Shreyas Smith takes Jamaican title with 9/9

Daaim Shabazz November 7, 2024

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FM Shreyas Smith won his fifth Jamaican national title with a scintillating performance. At 27, he was the “senior” member of the national team in Budapest Olympiad. Smith is also one of the mainstays on the national scene.

FM Shreyas Smith
Photo Shreyas Smith (lichess.org)

At the 2024 Jamaica National Championship, Smith scorched the field with 9/9, beating top-ranked FM Joshua Christie (6.5/9) and the defending champion FM Jaden Shaw (6/9). The field also included Olympian FM Raheem Glaves, who was not in his best form (5/9).

Women’s Candidate Master Gabriella Watson won the women’s competition with 8/8. She was part of the Olympiad team in Budapest and led the women with 6/10. Jamaica scored a rousing upset win over Denmark in the 8th round.

L-R: **Arielle McKoy**, **Gabriella Watson**, **Rachel Miller**, **Adani Clarke**
Photo by Michael Walusza

Smith first won the national championship in 2017 after winning the Junior title two consecutive years. He was pegged as one of the island’s rising stars. Since then, he has won in 2019, 2020, 2022, and now 2024. He remains part of the core of Jamaican players that is part of the “GM in 10” initiative. While he still has his goals as a player, Smith hopes to contribute to the post-Olympiad energy to harness the island’s talent.