JENASIYA Mais and Nathaniel Hope won gold medals at the 20th Caribbean & Central American Youth Festival held in Dorado, Puerto Rico, from December 14-21, 2025.

In the Classical section, all 41 Jamaican youngsters participated across the 12 sections — both absolute and female. Jenasiya Mais, competing in the Under-8 Female section, won while Kelani Crosdale plaed sixth, Isabel Misir was seventh, Rhea Gardener placed eighth, and Jahleen Coke was 11th. On the Absolute side, Roshawn Henry placed fifth, ACM Jayden Hylton sixth, Johnathan Cherian 17th, and Thomas Christian 19th.

In the Under-10 Female section Rhea Gardener, third, was Jamaica’s top finisher, with Samakhya Singh fifth and Noelle Noble seventh. On the Absolute side Khalel Davy was third, ahead of Rajvir Shergil fourth, Jotham Mais 13th, and Jermari Johnson 27th

In the Under-12 Female section Emilia-Rose Leake was Jamaica top finisher at second overall, followed by Nyah Wood fourth, Ariana Marie Daniels eighth, and Natalya Hinds 10th. On the Absolute side Jamaica’s best placing was Luke Wright eighth, ahead of Dejaun Williams 21st, Javin Li 26th, Nathan Cherian 27th, Austin Xaing 30th, and Kaie Imani Stephen Chambers 43rd.

In the Under-14 Female section, Jamaica’s top finisher was Victoria Aung sixth and Kayla Moses 12th, while on the Absolute side Ronak Shergil, ninth, was the highest-placed Jamaican from Vaishnov Gali 15th, Liam Logan 23rd, Josh-Anthony James 25th, and Nathaniel Green 28th.

In the Under-16 Female section, WCM Kaia Gayle was second while on the Absolute side Corbin Harvey was sixth, ahead of Cameron Coe 16th and Jayden Foreshaw 17th.

In the Under-18 Female section WCM Gabriella Watson, in her final age group event, was fifth while on the Absolute side, FM Jaden Shaw, also in his final age group event, was fourth overall.

The Classical section saw 268 participants from 21 countries competing over nine rounds, following which the top five in the section were awarded medals, in addition to electronic DGT boards that went only to the winners.

In the Blitz competition, CM Nathaniel Hope was Jamaica’s sole first-place finisher in the Under 16-18 section while in the Under-10 section, Noelle Noble was third, ahead of Rhea Gardener in fifth, while Khalel Davy was fifth among the boys. In the Under-8 section Jenasiya Mais placed second, ahead of Kelani Crosdale who placed third, while Roshawn Henry finished fourth among the boys.

The Blitz section saw 148 participants, including 19 Jamaicans, across five merged sections and seven rounds, following whwich medals were awarded to the top five female and absolute players. In the overall team competition, the awardees were Puerto Rico, third, Panama in second, and Guatemala placed first.

Head of delegation, IM Jomo Pitterson shared his satisfaction with the overall team performances, although the team missed additional medals due to ninth-round defeats in the Under-14 and Under-16 Absolute sections, after being in contention all competition. Pitterson is adamant that team Jamaica will return even stronger in 2026, at the next edition in Costa Rica.

CAC Chess Festival Under-18 Blitz champion CM Nathaniel Hope.