Gian Carlo Arvelo and Raydily Rosario Almánzar are new chess champions of the Dominican Republic. The Open and Women’s Championships, Swiss tournaments with classical time control, were held from February 18 to March 06 (with a long break from February 20-25 in the open competition).
The 18th rated Gian Carlo Arvelo produced a major sensation by winning the open event with an excellent result 9/11. The champion completed the tournament unbeaten, finishing with three straight victories and picking up 91 rating points. Gian Carlo qualified for the national team and will represent his country at Chess Olympiad 2022.
“This day is very special for me because I become the National Chess Champion of the Dominican Republic. To be the number 1 in whatever is not an easy task; it is a dream that many cannot achieve, and today I could,” said the happy champion.
The rating favourites FM Carlos Paul Abreu and IM Jose Lisandro Muñoz netted 8½/11 each and tied for second place. Silver went to Carlos Paul thanks to slightly better Buchholz over Jose Lisandro, who had to settle for bronze.
Final standings:
| 1 | FM | Arvelo, Gian Carlo | 9 |
| 2 | FM | Abreu, Carlos Paul | 8½ |
| 3 | IM | Munoz, Jose Lisandro | 8½ |
| 4 | FM | Guzman, Christopher | 8 |
| 5 | FM | Hernandez Sanchez, Elvis | 7½ |
| 6 | Mendez Ramirez, Victor | 7 | |
| 7 | CM | Crispin Ferreras, Darvi Abraham | 7 |
| 8 | IM | Dominguez, Jose Manuel | 6½ |
| 9 | Mesa Cruz, Juan Carlos | 6½ | |
| 10 | Sanchez Castillo, Jose Rafael | 6½ |
In the Women’s Championship, Raydily Rosario Almánzar (pictured below) tied for the first place with CM Jennifer María Almanzar but lifted the main trophy owing to a greater number of victories. CM Doribel Muñoz Santana claimed bronze scoring 6/8, while the defending champion Patricia Evarista Castillo Pena did not make it to the podium and finished only 5th.
Final standings:
| 1 | Rosario Almanzar, Raydily | 6½ | |
| 2 | WCM | Almanzar Vasquez, Jeniffer Maria | 6½ |
| 3 | WCM | Munoz Santana, Doribel | 6 |
| 4 | WFM | Diaz Cesar, Wilsaida Pieranlly | 5½ |
| 5 | WCM | Castillo Pena, Patricia Evarista | 5 |
| 6 | Gonzalez Peguero, Mary Loly | 5 | |
| 7 | Coronado Paulino, Karen Libell | 5 | |
| 8 | WCM | Villar Acevedo, Darlin Rocio | 5 |
| 9 | Sanchez Jaspez, Rosangel | 4½ | |
| 10 | Ramirez Luzon, Franchesca | 4½ |
Photo: Federación Dominicana de Ajedrez Facebook page
