The closing ceremony of the 23rd Pan-American International 10×10 Draughts Championship in Paramaribo, Suriname, recently, offered more than a celebration of champions – it revealed a shifting competitive narrative within the region.

In one defining image, Brazil’s Women’s Classic champion, Carla Assunção Calasans, stood with her golden trophy, while Jamaica’s Deputy Superintendent Jermaine Delattibudiere, president of the Jamaica Draughts Association (JDA), stood alongside wearing Jamaica’s silver medal.

The medal and trophy were received during the award and closing ceremony held at the Mind Sport Centre in Paramaribo. It was a moment layered with symbolism: one nation affirming its dominance, the other signalling its deliberate and calculated rise.

Brazil’s continued supremacy in the 100-square format was emphatically reinforced. Calasans once again demonstrated technical superiority and composure under pressure, securing the Women’s Classic title and establishing herself as the region’s standard-bearer.

Her compatriot, International Grandmaster Allan Igor Moreno Silva, further entrenched his legacy by capturing his sixth Pan-American Men’s Classic title – a remarkable achievement spanning multiple championship cycles.

Silva’s authority extended into the Blitz competition, where he delivered a commanding performance to secure gold, underscoring Brazil’s depth and consistency at the elite level.

The supporting cast within the men’s division reflected a high calibre of international competition.

International Master Angel Rafael Mejía of the Dominican Republic secured second place, followed by International Master Yevgeniy Sklyarov of the United States. Suriname’s Federation Master Arief Salarbaks and Trinidad and Tobago’s Federation Master Dickson Maughn completed a competitive top five.

In the women’s division, Candidate Master for Women Galina Petukhova and International Master for Women Lublyana Turiy, both representing the US, secured second and third positions respectively, while Calasans and Suriname’s Shreya Ragho rounded out the top tier – further illustrating the strength and geographical diversity of the field.

Qualification for the 2027 World Draughts Federation World Championships in the Netherlands has now been secured by the top two finishers in both the men’s and women’s divisions, reinforcing the Pan-American Championship as not merely a regional contest, but a critical gateway to global competition.

Within this environment of excellence, Delattibudiere said Jamaica’s presence in Paramaribo must be understood through a broader strategic lens. “The nation’s 10×10 journey is still in its formative stages, having begun only in 2022 at the Pan-American Championships in Santo Domingo,” he advised.

There, Delattibudiere disclosed that Jermaine ‘Wasp’ Hutchinson produced a noteworthy performance with a 13th-place finish, while International Grandmaster Wayne ‘Shines’ Reid copped 24th place. “Both players established an early benchmark for Jamaican participation,” he added.

Delattibudiere said his recent placing represented continuity in performance while reflecting the steep learning curve associated with the transition from the 8×8 to the more complex 10×10 format.