About FM Shreyas Smith

My chess journey began at Calabar High School, encouraged by my friend Odean Wright. Under the guidance of National Master Ryan Blackwood, I developed rapidly, walking long distances to training sessions, hungry to consume every piece of chess knowledge I could find.

In 2010, I witnessed my first Chess Olympiad in Khanty-Mansiysk, Siberia—and knew I had to become a Chess Olympian. The following year, at just 14, I won my first Open tournament at the Frederick Cameron Open with a perfect 4/4 score, defeating legendary International Master Shane Matthews in the final round.

I earned the title of National Chess Master in 2014 at age 17. That same year, the Jamaica Chess Federation took me to Tromso, Norway as an assistant coach—my first step toward the Olympiad dream. In 2016, I debuted as a player at the World Chess Olympiad in Baku, Azerbaijan, returning again in 2018 to Batumi, Georgia.

Along the way, I've been mentored by greats like CM Robert Wheeler and former National Champion FM Damion Davy, and inspired by "the big four" of Jamaican chess: Warren Elliott, Shane Matthews, Jomo Pitterson, and Duane Rowe. Internationally, I draw inspiration from Magnus Carlsen and GM Sam Shankland.

Today, with six National Championship titles and a peak FIDE rating of 2268, I'm focused on passing on everything I've learned to the next generation of Jamaican chess players.