Student Carlos Andrés Tobar Beltrán becomes the first FIDE Master (Absolute) in Popayán, a title awarded by the International Chess Federation to high-performing players.

Carlos Andrés Tobar Beltrán, a Civil Engineering student at the University of Cauca, received his FIDE Master (Absolute) title on Monday, January 13, 2025. This title, granted by the International Chess Federation to top-performing players, is the third most prestigious in the hierarchy, followed by the titles of International Master (IM) and Grandmaster (GM).

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In this way, he becomes the first FIDE Master (Absolute) in the city of Popayán and the second in Cauca. In 2021, he obtained the first norm (the most important one), the diploma with the title of Provisional FIDE Master, but to make it official, he had to complete the second norm. Cauca now has two Absolute FIDE Masters (Carlos Andrés Tobar Beltrán from Popayán and Edwin Navia from Santander de Quilichao) and one FIDE Woman Master (Lina Sofía Cardona Martínez from Popayán, who belongs to the Caldas Chess League).

Carlos Andrés Tobar Beltrán is part of the Kasparov Sports Club, Yeika Chess Academy, and Cauca Chess League and obtained the Absolute FIDE Master (FM) title after fulfilling the two previous requirements: a score of 6 out of 9 in the ITT Subzonal Tournament in 2021 and an ELO FIDE rating of 2100 in the ITT Open Pereira 2024 Tournament.

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“This is an achievement that truly fills me with pride, as I have been competing in this sport for 15 years, and it is a title that every high-level competitor aspires to one day. That is why I am grateful to everyone who has supported me to get here—my family, my friends, and the University of Cauca for their support in recent years. This achievement is a motivation to continue with this sport,” he stated.

In 2024, the three most significant achievements for the chess player were:

National Champion (Gold Medal) in the Under-20 Blitz Chess Championship and Bronze Medalist in Rapid Chess.

Champion (Gold Medalist) in Classical Chess at the Regional Western University Games, representing the University of Cauca.

ITT International Feria de Las Flores Tournament, where his outstanding performance allowed him to surpass 2,100 ELO (which he had already reached two months earlier at the ITT Open Pereira).

Likewise, among his achievements are:

Representing Cauca in youth categories, obtaining multiple medals at the national level.

Participating in different international tournaments:

Central American and Caribbean Championship (Puerto Rico)

Pan-American Championships (Brazil, Venezuela, Peru, and Colombia)

World Championship (Brazil)

Central American and Caribbean Under-8 Champion (Puerto Rico, 2012).

Third place in the Pan-American Under-7 Championship (Venezuela, 2011).

Representing Cauca at the 2019 National Sports Games.

Bronze Medalist at the "Night of the Best" event by the Colombian Association of Sports Journalists (ACORD Cauca, 2018).

Nominated for Breakthrough Athlete of the Year at the "Night of the Best" event by ACORD Cauca.

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We highlight that Colombian chess players in 2024 won 113 international medals. Among these outstanding athletes, three are from Cauca:

Andrés Osiris López Martínez, an Electronics and Telecommunications Engineer from the University of Cauca, won two gold medals in the Pan-American Under-1700 and was the National Champion (Gold Medalist) Under-1700 in 2024.

Jorge Esteban Tobar Beltrán, a Civil Engineering student, won a bronze medal in the Pan-American Blitz Under-2000 and was the National Champion (Gold Medalist) Under-2000. He also won the Gold Medal in Rapid Chess at the Regional Western University Games and was Runner-up (Silver Medalist) in Blitz Chess at the National University Games Final.

Juan Jacobo Bolaños López won a gold medal in the South American School Under-17 Championship.

Written by: Communications Management Center