After four gruelling rounds of chess at the 2019 Pan American Youth Championships in Guayaquil, Ecuador, team Jamaica find themselves with a .500 win record as a team.

Leading the charge is Raehanna Brown, competing in the Under-14 female section with 3.5 points from four possible points, followed by giant-killer John Stephenson, also competing in the Under-14 Absolute section with three points from a possible four. Stephenson has so far beaten three opponents rated much higher than himself.

Team co-captain Adani Clarke, competing in the Under-16 female section, has 2.5 points, while after three tough losses to start his campaign, co-captain Nicholas Lyn secured his first win in round four yesterday.

Darren McKennis, playing in the Under-14 Absolute section, has 2.5 points from a possible four points; Amy Stephenson competing in the Under-14 female section, has two points, Jaden Shaw in the Under-12 Absolute has two points, both from a possible four points.

Zaina O’Connor, competing in the Under-10 female section while not registering an outright win to date, has 1.5 from three drawn games and a loss. Tashai Clarke, competing in the Under-8 female section registered her first international win in round two, and remains on a point.

With five rounds to go, coach Russell Porter remains optimistic the positive results will come once the team members remain focused and continue to work hard at their respective boards.