Chess/Ajedrez In Costa Rica!

The Pan American Youth Festival was held in San José, Costa Rica, from July 1-July 6, 2017. With the participation of 467 players from 25 countries, this was a real sports festival.

The event had different activities for parents, coaches, and players. The most attractive was the seminar and the simultaneous with the former world champion GM Susan Polgar. In addition there were talks about training, by the IM Ramón Huertas, and about nutrition and sports psychology, by specialists of the Costa Rica Olympic Committee. The attendees could also enjoy stands, live music, zumba, clowns, kids zone, among many others.

After finishing the nine rounds, the Pan American Youth Festival defined the champions of the 12 categories. The United States, Peru, Canada and Colombia were part of the countries that managed to anoint their players as Pan American champions, achieving important victories in different categories.

The Costa Rica players achieved a very good role in the event, demonstrating the
growth that is having the discipline to the best exponents of the continent.
Regarding the U-18 Open category, the title of champion was in the hands of
Canadian IM Michael Song who scored 7.5/9, only half a point over the Peruvian Kevin Cori, who was second place. The podium was completed by Colombian FM Santiago Quiñonez with a score of 6.5.

The girls also had a close fight for the Pan American title, as the Peruvian WFM Trilce Cosme and the Canadian Constance Wang finished with a score of 7.5. By the direct encounter tiebreak gave Cosme the title.

The youngest of the tournament also had a very good level of play, in the U-8 Open
category the Pan American championship title was handed to the Colombian Santiago
Lopez with 8 points, the same amount as the U.S. player Abhimayu Mishra, but the tie
break favored the coffee grower.

In the women's category, the crown of the festival was in the hands of the U.S.
player Omya Vidharthi with 8 points, surpassing the Peruvian Ayme Morani and the
Canadian Greta Qu who completed the podium.

The Pan American champions earn an annual gold membership from ChessKid, one
of the main sponsors of the event.

2017 PAN AM YOUTH CHAMPIONS:

Under 8 Open: CM Santiago López Rayo, Colombia.
Under 8 Girls: Omya Vidyarthi, USA.
Under 10 Open: Eric Li, USA.
Under 10 Girls: Fiorella Contreras, Peru.
Under 12 Open: CM Nico Werner Chasin, USA.
Under 12 Girls: Vicmary Pérez Hernández, Venezuela.
Under 14 Open: Aristo Liu, USA.
Under 14 Girls: Emma He, Canada.
Under 16 Open: FM Francisco Varacalli, Argentina.
Under 16 Girls: WIM Javiera Belén Gómez Barrera, Chile.
Under 18 Open: IM Michael Song, Canada.
Under 18 Girls: WFM Trilce Cosme Contreras, Peru.