Fourteen-year old Jessica Wamala of Lowell, Massachusetts (USA) will compete in the National Invitational for Girls starting August 7th in Phoenix, Arizona. The tournament runs concurrently with the U.S. Open Chess Championship where Jessica will also vie for one of the two spots for the U.S. Championship.

Jessica was the subject of an article written by Lynn Worthy in the Lowell Sun titled, "Chess Queen Ready for Her Big Move." It lists her accolades as the Massachusetts Junior High co-champ, co-captain of the #2-ranked knowledge bowl team, valedictorian of her 8th grade class at McDonough Magnet School.

Chess runs through the veins of the Wamala family as father Severine, a native Ugandan, taught Jessica and her brothers Jacob (age 15) and Yowana (age 9) to play the game. The elder Wamala is very active in the Massachusetts chess scene and can be seen at national tournaments with his enthusiastic brood in tow.

Meeting Jessica in person, one will find that she is very personable and stands out because of both her smile and her height. Given these attributes, she plays volleyball, runs cross country track and a standout basketball player. However, chess will be her focus for the next two weeks as she prepares to enter the grand stage of chess competition. All the best!

Update: Jessica competed in the 2006 Polgar Girls' tournament and was later the subject of an article in the Lowell Sun.

Posted by The Chess Drum: 3 August 2005