Three Cubans to compete in Iberoamerican championship

Cuba's national chess champion Isam Ortiz will head a three-man team to compete at the 5th Iberoamerican Chess Championship, in Linares, Spain, from July 22-30.

The tournament brings together the national champions of the 23 member countries and regions of the Iberoamerican Chess Federation (FIBDA).

Ortiz will be accompanied by compatriots Rodney Perez and Roberto Gomez, who were invited by the organizers, national chess commissioner Carlos Rivero told Cuba's National Information Agency.

Several top players have already confirmed their participation at the tournament, which consists of nine rounds, including Brazil's Gilberto Milos, champion of the third edition, Mexico's Manuel Leon Hoyos, Paraguayan Axel Bachmann, Peruvian Jorge Cori and Alejandro Hoffman, from Argentina.

The Iberoamerican Chess Championship was established in 2006, with Cuba winning the inaugural edition thanks to Grandmaster Lazaro Bruzon, considered Cuba's second-best player.

Winners of subsequent editions include Peruvian Julio Granda (2008), Brazilian Gilberto Milos (2010) and Spain's Ivan Salgado (2012).