While most first-year students at the ±«Óătv are focused on adjusting to college life on campus, Raehanna Brown began her freshman year preparing for a global stage — competing in the .
Brown represented Jamaica at the Olympiad, held Sept. 10-23, 2024, after earning her place on the national team by winning first in the Jamaica Chess Federation’s Nationals. It was her first time competing in Europe.
“My favorite part was meeting the popular chess people,” said Brown. She had the chance to take pictures with the 2023 World Chess Champion Ding Liren of China and the American Grandmaster Fabiano Caruana. “I also wanted to get a picture with Magnus Carlsen, he’s like the greatest of all time when it comes to chess. But even seeing him was really great.”
Brown attributes her growth in chess to opportunities she has had to compete in regional chess tournaments, such as the Central American and Caribbean Games and Pan American Chess Championship. She first began playing chess when she was six years old, inspired by her older sister’s interest in the game.
“My sister used to play chess at her high school and she would sometimes come home with it,” reflected Brown. “I eventually got interested and wanted to compete with her, so I picked it up. When I was around seven, my mom enrolled me in the chess club at my school and it just took off from there.”
MAKING SMART MOVES
During the Olympiad, more than 2,000 players from around the world competed in 10 rounds over 11 days, with each match lasting six to seven hours. Participants ranged in age from 17 to 21, representing 193 teams in the Open section and 181 in the Women’s competition.
“With chess, it’s more of a peak early and keep going kind of thing,” said Brown. “So, most of the players you see and most of the top players in the world are young.”
Brown had the chance to pull off some spectacular chess moves in her matches that helped advance her team forward. In Jamaica’s first round against players from India, she was able to force her opponent into a weak position and come away with a draw.
“There are levels of moves within a game: brilliant, great, good, inaccuracy, mistake, and blunder. I would describe this as a great move to save my position,” said Brown.
At the beginning of another match against Australia, Brown experienced a weak start to the game. “But then, I kind of wiggled my way out of it and she ended up making a blunder,” Brown said. “I just really capitalized on that and I played a really nice sequence of moves. I was proud of myself and I ended up winning the game."
Brown and the Jamaican women's team enjoyed a successful tournament, finishing just inside the top half at 90th overall.
FINDING A HOME IN TAMPA
A member of the Judy Genshaft Honors College, Brown is a chemistry major with an interest in neuroscience and hopes of working with the . She is a part of the ±«Óătv Chess Club, where she continues to hone her skills.
“I definitely plan to keep competing internationally,” Brown said. “The next Olympiad is in two years, and I’ll also compete in the Continentals, which is a tournament that includes players from all over the Americas.”
Brown chose ±«Óătv for its climate, which reminds her of home in Jamaica, and for family connections — her older sister Mackayla Muschette is a ±«Óătv alumna and fellow chess enthusiast.
“I feel like I was always going to come here,” said Brown. “In Jamaica, there are districts in Kingston and it goes up to 20. So, they call Florida Kingston 21. There’s a really large Caribbean community here.”
Brown encourages everyone to get involved with chess as a great way for competitors to socialize and have fun. “I think there’s this notion with mind games that you have to be a master to participate. But you can just come to chess club and enjoy the game.”