The chess player from Guantánamo, Erick Angelo Ravelo Lobaina, just 14 years old, was crowned champion in the under-14 category during the XXI Central American and Caribbean Youth Chess Festival 2026, held in San José, Costa Rica, and directly earned the title of FIDE Master (FM).
The tournament, organized by the Costa Rican Chess Federation under the auspices of the Costa Rican Institute of Sports and Recreation, brought together 421 players from 19 federations in 12 official competitions that ranged from under-8 to under-18 categories.
Ravelo Lobaina, born in 2012, dominated the absolute under-14 classic tournament with eight points out of nine possible: eight victories and a single defeat recorded in the third round. Completing the podium were Panamanian Juan Raúl Montufar Porcell and Costa Rican Felipe González Arguedas, both with 6.5 points.
The achievement adds to a trajectory that was already attracting attention in Cuban chess. In June 2026, Ravelo won the under-16 category of the tournament "Buscando a Capablanca" during the 59th International Capablanca in Memoriam Tournament held in Havana, scoring seven points out of eight rounds without suffering a single defeat.
According to provincial press reports, the young player from Guantánamo has won the sub-12, sub-14, and sub-16 categories of the Capablanca tournament in different editions, becoming the only chess player from that province to achieve this series of titles.
Behind his achievements are coach Yurber Verdecia and his father Fidel Ravelo, identified as essential pillars of his development.
The page Maikel Deportes Guantánamo emphasized that the young man's performance is even more remarkable considering the obstacles faced by Cuban chess players: "Connectivity issues, the lack of internal tournaments, limited opportunities to participate in foreign tournaments, and in some cases, none at all. All these elements, among others, make the achievements of Cuban youngsters even greater."
"After winning first place in the recent under-16 tournament at the Internacional Capablanca in Memoriam, Havana 2026, he now adds the title of Central American under-14 champion to his achievements, positioning him as one of the great promises of Cuban chess," summarized Maikel Deportes Guantánamo.
JIT reported that, in addition to the gold medal, the performance of the Cuban in the championship earned him the title of FIDE Master directly.
Ravelo was not the only Cuban to shine in Costa Rica. Cuba concluded the festival with five gold medals and two international titles:
1. Erick Angelo Ravelo — Gold medal in the classical category, absolute sub-14, with 8 points out of a possible 9.
2. Liennys Ferrer — Gold medal in the classical modalidad, under-18 female category, with 7.5 points. She is in contention for the title of Woman International Master (WIM).
3. Leandro Álvarez — Gold medal in Blitz (rapid chess) category under 14, with 8.5 points.
4. Ronald Manuel Espinosa — Gold medal in the Blitz category, under-16 division, with 8 points.
5. Liennys Ferrer — Gold medal in the Blitz format, under-18 category, with 7.5 points.
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