After 11 gruelling rounds of play at the 45th Chess Olympiad held in Budapest, Hungary, (September 10-23), Jamaica’s Open and Women’s teams finished atop their respective zones.

The Open team, which consisted of FIDE Master (FM) Joshua Christie, FM Shreyas Smith, FM Raheem Glaves, FM Jaden Shaw and Darren McKennis, finished the tournament on 10 points, the same as Trinidad and Tobago, Haiti, and the Netherlands Antilles. When tie-breaks were employed, Jamaica came out on top of Zone 2.3.3, which includes all the countries of the English, Dutch, and French-speaking Caribbean.

In the final round of 11, Jamaica blanked Kenya 4-0 to regain their crown as the top team in their zone, which was won by Trinidad and Tobago at the last Chess Olympiad held in Chennai, India, in 2022.

There was also individual success for Darren McKennis, who was awarded the title of candidate master by the World Chess Federation (FIDE), for his performance during the tournament.

The Open tournament was won by India with 21 points, ahead of the United States of America and Uzbekistan both on 17 points.

Meanwhile, Jamaica’s Women’s team, which consisted of Woman FIDE Master (WFM) Adani Clarke, Woman International Master (WIM) Rachel Miller, WFM Raehanna Brown, Gabriella Watson and Arielle McKoy finished the tournament on 11 points, the same as Trinidad and Tobago. When tie-breaks were employed, Jamaica came out on top of the women’s side of Zone 2.3.3.

In the final round of 11, Jamaica defeated the Kenyan Women 3-1 to retain their crown as the top women’s team in their zone, which they also won at the last Chess Olympiad held in Chennai, India in 2022.

There was also individual success for Gabriella Watson, who was awarded the title of woman candidate master by the World Chess Federation (FIDE), for her performance during the tournament.

The women’s event was won by India with 19 points, ahead of Kazakhstan with 18 points, and the United States of America in third place, on tie-break, with 17 points.

The complete Open standings for Zone 2.3.3 are as follows:

1. Jamaica – 10 pts

2. Trinidad and Tobago – 10 pts

3. Haiti – 10 pts

4. Netherlands Antilles – 10 pts

5. Aruba – 9 pts

6. Barbados – 9 pts

7. Suriname – 9 pts

8. St Lucia – 8 pts

9. The Bahamas – 8 pts

10. Cayman Islands – 7 pts

11. US Virgin Islands – 7 pts

12. Bermuda – 7 pts

13. Guyana – 6 pts

14. Grenada – 6 pt

15. Antigua and Barbuda – 6 pts

16. Dominica – 6 pts

17. St Vincent and the Grenadines – 5 pts

18. British Virgin Islands – 3 pts

The complete women’s standings in the zone after 11 rounds are as follows:

1. Jamaica – 11 pts

2. Trinidad and Tobago – 11 pts

3. Suriname – 10 pts

4. Haiti – 10 pts

5. Barbados – 9 pts

6. Cayman Islands – 9 pts

7. Netherlands Antilles – 9 pts

8. The Bahamas – 9 pts

9. Aruba – 9 pts

10. St Lucia – 8 pts

11. Guyana – 8 pts

12. US Virgin Islands – 7 pts

13. St Vincent and the Grenadines – 7 pts

14. Dominica – 7 pts

15. British Virgin Islands – 7 pts

16. Bermuda – 6 pts

17. St Kitts and Nevis – 5 pts

18. Grenada – 5 pts

Jamaica Chess Federation president, National Master Peter Myers, in speaking on the teams’ performance, stated that it was “mission accomplished,” with both teams topping their Zone. Myers was also pleased that two of the three untitled players were awarded titles by FIDE.

Jamaica’s participation in the global event was made possible through the support of the Ministry of Culture, Gender, Entertainment and Sport through the Sports Development Foundation, FIDE, the Jamaica Olympic Association, First Global Bank, Magnificent Chess Foundation and Subway Jamaica Limited