No. 1  Mosquera-Mok Tze Meng (2000 Chess Olympiad, Istanbul, Turkey )
Miguel Mosquera is another one of the many fine talents in Latin America. The holder of one GM norm, he has represented the Columbian national team in the 2000, 2002, and 2004 Olympiads. He earned a GM norm  in the 2004 Olympiad held in Mallorca, Spain. Compatriot Jorge Renteriá believes he has the talent to be a GM. In his norm tournament, he played FM Mok Tze Meng of Malaysia. Mok now serves as a coach, but in this game, he would be the one requiring a coach. This miniature lasted only fourteen moves and mate was avoided only because of resignation. Out of a unorthodox Modern Defense, Mosquera demonstrated how to punish a poor opening choice. The Afro-Columbian played the devastating 14.Bxh7+! after which Mok immediately resigned in lieu of 14…Kxh7 15.Qd3+ Kg8 16.Qg6+ Bg7 17.Qxg7 mate. Brutal lesson in geometry! (See game)

No. 2 Renteriá - Villa  (2003 Benidorm Open, Bali, Spain)
A journalist for Columbia's La Quilla newspaper, Jorge Renteriá is from Chocó, an Afro-Columbian enclave meaning 'many rivers.' He mentioned in an interview at the HB Global Chess Challenge that he sometimes plays chess in Spain. Spain is becoming a hub for chess activity as several professional players have made it their home including Alexij Shirov and Viswanathan Anand. Columbian-born and Swedish-raised Pontus Carlsson also lives there. In the Spanish Benidorm Open, Renteriá plays a Veresov Attack, but got no kingside chances, so he played on the queenside. He met opposition in the name of doubled rooks, but found a nice way to solve this problem… 27.Rxa4! The point of this move is apparent after 27…Rxa4 28.Rb7! Bc7 29.Rxc7. Villa resigned to avoid 29…Qxc7 30.Nxe6+ winning the queen. (See game; Jorge Renteriá)

No. 3  Sjodin - Carlsson  (2001 Sweden Championship)
Pontus Carlsson has an interesting history in that he too was born in Columbia, South America, but was adopted by a Swedish couple when he suffered a family tragedy while still an infant. Pontus has been studying in Spain and has earned four IM norms. Only three are required for the title. In this game, Carlsson had played 24…Qa6! threatening to win material, so Sjodin played 25.Ke2-e1. Carlsson had to look no furhter than the simple 25…Bh4+ to deliver the winning blow. Material loss is imminent after either 26.Kd2 or 26.Ke2 due to 26…Rxc3 netting a piece. The best try is 26.Rf2 but massive material loss ensues after 26…Rc8 27.Qd1 (27. Qc2 Rf8 28.Nd1 Qa5+ followed by a timely …Ba4) 27…Rf8 28.Bf4 g5. (See game, Pontus Carlsson)

No. 4  Velez - Ortega (1978 Havana Radio Rebelde, Havana, Cuba)
The game features the legendary Rogelio Ortega, Cuban champion and world-class player.  He plays another Afro-Cuban player, who at the time, was a rising star. Ortega had already won the Cuban Championship more than 20 years earlier and was poised to teach Velez a lesson or two. The English Opening lead to a collection of exciting tactics leaving Velez with a strong passed d-pawn. He sheltered the pawn all the way up the board tying up Ortega's pieces. The hammer-blow was delivered after 46.Ne6! taking advantage of black's weak back rank. Black's 46…Rfxd7 doesn't work due to 47.Rxd7 Rxd7 48.Qa8+. So black decided on 46…Re7 but that wouldn't be enough because of the simple 47.Nxd8 leaving the queen hanging. After 47…Rxe4 48.Rxe4, white will recoup his investment… with interest!  (See game; profile of Rogelio Ortega; profile of Nestor Velez)