I can always finish school, but I don’t want to miss out on these experiences.

That was the bold declaration made by 22-year-old Adani Clarke after her crucial win at the recently ended Burger King National Chess Championships in Kingston. The chemical physics major, who put her university career on hold to focus on chess as a sport, stands vindicated as she inches closer to her dream of representing Jamaica and medalling at the upcoming World Chess Olympiad in Uzbekistan this September.

“The chess tournaments that are coming up, I decided they were more important to me now,” expressed Clarke. “I have personal goals that I want to achieve, and it’s also the best platform for me to achieve those goals. I’m aiming for the Women’s International Master title, and to do that I’d have to get a certain performance rating at the World Chess Olympiad.”

As women’s FIDE Master and newly crowned 2026 national women’s champion, it’s no surprise that Clarke feels strongly about chess, but for the two-time Jamaican national title winner who has her eyes on the global competitions, the impact of the sport in Jamaica is even more profound than medals and titles.

She noted that her experience with chess had a positive impact on her capabilities in the sciences and symbiotically became a tool for her to teach both math and chess. Adding that the sport enriched her and other young Jamaicans with exercises in patience and taught diligence, she dubbed it the ultimate investment.

As for her dreams for the sport in Jamaica in the coming years, she stated, “I hope we can make it big time; hopefully have a grandmaster by then that’s produced in Jamaica, and way more internationally titled players, higher rating strengths, especially for the women in chess as well.”

Clarke isn’t the only local player who’s bullish on chess. National Absolute Chess Champion for 2026 Shreyas Smith has dedicated at least an hour a day to the sport and it’s certainly paid off in his now seven chess titles.

He, like Clarke, believes in the power that chess has to help anyone who plays it.

“I think for the youth, especially the men who come from a humble background like myself, I think it’s important for us to be able to think critically, to make good decisions, and think before we actually make the decisions that we make in life.”

The 29-year-old Calabar alumnus and chess coach extolled the perks of the game. “[Chess] has given me the opportunity to see the world as well. Through travelling, I’ve probably been to three continents now and maybe over 20 countries. And also chess has given me the ability to provide for my family,” Shreyas said.

But at the same time, he has hopes for major improvements in the sport. “In terms of monetary prize funds for the players, I believe that we really want chess to reach a point where it can be somebody’s full-time occupation,” he said.

Shreyas lauded the local tournaments, saying special thanks to this year’s main and first-time sponsor, Burger King Jamaica, for coming on-board. “We need our leaders to be great thinkers. So helping a sport like chess, which gets people thinking, I can’t see a better investment than that.”

The Absolute, Female, and Seniors National Chess Championships ran from January 23 to February 1 and was sponsored by Burger King, Magnificent Chess Foundation, Sports Development Foundation, and the Jamaica Chess Federation.

FIDE Master and seven-times title holder Shreyas Smith contemplates the board before making his move.