Former national champions, FIDE Master (FM) Shreyas Smith and Woman Candidate Master (WCM) Annesha Smith, lead the Absolute and Women’s National Chess Championships on three and 2.5 points, respectively, after three rounds at the Jamaica Olympic Association.

With the absence of last year’s champion FM Damion Davy, FM Smith is looking to secure his second national title as he started the championship on a perfect three points. His latest victory came against National Master (NM) Peter Myers in the third round where he crushed his opponent’s trademark Modern Defence. However, NM Myers had an enticing first round against NM Raheem Glaves where he executed a spectacular tactical game that left the young master in a position only to resign.

The entertaining FM Malaku Lorne started his campaign for his first national title with two scintillating victories only to be stopped by FIDE Candidate Master (FCM) Stuart “Drawmaster” James in the third round. This draw left FM Lorne in second place on 2.5 points and CM James tied for third place on two points.

CM Paul Brooks nearly escaped an early defeat after Dé Mario Nash played a three-move repetition that resulted in a draw from a winning position where CM Brooks’ king danced along the board in the face of danger. Nash, who is playing in his first national championship, has had an interesting start after losing quickly to FM Smith in round one, only to bounce back and defeat NM Myers in a complex endgame in round two. Nash is currently on 1.5 points in seventh while CM Brooks is tied eighth on a point.

After a spectacular 2018, NM Glaves is aiming to repeat his stunning performance from the prior nationals and fulfil the requirements needed to achieve his FM title. Despite his early loss to NM Myers, NM Glaves rebounded with two consecutive wins against CM Brooks and NM Akeem Brown to tie for third on two points. NM Brown is currently tied for 10th on a half point.

After a disappointing performance at the 2018 edition, National Junior Champion, CM Malik Curriah has started his campaign on a high note after enduring for five hours to convert a winning endgame against NM Geoffrey Byfield to tie for third on two points.

The Women’s Championship is shaping up to be a close contest as the narrow difference between the players after three rounds leaves the competition wide open. WCM Annesha Smith is in pole position to claim her fourth national title after winning her most recent game against Aaliyah Yankana in a better endgame that left her with 2.5 points. Yankana is tied in fourth on 1.5 points.

Trailing her is WCM Margoe Williams who seeks to win her first national title. Although she lost to WCM Smith in the first round, WCM Williams recovered with two wins including a win against WCM Melisha Smith to tie for second place. WCM Melisha Smith is currently tied for sixth on a point.

Defending Champion Krishna Gray has had a tumultuous start after her loss to Yankana in the first round. She recovered with a victory against Aulanni Kidd to tie for fourth on 1.5 points. Kidd, who is playing in her second national championship, has only managed to draw Yankana so far while her other games were less than desired.

After a notable victory against CM Kevin Merritt at last month’s Fredrick Cameron Open, Raehanna Brown is seeking to become one of the youngest national women champion’s after starting out with a five-hour victory against WCM Melisha Smith and draws against WCM Annesha Smith and Nickaylah Curwin to tie for second on two points.

Play will resume this week with FM Smith taking on CM Glaves in the Absolute Championship and Brown facing Yankana in the Women’s Championship at the PCJ Auditorium. The championship lasts until February 15 where a new Absolute Champion will be crowned.

The sponsors of the event include the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica, Jamaica Chess Federation, the Sports Development Foundation, Magnificent Chess Foundation and Jamaica Olympic Association.

— David Rose