American Players Shine at 15th Women’s Continental Chess Championship in Dominican Republic

Eight Americans traveled to the Dominican Republic to compete in the 15th Women’s Continental Chess Championship, with three of them sweeping the podium! The tournament, held from November 23 through 30 at the Dominican Olympic Hostel, was open to all American continent chess federation women players.

The competition was fierce, with top players like WGM Thalia Cervantes Landeiro, FM Zoey Tang, WIM Iris Mou, and WGM Atousa Pourkashiyan battling it out for the top prize and a qualification spot in the 2025 FIDE Women’s World Cup. After nine rounds, Pourkashiyan and Tang emerged as the top two finishers, with Pourkashiyan taking the gold and the qualification spot on tiebreaks.

The tournament saw some exciting matchups, with Pourkashiyan making a comeback after a setback in round five to secure her victory. Tang also displayed her attacking prowess throughout the event, finishing with a silver medal.

Cervantes Landeiro, who finished third, had some impressive wins in the later rounds, showcasing her attacking chess skills. Other American players like WIM Iris Mou and WIM Omya Vidyarthi also put up solid performances, with Mou narrowly missing out on a tie for third.

The tournament was not just about the top finishers, as lower-rated players like Yashaswini Ayithi, Lauren Goodkind, and Sam Sharf also gained valuable experience and rating points. Ayithi, the youngest player in the event, gained 30 FIDE rating points for her performance, while Goodkind and Sharf also showed their skills against higher-rated opponents.

Overall, the 15th Women’s Continental Chess Championship was a thrilling event with American players making their mark on the international stage. The full tournament results can be viewed on Chess-Results.com, and all games were broadcast live on Lichess for fans to enjoy.