Jamaica represented well during the 21st staging of the International 10×10 Pan American Draughts Championships in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic from October 7-15, 2022.

It was the country’s first time participating in this 10×10 event – the biggest staging in its history as 14 countries across the Pan American region, including the USA and Costa Rica, participated.

One of Jamaica’s representatives, Jermaine ‘Wasp’ Hutchinson, a policeman, finished 13th out of 30 competitors.

The other representative, Wayne ‘Shines’ Reid, finished 24th. Reid is Jamaica’s first International Grandmaster in 8×8 Draughts. He also holds the titles for the island’s Best 8×8 Russian Shashki and Jamaican Draughts.

Sudian Suckram, president of the Jamaica Draughts Association (JDA), said the overall performance of the Jamaican team, which returned to the island on Sunday, was very commendable.

“This was a very good achievement as the Jamaica Draughts representatives were recently introduced to the 10×10 draughts which is played on a bigger board with 20 pieces on each side added with the compulsory most number of take rule,” Suckram expressed.

He said Jamaican Draughts players traditionally play the Jamaican Variant and since 2016, the Russian variant of the game which is on the smaller Draughts board with 12 pieces on each side and the take-to-your-advantage rule.

“When we consider the fact that the two Jamaican representatives finished above several players who are the best players from their countries, have years of experience in playing 10×10 International Draughts, and several of them also have internationally recognis7ed titles on the big board, it goes to show that with more experience, practice and financial support from the Ministry of Sports, Jamaica will become a force to be reckoned with in the International 10×10 variant of draughts,” the JDA president added.

Suckram said this participation in the event accelerated the establishment of significant Pan Am relations for future engagement for the promotion and development of draughts in Jamaica when hosting international draught events in both draught-64 (8×8) and international draughts (10×10).

Jamaica is scheduled to host the International Draughts Federation (IDF) 8X8 Pan American Draughts Championship in 2023.