‘Tailor’ Cuts a New path: Bailey Adds Another Stitch to Jamaica’s 10×10 International Journey

Jamaica’s second international Blitz entrant scores six points in New York as JDA networking opens new doors and attention turns to Tobago’s 9-Star World Cup

KINGSTON, Jamaica — A tailor knows that before something great can be created, the cloth must first be carefully measured and cut.

In Huntington, New York, Delroy “Tailor” Bailey — a tailor by profession — has helped Jamaica cut another path into the rapidly expanding world of International 10×10 Draughts.

Bailey is Jamaica’s lone representative at the 2026 US Open Championship – Dr. Joseph Leon Paul Memorial in International Checkers, being contested from August 20-28. The tournament features Classic, Rapid and Blitz competition in the 100-square version of draughts — a discipline in which Jamaica remains relatively new.

His appearance is another significant stitch in a Jamaican 10×10 story that began internationally only a few years ago but is now gathering momentum.

‘Tailor’ becomes Jamaica’s second Blitz pioneer

Bailey has gone into the history books as only the second Jamaican to compete in the Blitz section of an international 10×10 draughts tournament.

The first was JDA President Jermaine Delattibudiere, who entered the Blitz competition at the 2026 Pan-American Draughts Championship in Suriname, scoring eight points and finishing ahead of several competitors.

Bailey followed in New York with six points — just two fewer than Delattibudiere’s Pan-American tally — and likewise finished ahead of a number of players despite entering a discipline in which Jamaica is still building specialist experience.

His performance takes on added significance because the Pan-American Championship is geographically restricted to eligible countries from the Americas, while the US Open brought together a wider international field.

The published standings included representatives of the United States, Senegal, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Costa Rica, Mongolia, Chinese Taipei (Taiwan) and Jamaica.

At the top, GMI Mor Seck of Senegal captured first place with 14 points, followed by MI Souleymane Keita with 13, while MI Angel Rafael Mejia of the Dominican Republic finished third with 12 points.

Bailey’s six-point return was therefore earned in international company that included experienced specialists and several titled players.

The official FMJD listing identifies the US Open Blitz as an eight-round Swiss tournament in Draughts-100, played at the unforgiving pace of five minutes plus three seconds per move. It records 23 rated competitors and five internationally titled players.

For a player coming primarily from Jamaica’s 64-square tradition, there is little time in Blitz to compensate for unfamiliar patterns through prolonged calculation. Decisions that can be carefully studied in Classic must often be made within seconds.

In that context, Bailey’s performance represented an encouraging international debut.

Luba: ‘Not bad for the first time’

That assessment was shared by one of the important figures behind the New York tournament, MIF Lyublyana “Luba” Turiy.

Turiy is far more than an observer. The American-based international player is a former Pan-American Women’s Champion, having won the title in 2018, and has extensive involvement in International Draughts competition and organisation. ICAONA’s published profile identifies her as an MIF and 2018 Pan-American Women’s Champion.

Significantly, the FMJD tournament record lists Turiy as the arbiter of the 2026 US Open Blitz Championship.

Following Bailey’s participation, Turiy relayed an encouraging assessment to Delattibudiere:

“Thank you for sending us your player. I think he was happy with his result.”

Her assessment of his first attempt was equally straightforward:

“Not bad for the first time.”

Those words carry additional meaning for the JDA because Bailey’s presence in New York did not happen in isolation.

Networking creating opportunities for Jamaicans

Over the past year, Delattibudiere and the JDA 1st Vice President Mikoyan Robinson, JP, have deliberately increased dialogue and networking with Turiy and other officials and players within the Pan-American Draughts & Checkers Confederation (PAMDCC), FMJD/WDF structures and the wider international draughts community.

The objective has been simple: create more opportunities for Jamaican players.

That effort has involved building relationships, exchanging tournament information, maintaining dialogue with international administrators and encouraging Jamaican players to take advantage of opportunities that arise.

