Woman International Master (WIM) Rachel Miller excelled in the Women’s Continental Championship of the America’s held in Ecuador from December 5 to 10.

This event was an invitation-only event for zone members in North, South, Central America, and the Caribbean. WIM Miller represented the English-speaking Caribbean.

Miller finished with 4/ 9 points, with her outstanding game being a win against a much higher rated Woman Grandmaster (WGM) Irene Beatriz Valencia Franco from Colombia. The event had 28 players with several WGMs and WIMs participating.

WIM Jennifer Rodriguez Perez from Paraguay and IM Teresa Lisandra Valdes Ordaz from Cuba finished tied with 7/ 9 points, with Perez lifting the title by tie-break. Perez won the gold medal and the WGM title.

WIM Miller is Jamaica’s highest rated female chess player and a member of the national team. She has received several accolades in her chess career and is the first Jamaican female player to have received an International Master (IM) norm. The IM title is the second highest title that can be achieved in chess.

Over the past three months, the Jamaica Chess Federation (JCF) has sponsored several players in international tournaments. National Champion Shreyas Smith played and won the Premier Category of the XVIII Andres Clemente Vazquez International Chess Tournament which was played in Cuba in October. The JCF also participated in the 17th Central American and Caribbean (CAC) Youth Chess Festival in Honduras in November.

Three players won medals in this outstanding annual event. Candidate Master Jaden Shaw won the gold medal in the U-16 section. Emilia-Rose Leake won a silver medal in the U-8 Absolute/Female section. Also, Amy Stephenson won bronze in the U-16 Female section.

FM Warren Elliott, IA Donald Miller IO, CM Mark Cameron FI Public Relations Chairman of the JCF, Mark Cameron says, “Jamaica’s participation in international events is a crucial part of the development of our players. We have so many talented juniors from eight through 18 years old, who aspire to perform well in chess. The Jamaica Chess Federation and our sponsors do a terrific job in helping to facilitate this opportunity.”