The chess world is saddened by the passing of Jorge Vega Fernandez (1935-2023). Former president of the American Continental Chess Federation, was an honorary member of FIDE, and a key figure for chess in the Americas.
Vega, a contemporary of Ernesto Che Guevara, was born in Cuba in 1935 and participated in the Cuban Revolution which overthrew the Batista regime in 1959. An international article stated the “legendary Che Guevara ordered him to carry a pocket chess set so that they could play chess between battles with government Batista troops”. Che Guevara was the best man at Vega’s wedding.
Vega was a delegate since 1977, zonal president and central committee member since 1974 and FIDE bureau member since 1979. In 2002 he was elected President of the Confederación de Ajedrez para América (CCA) and held that position for the next 20 years.
Vega eventually moved and lived in Mexico.
Chess Game
Alexandra Kosteniuk won the Women’s Grand Prix Tournament this month.
White: Alexandra Kosteniuk
Black: Alina Kashlinskaya
Event: 2023 Women’s Grand Prix, Munich, Germany, February 2
Type of Game: Russian Game, Classical Attack
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. Nbd2 Nxd2 8. Bxd2 Bg4
9. O-O Be7 10. c3 O-O 11. h3 Bh5 12. g3 Qd7 13. Kg2 Bg6 14. Bxg6 fxg6 15. Qe2 Rae8
16. Qd3 Bd6 17. Rae1 Ne7 18. Re2 h6 19. Rfe1 g5 20. c4 dxc4 21. Qxc4+ Kh8 22. Re6 Nc8
23. d5 Nb6 24. Qg4 Qf7 25. Qe4 Rd8 26. Bc3 Kg8 27. Rg6 Rfe8 28. Re6 Rf8 29. h4 g4
30. Qxg4 Nxd5 31. Bd4 Ne7 32. Rf6 Qe8 33. Rxd6. 1-0. Black resigns.
