Ten year old FIDE Master (FM) Fabiano Caruana of Brooklyn, New York won the gold medal in the Boys U12 division at the 2003 Pan-American Youth Festival held from June 7th to June 14th in Bogot�, Columbia. Fabiano was the winner with a score of 8 out of 9 (7 wins, 2 draws).

FIDE Master (FM) Emilio Cordova of Peru, placed 2nd also with a score of 8 (8 wins, 1 loss), and Christian Cruz also of Peru placed 3rd with a score of 6.5 (6 wins, 1 draw). In the 5th round, Cordova - who had won gold medals at both the 2001 (Boys U10) and 2002 (Boys U12) Pan-American Youth Festivals - suffered his only loss against Fabiano. Fabiano credits much of his result to his coach GM Miron Sher of Brooklyn, New York who accompanied him.

By winning the gold medal, Fabiano earns personal rights to represent the United States at both the 2003 World Youth Championships to be held in Halkidiki, Greece and the 2004 Pan-American Youth Festival to be hold in Cartagena, Columbia

In the 5th round, Fabiano wins with a crushing knight promotion: White: FM Fabiano Caruana Black: FM Emilio Cordova 2003 Pan-American Youth Festival, round 5 June 11th, 2003

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.Nf3 e6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Ndb5 Bb4 7.a3 Bxc3+ 8.Nxc3 d5 9.exd5 exd5 10.Qe2+ Be6 11.Bg5 h6 12.Bh4 0-0 13.0-0-0 Re8 14.Qb5 Qc7 15.Bg3 Qd7 16.Be2 a6 17.Qb6 Rac8 18.Bf3 Ne7 19.Be5 Rc6 20.Qd4 Nh7 21.Nxd5 Nxd5 22.Bxd5 Bxd5 23.Qxd5 Qf5 24.Bc3 Qg6 25.Rhe1 Rec8 26.Qe4 Qxe4 27.Rxe4 Ng5 28.Re7 b5 29.Rdd7 a5 30.Rb7 Rc5 31.f4 Ne6 32.Kb1 Rf5 33.g3 g5 34.fxg5 hxg5 35.Bxa5 Rf1+ 36.Ka2 Rf2 37.Rxb5 Rfxc2 38.h4 gxh4 39.gxh4 Rh2 40.h5 Rg2 41.h6 Rh2 42.Rf5 Rxh6 43.Rfxf7 Rc2 44.Bc3 Rg2 45.Ra7 Rh3 46.Rfe7 Rxc3 47.Rxe6 Rc8 48.Rb7 Rg4 49.Ra6 Kf8 50.a4 Ke8 51.Raa7 Kd8 52.Ka3 Rg1 53.a5 Rcc1 54.Rb8+ Rc8 55.Rxc8+ Kxc8 56.Rh7 Kb8 57.Ka4 Rg5 58.b4 Rg4 59.a6 Ka8 60.Ka5 Rg5+ 61.b5 Rg8 62.Rh5 Rb8 63.b6 Rf8 64.Rc5 Rb8 65.b7+ Ka7 66.Rc8 Rxc8 67.bxc8N+ Kb8 68.Nd6 Ka8 69.Nb5 Kb8 70.Kb6 Ka8 71.Nc7+ Kb8 72.a7+ 1-0

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