Sánchez and Castillo Reaffirm Titles at Panama Chess Championship

The women's podium was completed by Mariana Lobo and Keytleen Chavarría, both with 6.5 points, in a tournament where Yaleika Chung also stood out with 6 points. Behind them, parity was the hallmark, with a group of seven players tied at 6.5 points, reflecting the growth in the technical level of the game. Ashley Castillo, for her part, delivered a perfect and dominant performance. Beyond the trophies and prizes, this 2026 National Absolute and Women's Championship had maximum relevance: it was the second and last qualifying tournament to form the Panamanian Olympic Team. Roberto Sánchez demonstrated why he is the defending champion by finishing the event with a solid score of 7.5 points. The WFM (FIDE Woman Master) claimed the crown with 9 points, leaving her immediate pursuers with no chance. The path was not easy; the pressure from Rubén Ulloa, who finished runner-up with 7 points, kept the suspense alive until the final rounds. During a week of high strategic intensity at the Combat Center of the Irving Saladino City Sports Complex, International Master (IM) Roberto Sánchez and FIDE Woman Master (WFM) Ashley Castillo reaffirmed their titles, solidifying themselves as the main references at the board in the country. The president of the organization, Luis Esquivel Golcher, extended a public thank you to Pandeportes for logistical support and celebrated the 'massive registration,' confirming the boom this discipline is experiencing in the country. The points earned in this event, under the 2025-2026 Olympic Cycle system (which awards from 25 to 1 point for the top ten positions), are the key to representing the country at the upcoming Chess Olympics to be held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, this September. The Panamanian Chess Federation highlighted the success of the call, which brought together chess players from the entire national territory.