Carlos Daniel Albornoz, Cuba's leading chess player with an ELO rating of 2,577, has requested to leave the national team. This decision comes ahead of the World Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan and follows the departure of other key figures from the squad. The move is seen as a significant setback for Cuban chess amid ongoing challenges.
The resignation of Carlos Daniel Albornoz marks another blow to Cuba's chess program, which has faced a steady decline in recent years. Albornoz, a 25-year-old from Camagüey and a double national champion, formally asked to disengage from the national team, as reported by the state newspaper Granma. Wilfredo Toledo, head of the national technical committee, confirmed the news, though the reasons for Albornoz's departure remain undisclosed. He has also opted out of upcoming tournaments, including those starting in less than two weeks, and will not feature in the Olympic roster for the event set for September 4 to 17 in Uzbekistan. This leaves Cuba's team further weakened, especially after modest showings in prior competitions. In the last World Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, the men's team placed 46th and the women's 55th, trailing behind Latin American rivals such as Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, and Chile. Notably, former Cuban player Lenier Domínguez, now representing the United States, helped his new team secure second place overall, behind only India—a stark illustration of talent drain from the island. Albornoz had been viewed as the primary successor to veterans like Domínguez and Lázaro Bruzón, who left Cuban control to pursue careers abroad. Looking ahead, contenders for national spots include 2025 champion Jorge Elías (ELO 2,493) and runner-up Dylan Berdayes (2,464), alongside Omar Almeida (2,463), Elier Miranda (2,449), Lelys Martínez (2,441), Ermes Espinosa (2,461), and Michel Díaz (2,440). The men's national championship will take place in Camagüey, while Pinar del Río hosts the women's event. This exodus underscores broader issues in Cuban sports, where high-profile athletes increasingly seek opportunities elsewhere, eroding a once-dominant chess tradition.
