Paraguayan women reign supreme at Zonal!

Finish ahead of powerful Argentine Armada

Congratulations to wfm Gabriela Vargas and wim Jennifer Perez Rodriguez for finishing first (6.5) and second (6) respectively at the Montevideo Zonal 2.5, edging out the powerful Argentine contingent.

With this success, Vargas wins the IM title, as well as the right to participate at the upcoming Women’s World Cup. Overjoyed,  Gabriela wanted to share her happiness with her many fans back home in Paraguay, presenting on her FaceBook page the video below with the following moving words:

“I share the moment when I receive my prize. No doubt the most important moment of my career.

I will never forget this day.”

Why this victory is so sweet

Readers might recall that last year the Paraguayan National Women’s Team needed more money to participate at the Batumi Olympiad than what the Paraguay Chess Federation was willing to provide.

So, rather than just give up any hopes of going to Georgia, the women undertook a brilliant fundraising campaign, dressing as men, as in the photo above. In the end, they raised more than what was needed!

But the icing on the cake is that for this Zonal in Montevideo, the women again were short of money and the federation could only send 2 Paraguayan women.  BOTH won the top spots!! Bravo…