WILLEMSTAD – On Friday, August 29, 2025, Minister Roderick Middelhof, on behalf of Prime Minister Gilmar Pisas, welcomed five young athletes who represented Curaçao in the 2nd Caribbean Youth Draughts Championship, held on the island from August 13 to 20, 2025.

The tournament brought together participants from Bonaire, Trinidad, Suriname, and Curaçao, showcasing the talent of young players across the region.

The Curaçao team, representing the Fundashon Wega di Dam Rais, achieved notable results:

Daniel Al Jurdi – 2nd place, U12 Boys 

Lorayn Louisa – 2nd place, U12 Girls 

Elise Rijnschot – 3rd place, U12 Girls 

Tahirah Rombley – 3rd place, U16 Girls 

Ri-Anne Rafaela – Champion, U16 Girls (retaining her title)

The foundation expressed its gratitude to the Government of Curaçao for its financial support, which helped cover essential expenses and made the championship possible. Special appreciation was also extended to the police force, which provided assistance with transportation during the event.

Looking ahead, the five young athletes will now represent Curaçao at the World Youth Draughts Championship in Turkey on October 20, 2025.

The government emphasized the importance of supporting youth through activities like draughts, which help develop skills such as strategic thinking, focus, and discipline. “We are extremely proud of our young champions and wish them every success in Turkey,” the government stated.