Surprises in third round

- The Schedule for tomorrow in the Pan-American will have two rounds.
- The fourth round will star at 9:00 (Colombian time).
- The fifth round will be placed at 17:00 (Colombian time).
- Check all scores on: http://www.panamericanomedellin2007.com/.
- Visit the previous information: http://www.ajedrezpanamericano.blogspot.com/.

Two unexpected scores resulted from a game between Colombians in the oldest category of the XVIII PANAMERICAN YOUTH CHESS FESTIVAL – Medellín, 2007. Simón Sánchez, in more than 60 moves, was the surprise of the round in U16 after defeating his fellow countryman, and favorite for the title, IM David Arenas from Colombia. Sánchez will play against Fernando Valenzuela from Chile. Andres Gallego, Colombian U18 champion surrender his king against Juan David Zapata, losing options for the title.

Simón Sánchez analyze his victory “David Arenas played a very solid Scandinavian (e4,d5,exd5,Dxd5,Cc3,Da5,d4,Cf6…). We were very equal, then I sacrificed a pawn and he captured with no fear. Then I sacrificed another piece (looking to expose his king) and he also took it. I had everything analyzed and I thought I had the game, but a move that could have established the stalemate got away from me. Arenas didn’t notice it. Then I changed my Queen for a Bishop, Rook and Pawn (It was still hard but I was winning). I gave up quality (we were a Queen for two towers) to get three Pawns and look for the checkmate, then I took a Rook and beat him easy.

Eduardo Iturrizaga, The International Master from Venezuela, suffered to tie with the Mexican Miguel Ángel Álvarez. Andres Diamant from Brazil and Ciro Díaz from Ecuador are the leaders in the oldest category with three points. Iturrizaga finished with 2,5 points.

Girls U12
In the U12 category the Colombian Aura Salazar and Melissa Castrillón have three victories in a row during the three rounds. Salazar, with dark pieces, beat the best ranked in the category Luz Adriana Monsalve (Elo 2144), also Colombian, while Castrillón defeated Valentina Jorquera from Chile. Angie Chiriví tied with WFM Paula Rodriguez fellow countrywoman.

Four players are on top, with three points, and will play each other in the fourth round. In the first table, Cecilia Casusol from Peru will move the light ones against Colombian Adriana Pachón. In the second table, two fellow countrywomen and teammates will play: Mellisa Castrillón from Envigado (city, north of Medellín) will move the light ones against Aura Salazar. Valeria Ardus from Bolivia will play against Colombian WFM Paula Rodriguez in the third table. Angie Chiriví will play against Luisa Mercado in the fourth table.

Absolut U10
Colombian Luis Guillermo Blandón (Elo 2141), a player from U9 category is the surprise in the U10 category with three victories in three games. In the third round beat Argentinean José Ignacio Gonzalez. Blandón leads the category along with Arthur Gontijo Chiari from Brazil, Vincen Ardua from Ecuador, Gustavo Cáceres from Perú, Nino Di Gionnantonio from Argentina and Colombian Juan Manuel Posada.

Girls U16
Abigail Romero from Ecuador, WFM Ingrid Aliaga from Peru and WFM Sayumi Terao are the only ones with three victories.

Girls U18
Colombian WIM Jenny Chiriví defeated Peruvian Carol Pretell, after a King Indian Defense that result in two Knights for Chiriví, Bishop and Knight for Pretell, in semi open position. In the fourth round, Chiriví will be in the first table against Brazilian Vanessa Feliciano.