Cuban opens with victories in 43rd World Chess Olympiad

HAVANA, Cuba, Sep 25 (acn) Both Cuban squads won in the first round of the 43rd World Chess Olympiad underway in Batumi, Georgia.

The women´s team swept 4-0 Iraq with wins to the account of Yaniet Marrero (2281 Elo points), Maritza Arribas (2243), Lisandra Llaudy (2294) and Yerisbel Miranda (2239), according to the specialized website www.chess-results.com .
Meanwhile, the Cuban men´s side defeated 3.5-0.5 Cyprus as Ioannnis Damianov (2008) managed to draw with Yasser Quesada (2523) in the 4 th board, while the wins went to Yusnel Bacallao (2588), Isan Ortiz (2527) and Omar Almeida (2540).
As for other results, all favorites won, but there were individualities to highlight such as the win of Moroccan CM Mohamed Aithmidou (2244) over Chinese GM Chao Li (2708) and the draw achieved by Costa Rican WIM Maria Rodriguez (1943) with Russian GM Alexandra Goryachkina (2535).
Today, in the second round, the Cuban men´s team will face Mongolia and the women will have Portugal as opponent, two matches in which both Caribbean sides appear as favorite.