Pan-American Chess Championship for Visually Impaired held in São Paulo

The Pan-American Individual Chess Championship for Visually Impaired athletes took place in São Paulo, Brazil, between October 18 and 25. The competition featured participants from nine countries, including Honduras, Panama, Venezuela, Colombia, Argentina, Ecuador, and Brazil.

Brazilian athletes André Luís de Castro Souza, known as “Planeta,” and José Eusimar Queiroz, known as “Mazinho,” represented their respective regions in the tournament. The competition utilized specialized equipment to ensure autonomy, such as boards with slightly elevated black squares, pieces with central pins, and tactile reading clocks.

Queiroz reported achieving his best ranking in in-person tournaments to date. Additionally, he participated in a 17-hour internship as a referee during the 3rd Women's Chess Tournament as part of his process to obtain FIDE referee certification.