Bailey was encouraged to participate in the US Open and, through his presence in New York, has himself helped to strengthen and widen that network for those who may follow.

The strategy complements Jamaica’s wider advancement within Pan-American draughts. Delattibudiere’s election as General Secretary of PAMDCC in 2026 provided Jamaica with another important connection to the administration and development of the sport across the hemisphere.

The JDA’s growing engagement with the World Draughts Federation (FMJD) is likewise providing access to international competition, ratings, relationships and developmental opportunities that were previously far less accessible to Jamaican players.

From two pioneers to four

Jamaica’s International 10×10 history remains remarkably young.

Before 2026, only two Jamaicans had competed in an international 10×10 championship.

At the 2022 Pan-American Championship in Santo Domingo, Federation Master Jermaine “Wasp” Hutchinson scored nine points, while International Grandmaster Wayne “Shine” Reid scored eight. Both competed in the Classic discipline.

Classic provides substantially more thinking time than Blitz, allowing players to read positions, calculate variations and formulate deeper strategic plans.

Four years later, Jamaica has added another dimension.

Delattibudiere became the first Jamaican to enter international 10×10 Blitz and scored eight points in Suriname. Bailey has now become the second and scored six in New York.

Jamaica’s small group of international 10×10 pioneers therefore stands at just four players — Hutchinson, Reid, Delattibudiere and Bailey — but the JDA intends for that number to grow.

The next cut: Tobago

The immediate opportunity comes in September with the Tobago Open World Cup 2026, an FMJD 9-Star World Cup event scheduled for September 9-18.

For Jamaica, its location in the Caribbean presents an opportunity that should not be wasted.

The JDA was able to have only Bailey represent Jamaica in New York because of financial, logistical and other practical challenges. With sufficient sponsorship, however, the Association hopes to field a larger and stronger national contingent in Tobago.

The strategy could include players specialising according to their strengths — with some concentrating on the slower, calculation-intensive Classic competition, while others focus on developing Jamaica’s capabilities in the fast-moving Blitz format.

That would allow Jamaica to pursue improvement on both fronts.

The Tobago event carries added significance because its published Open prize structure totals at least €20,000, including €6,000 for first place, with additional category and Blitz prizes.

For Jamaican players, however, the greater prize may be the opportunity to accumulate experience against accomplished international opposition.

From participation to genuine pursuit

Jamaica is not pretending that four international competitors amount to mastery of 10×10 draughts.

What the JDA can point to is progress.

Hutchinson and Reid opened the door in Classic.

Delattibudiere became the first to test Jamaica in international Blitz.

Now Bailey — appropriately nicknamed “Tailor” — has taken up the scissors and helped cut the pathway a little wider for the Jamaicans who will come behind him.

And an experienced international player and tournament arbiter has already offered a simple assessment of his first effort:

“Not bad for the first time.”

The challenge now is to ensure that it is not the last.

With stronger sponsorship from Corporate Jamaica, sporting agencies, public-sector partners and individual supporters, the JDA believes the country can move from sending one player to New York to fielding a competitive Jamaican team in Tobago.

JDA President Delattibudiere said the Association’s international strategy must be viewed over the long term.

“Our players cannot master International Draughts without international exposure. Networking with Luba, PAMDCC President Clifton Agata and our other colleagues throughout PAMDCC, FMJD/WDF and the wider draughts community is helping us identify opportunities and open doors. But after the door is opened, our players must be able to walk through it.”

He added:

“Delroy did exactly that. He went to New York, represented Jamaica, competed against experienced international players and scored six points in his first international Blitz competition. Now he is also building relationships that can help other Jamaican players. That is how development works — one player gains an opportunity and helps create another for those coming behind.”

From the familiar 64 squares of Jamaican draughts to the 100 squares of the international game, the journey has begun.

And if “Tailor” Bailey has helped make the latest cut, the JDA’s task now is to ensure that Tobago provides enough cloth for Jamaica to send an entire team.

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