PRESS RELEASE 4: June 16, 2005

 

DEL CASTILHO WINS 2 MORE AT PAN AMERICAN UNDER 16

 

 

Martyn Del Castiho, Barbados’ and the English Speaking Caribbean’s lone representative at the Pan American Youth Chess Championships currently underway in Santa Catarina, Brazil turned in best performance of the event with wins in Round 6 and 7 against Brazilians Lucas Santiago and Vinicius Tine Martins.

 

In the Lucas match Del Castilho demonstrated his how much his end game has improved over the last 12 months with a well execute King and Pawns ending. Del Castilho knowing that he had a more favorable ending declined a number of draw offers from the Brazilian while luring him into an exchange of the major pieces.

 

With only pawns and kings on the board Del Castilho maneuvered his king to the Queen side where he successfully shepherded his a pawn to queen, The Brazilian even though he managed to take all of Del Castilho’s remaining pawns was still loss since his two pawns were simply unable to make it up the board in time to queen.

 

Boosted by this win Del Castilho then registered his most elegant finish with a beautiful Knight sacrifice in Round 7 against his other Brazilian opponent Vinicius Tine Martins.

 

This match was a duel of nerves with both players living on a knife’s edge; the simplest inaccuracy would lead to immediate defeat. It however took time trouble to cause the Brazilian into an ill conceived expedition with his Queen which opened the door for Del Castilho to pounce. Del Castilho’s Knight stunning sacrifice immediately after time control brought the Brzailian’s resignation.

 

Del Castihlo now on 4 points, jumps up the standing to 18^th place which he shares with eight other players.

 

FIDE Master Max Cornejo (2229) of Peru tops the Pan-American Under 16 table with 6 ½ points after defeating Defending Champion International Master Eduardo Iturrizaga (2225) and Maurico Flores Rios (2131) of Chile.

 

In second place on 6 points is Number 1 Seed FIDE Master Axel Bachman of Paraguay (2410). Bachman drew with Argentineans Damian Lemos (2235) and won against Herman Catelli (2112) in Round 7.

 

Lemos is in 3^rd place with 5 ½  points closely followed by German Della Morte of Argentina, FIDE Master Garri Pancheco of Peru, Maurico Flores Rios and Alvardo Valles Escobar of Chile all of whom have 6 points.

 

Del Castilho enters round 8 against another Brazilian Antonio Car Bambino Filho who to date has lost only one match.