

Yerisbel, leader of the Cuban women’s ranking and bronze medallist a year ago, lost in her debut against Yaniela and this Sunday she was held to a draw in her battle with Karen Gutiérrez from the capital, which left her with barely half a point.

Oleiny closed the day with 1.5 points, thanks to her success against Amy Cepero from Matanzas, which allows her to stay close to the leaders.

Lorena Beatriz and Legna will be her rivals this Monday, while she will take on a much more demanding challenge against Oleiny, champion in three editions (2010-2016-2023).