In second round, full concentration of the players

- The third round Hill be complete this Tuesday alter 15:00 (Colombian time)
- Chess educational purposes, topic of the first scholastic journey.
- Picture of the Pan-American en el blog: http://www.ajedrezpanamericano.blogspot.com/

Translation: Camilo Herrera

The first day of competition of the XVIII PANAMERICAN YOUTH CHESS FESTIVAL -- Medellín 2007 concluded on Monday with the second round that began a 17:00 (Colombian time) at The Chess Park (Parque del Ajedrez) of the Atanasio Girardot sports complex. The representatives of the 18 countries will show in nine rounds until July seventh the best strategy in the sport.

- Some scores
Three players of the U16 category remain undefeated: the International Masters Córdova and Arenas, holding 2 points and 1,5 respectively. FIDE Master Renato Terry defeated Argentinean Gabriel Onocko and completed two points, leading the event. IM Emilio Córdova with a mature control of the dark pieces, using a Sicilian defense, completed his second victory after two rounds. This time Córdova beat his fellow countryman Gianfranco Cutipa. IM David Arenas from Colombia and Eduard Meoño from Peru ended with a stalemate. Argentinean Nicolas Mayorga defeated Cristian Almonacid. Jeison Meza from Ecuador got ahead of Manuel Medina’s game.

In ladies U18, the Colombian WIM Jenny Chiriví couldn’t get a victory from the slight advantage and finished with a tie against the beautiful Mexican player Alicia Gutierrez. In third round, Chiriví will play with light pieces against Peruvian Carol Pretell. Argentinean WFM Stephanie Ame and the Brazilian Pamplona Correa ended with a stalemate.

In U12 of the ladies category, Melissa Castrillón, Colombian champion, kept showing great level just as she did in the National U18 when she finished in fifth place by getting her second win of the tournament. The duel Colombia-Mexico finished with a 2-0 in favor of the host country: Melissa Castrillón beat Diana Carime Real and Aura Cristina Salazar, former State Champion from Antioquia in U12, U14, and U16, did the same to Xenia Florez.

In boys, Peruvian FM Jorge Cori defeated Mexican José Carvajal, and Colombian Raul Barrios did the same against Jesús Carlos Arriaga from Mexico.

- Academic conference
With the conference Chess educational purposes by Venezuelan Juvencio Blanco, president of the Commission on the World Youth Chess, it will be open the scholastic conferences in the XVIII PANAMERICAN YOUTH CHESS FESTIVAL -- Medellín 2007, This first speech will be effective on Tuesday, in the Salón Caribe of Nutibara Hotel at 10:00 (Colombian time).