KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s International Grandmaster (GMI) Wayne ‘Shines’ Reid has made the nation proud once again, winning the Top Masters Division of the 2025 American Pool Checkers Association (APCA) Championships for the second time.

The tournament ended recently at the Crowne Hotel in Jacksonville, Florida, United States.

Reid first won the championships in 2023. His victory was impressive, as he outshone some of the world’s best pool/checkers players.

Notably, he finished 16 points ahead of the 17-time APCA Top Master Champion, Grandmaster Alfred ‘East Point’ Barnett. Two Ukrainians, namely Vadym Lapin and Angriy Shcherbatyuk, each defeated Barnett 1-0, forcing the American grandmaster to settle for 4th place.

Reid secured first place as he ended the competition with the highest score and the best win ratio. This level of dominant performance by Reid is significant given the competition format and the calibre of top masters that competed in the 2025 APCA Championships.

Finishing so far ahead of Grandmaster Barnett, who is widely regarded as the best American pool/checkers player, is a testament to GMI Reid’s exceptional skill.

Reid and Jamaica Draughts Association (JDA) president Jermaine Delattibudiere drew their games with the clever and strategic Lapin, who was gunning to win the tournament.

Lapin, who had finished second to Barnett twice in past championships, ended in the same position this year, while his fellow Ukrainian Shcherbatyuk took third place.

Delattibudiere drew with Shcherbatyuk, but Reid, on the other hand, defeated him with one win and a draw game.

The final standings for the Top Masters Division top ten winners were as follows:

1. Wayne Reid (Jamaica) — 122 points
2. Vadym Lapin (Ukraine) — 118 points
3. Andriy Shcherbatyuk (Ukraine) — 114 points
4. Alfred East Point Barnett (USA) — 106 points
5. Al Lambert (USA) — 94 points
6. Jermaine Delattibudiere (Jamaica) — 94 points
7. Emanuel Rogers (USA) — 90 points
8. Eddie McNair (USA) — 88 points
9. Donald Jackson (USA) — 84 points
10. Kim Williams (USA) — 80 points

The top 10 players in the Top Masters Division secured trophies.

Jamaica’s other representative, Vice President Mikoyan Robinson, finished 16th.

Delattibudiere said the JDA is looking forward to sending a larger team next year with the assistance of relevant sponsorships.

The association has received a special invitation to participate in the Miami Open – 2025 International Draughts (10×10) Tournament, scheduled for September 7-13, at the ALOFT Miami Adventura Hotel.

This tournament promises to be an exciting challenge, with 70 top players from around the world competing on a 100-square board with 20 pieces per side, for a prize pool of US$9,000.

— David Dunkley