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Participants from the United States, China and Cuba achieved top places in the regatta of sailboats competing off the coast of Havana on the anniversary of Hemingway International Yacht Club.

Cuban chess master Lazarus Bruzon declined to participate in the Capablanca Memorial Tournament, to be held from May 3 to 14 in Havana’s Riviera hotel, said a spokesperson for the National Chess Federation on Sunday.

The only post-season hopeful so far able to take full advantage of their home playing field, Las Tunas jumped out to a convincing lead Thursday night in their quarterfinal series with Ciego de Avila. Villa Clara evened their series with Granma despite a three-run blast from Alfredo Despaigne.

Both Cienfuegos and Matanzas got back on track during the second day of Occidental League play – the Elephants riding the arm of Noelvis Entenza to shut down a sputtering Industriales offense and Matanzas getting just enough pitching from starter Jorge Alberto Martínez to hold off the upset-minded Sancti Spíritus Gallos.

The Cuban national baseball team will hold a series of friendly matches with Nicaragua in June as part of preparation for the Central American nation’s team for the qualifying tournament for the third World Baseball Classic.

So far, Cuba has 81 athletes who have qualified for the London Olympics, to be held from July 27 to August 12.

On the opening night of Occidental League quarterfinals action it was definitely skilled pitching – with a small boost from some timely clutch hitting – that was the clear order of the evening as hometown Industriales edged Cienfuegos 2-1 and visiting Sancti Spíritus jumped out in front of Matanzas by a deceptive 6-1 count.

The regular Cuban baseball season is down to its final day on Sunday with three teams in the Eastern Division – Ciego de Avila, Granma and Santiago de Cuba – battling for the last two playoff slots. The three teams have identical 53-42 records.

The Cuban men’s volleyball team will travel to Argentina on Thursday where they will compete against that country’s national team and other local clubs until April 29.

Cuban badminton player Osleni Guerrero won the silver medal at the XVII International Badminton Tournament in Lima Peru on Sunday. Guerrero — who is situated at 166th in the world ranking still fails to qualify for the 2012 London games.