The largest international chess event in Dominican history opens

Universidad Nacional Pedro Henríquez Ureña National (UNPHU) and the Dominican Chess Federation (FDA) began this Friday, September 16, the first annual International Classic, the most important ever held in the country, and in memory of the great Dominican humanist.

The opening ceremony of the “Pedro Henríquez Ureña In Memoriam”, as the tournament is officially called, was held in the university’s auditorium at 9:00 a.m. and an hour later the tournament began, in which players of the highest level from the United States, Mexico, Argentina, Spain and Cuba participated; countries where Pedro Henríquez Ureña lived and taught.

At the opening ceremony, the rector of UNPHU, architect Miguel Fiallo Calderón, expressed the efforts of the academy to expand the practice of the activity that “is both art and science”, and that is part of the optional disciplines taught at the university. Meanwhile, the president of the Chess Federation, Pedro Domínguez Brito, expressed his gratitude to the university for the facilities provided, and to the journalist Miguel Guerrero, to whom he gave a recognition.

Players such as Fernando Peralta of Argentina, Alejandro Ramírez of the United States, Manuel León Hoyos of Mexico, Fernando Cuenca of Spain and Yasser Quezada Pérez of Cuba, former champions of their respective countries, all possessing the title of Grand Master, the highest distinction granted by the International Chess Federation (FIDE), are present in the tournament.

The foreign cast is joined by 15 Dominican players, two of whom hold the title of International Master, Josué Araujo and José Manuel Domínguez, both former national champions, and another five with the title of Maestro FIDE.

The manager of the tournament is Erick Hernández, from El Salvador, who is president of zone 2.3 of FIDE America. He is assisted by Leonardo Estévez, Dominican international referee, and is coordinated by Braulio Ramírez, general secretary of the Chess Federation.

Captions of Photos

1. Honorary Move by Ms. Milagro Abreu, member of the board of FUDPHU, and Eng. Kennedy Vargas, Deputy Minister of Sports

2. Dr. Pedro Dominguez Brito and the Architect Miguel Fiallo Calderón

3. Fernando Peralta Argentine champion

4. Yasser Quezada National Champion of Cuba