Ashritha Eswaran Pan-American u20 Champion

 

By Dejan Bojkov – grandmaster and coach of Ashritha Eswaran

During the Pan American Championships last year in Paraguay we met a lot of nice people and one of them invited us to come to the next edition in El Salvador. Alvaro tempted us with a lot of things. I am sure Ashritha liked the idea of a WIM title and WGM norm. I, on the other had was thinking about the amazing seafood and the coffee in El Salvador…

Jokes aside, on 13. July we flew to El Salvador, where the capital city San Salvador was hosting the Pan American championships for boys and girls U20. The tournament began on 16. July and thus we had some time to fill holes in Ashritha’s opening repertoire and to do a little bit of tourism.

After the successful US-Championship at the end of June Ashritha started the event as rating favorite. I was a bit worried about her new status as I feel it is psychologically easier not having to defend the top spot.

The tournament, however, turned out to be quite a success. After winning in round one, Ashritha played badly in game two, but survived. She then won four games in a row and emerged as clear leader.

Practically, she could have secured victory two rounds before the end of the tournament had she not blown her enormous advantage against Danitza Maccarini Vazquez in round seven. But Ashritha got infected by her opponent’s time trouble, played too fast and spoiled her position. But in the last two rounds Ashritha scored 1.5/2 and still won the title.

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Ashritha and Danitza after the prize giving ceremony

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Danitza Maccarini Vazquez made 7.0/9 and deservedly won silver. The bronze medal went to Miriam Parkhurst from Mexico.

Final Standings

Rk. Name FED Rtg Pts.
1 Eswaran Ashritha USA 2095 7.5
2 WIM Vazquez Maccarini Danitza PUR 1948 7.0
3 WFM Parkhurst Casas Miriam MEX 1869 6.0
4 Librelato Kathie Goulart BRA 1842 6.0
5 WFM Gutierrez Espinosa Karen CUB 2078 5.5
6 WIM Granados Diaz Maria Esther NCA 1838 5.5
7 Herrera Marjorie ESA 1555 5.5
8 WIM Jorquera Cabello Valentina CHI 2005 5.0
9 WCM Garcia Alcira ESA 1725 5.0
10 WCM De Leon Stephanie ESA 1654 5.0
11 WCM Ortez Andrea ESA 1671 5.0
12 Cosme Contreras Trilce PER 1755 4.5
13 Ramirez Gonzalez Maria Jose CRC 1736 4.5
14 Castro Venus Sabrina ESA 1556 4.5
15 Cruz Lima Kimberly Esmeralda GUA 1718 4.0
16 Guardado Flores Diana Beatriz ESA 1683 4.0
17 Natareno Elvia GUA 1675 4.0
18 Palacios Celina ESA 1617 4.0
19 Santos Judith ESA 1550 4.0
20 Villalobos Alejandra ESA 1622 3.5
21 Garcia Angie ESA 0 3.0
22 Canas Belen Alexandra ESA 0 2.0
23 Palencia Berenice ESA 0 2.0
24 Martinez Hazel Rebeca ESA 0 1.0

In the boys’ section two young gentlemen dominated the field but in the end Kevin Cori Quispe had a better tie-break than Andrew Tang of the USA and won gold for Peru. Thanks to Brian Sebas Escalante the bronze medal also went to Peru.

Ashritha’s last three tournaments were a real success for us. She first won the USA G20 title, then shared 1. place at the Pan Am G18 in Colombia, and now became clear first at the Pan Am in El Salvador becoming a WIM and making a WGM norm on the way.

After these tournaments Ashritha’s FIDE rating is close to the 2200 mark and we do not intend to stop. But we know we need to work harder if we want to succeed.

Last, but not least: the coffee was indeed fantastic, and the sea-food…I am not sure if there is an appropriate word to describe it.

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Coach Dejan Bojkov, Ashrita and her mom in an archaeological site

 

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Doing some souvenir shopping!

You can read the entire article, see more pictures at the website www.chessbase.com

 

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