Cuban Teen Crowned Chess Champion, Values Learning From Defeat

César Raúl González Xiqué, a 16-year-old from Cuba, has claimed the U-20 Central America and Caribbean chess titles in both rapid and blitz formats. Despite his success, González maintains a reserved demeanor, stating that he learns more from his losses than his victories.

"The victories are the games in which one learns the least, because it's something I do out of my own knowledge," González explained. He finds that defeats offer greater opportunities for growth, and he is most motivated by wins that demand his absolute best. "When one makes a mistake, there is more room for learning. The victories that motivate me most are those that demand everything from me," he shared.

Originally from Trinidad, Sancti Spíritus, González moved to Havana with his family at a young age. His chess journey began seven years ago, a shift from his previous pursuit of judo. A pivotal moment occurred on February 25, 2019, when his father invited him to play chess. After being defeated, his pride spurred him to join the Isla study center, officially beginning his training on February 27. "I fell in love with chess until I left judo; I didn't feel the same. What captivated me was the precision and the possibility of always surpassing myself," he said.

González approaches the chessboard as a battlefield, believing that revealing any emotion provides information to his opponent. "The board is a battlefield, and any feeling I show is information for my enemy," he confessed. Recently, he competed in his first Capablanca In Memoriam tournament outside of junior categories, finishing 64th out of 122 participants. He views such events as challenges that allow him to test his skills against strong players, embracing the experience with a sporting attitude.