Espinosa Veloz, Ermes

Ermes Espinosa Veloz, a 39-year-old Cuban Grandmaster, is rated 2473 and ranked 8th among Cuban players, and in the top 1% worldwide. He has held steady between 2450 and 2500 for 22 months. 78 rated games in the past year (≈63/year long-term). Recent standard appearances include LXXI Campeonato Nacional e Internacional Abierto Mexicano de Ajedrez. Internacional, Campeonato de Cuba Absoluto 2026, and XXXV Torneo Internacional de Ajedrez GM Carlos Torre Repetto in Memoriam 2025. Magistral. Also played 2 rapid (including Eliminatorio Rapido Octubre 2025) and 4 blitz events (including IRT Blitz Aragua 2025) recently. He took a 13-month break between Jan 2010 and Mar 2011. His peak of 2544 was reached at age 31 (Apr 2018, World #470 at the time); he has been in Cuban top 10 for 102 months and counting (2 consecutive years on his current run).

Awarded GM in 2017 (age 30), IM in 2015 (age 28), and FM in 2004 (age 17). At junior level, he reached World #75 in U18, World #80 in U16 and #4 nationally in U20.