GM Irisberto Herrera

Irisberto Herrera is a Cuban chess Grandmaster and International Master, noted for his accomplishments in international competitions spanning several decades. He was born in 1968 in Havana, Cuba, where he grew up amidst the nation's robust chess culture. Herrera became a FIDE Master in 1987, and later an International Master in 1990. He achieved his Grandmaster title in 1998, crowning an already impressive career with one of the highest honours in the game. In addition to his personal achievements, Herrera has also made significant contributions to team efforts. His performances in the Chess Olympiads of 1988 and 1990 added value to the Cuban national team. He has also utilized his chess expertise to serve as a coach, affecting new generations of players beyond his own career. Despite his many achievements, he remains humble and maintains chess is more about passion than anything else. During his career, he's had to face multiple adversities, from the challenge of competing against top-level players to political pressures coming from his homeland's repressive government. Still, he persevered, maintaining a clear focus and a deep love for the game throughout his career.