AIN

The historical, patriotic and cultural meaning of Chess playing in Cuba was stressed during Wednesday’s roundtable discussion.

The analysis of the subject was dedicated to the 115th anniversary of the birthday of Jose Raúl Capablanca which was marked today, and to Chess World Day, established to homage the one hundredth birthday of the Great Cuban and World Chess Champion.

Panelists recalled that Carlos Manuel de Cespedes was the major chess player among Cuban patriots and that when he was killed in combat he had a chess game with him.

In 1878, National Hero Jose Martí took part of a chess match. Grand Master Silvino García, who has represented Cuba for more than 40 years as President of the Cuban Chess Federation recalled that Che Guevara was very fond of chess as well.

Panelists also recalled that in the context of the First Cuban Sports Olympics a giant simultaneous chess match was held with 11 320 tables.
Grand Master Vivian Ramon Pita, who has been the first Cuban women to bear that title, stressed the women’s increasing participation in chess matches, as well as the existence in Cuba of another two grand masters and a grand master to be.  (AIN)