Dominican chess players achieve historic success at Pan-American Championship

Dominican chess players secured significant victories at the Pan-American Master and Senior Chess Championship held in San Salvador, El Salvador. The tournament featured competitors from 19 different countries.

Hugo Orizondo achieved a historic milestone by tying for first place in the Senior +65 classical category with 7 out of 9 possible points. Combined with his previous FIDE Elo rating exceeding 2,200, Orizondo officially earned the title of International Master (IM), a distinction the Dominican Republic has not seen in this category since 2019.

Additionally, International Master Nelson Pinal was crowned Pan-American Champion in the Blitz (+65 years) category. The Dominican delegation also included Teófilo Mesa and Juan Manuel Jáquez, who participated in the international competition.

The Dominican Chess Federation (FDA) praised the athletes, stating their achievements reflect the discipline and progress of chess within the country.