AS the final round of play came to an end Jamaican Women’s Candidate Master (WCM) Gabriella Watson stood atop the podium as the sole medallist for Jamaica at the Central American and Caribbean U-20 Chess Championships in Costa Rica, recently.

Watson secured fifth place in a field of 20 females. Duarte Haden Zauznabal of Cuba secured first place ahead of El Salvador’s WCM Marielos Vasquez Vasquez, while Costa Rica’s Women’s International Master Sofia Mayorga Arayo was third, and Cuba’s Women’s FIDE Master (FM) Aliett Valdez Boza was fourth.

In the Absolute section, Jamaica’s best placing was Aayush Jain at 10th, FM Jaden Shaw 18th, and Ronak Shergil 43rd.The section was won by Cuba’s Felipe Herrera Benitez, ahead of Costa Rica’s Candidate Master Sebastian Angulo Perez, Costa Rica’s Esteban Quesada Fallas in third, Cuba’s Bryan Leon Infante in fourth, and Cuba’s Cesar Raul Gonzalez Xique fifth.

Fifty-nine players competed in the Absolute Section.

Watson, while pleased with her final placing says she still has areas of her game that requires improvement to take her game to the next level.