About FM Shreyas Smith
Born December 18, 1996 in Jamaica. Seven-time National Champion, Chess Olympian, and dedicated coach committed to developing the next generation of Jamaican chess talent.
“The master slayer”
— already on his way to becoming a Jamaican legend.
The chess journey
- Start
Calabar High School
Began at Calabar High School, encouraged by his friend Odean Wright. Trained under National Master Ryan Blackwood, walking long distances to training sessions.
- 2010
The Olympiad dream
Watched his first Chess Olympiad (Khanty-Mansiysk, Siberia) and knew he had to become an Olympian.
- 2011
First Open win, age 14
Frederick Cameron Open, a perfect 4/4, beating IM Shane Matthews in the last round.
- 2014
National Master at 17
Became a National Chess Master at 17, and assistant coach with the Jamaica Chess Federation in Tromsø, Norway.
- 2016
Olympian
Olympiad debut as a player in Baku, Azerbaijan — and again in 2018 in Batumi, Georgia.
- Mentors
Who shaped him
CM Robert Wheeler and former National Champion FM Damion Davy. Inspired by “the big four” — Warren Elliott, Shane Matthews, Jomo Pitterson, Duane Rowe — and by Magnus Carlsen and GM Sam Shankland.
- Today
Passing it on
Seven national titles and a peak FIDE rating of 2272 — now focused on passing everything on to the next generation.
Recognition
National Titles & Records
- Seven-time National Chess Champion2017 · 2019 · 2020 · 2022 · 2024 · 2025
- National Chess Master at 172014
- Highest-rated Junior in Jamaican history2408
- Highest-rated Schoolboy in Jamaican history2341
- Peak FIDE Rating2272
International Representation
- World Chess Olympiad — Baku, Azerbaijan2016
- World Chess Olympiad — Batumi, Georgia2018
Tournament Victories
- XVIII Andres Clemente Vazquez International2022
- NM Thomas Figueroa Memorial Blitz2022
- Frederick Cameron Open, 4/42011
- M.R. Games Chess Open2018
- Robert Wheeler Memorial Open, 6/62021
- Robert Wheeler Chess Open2016 · 2022
Recognition & Honours
- RJR National Sports Award — Chess Athlete of the Year2015 · 2017 · 2018
- FIDE Master titleFM
- Jamaica's Chess Ambassador★
My teaching philosophy
“I believe chess improvement comes from understanding, not memorization. When you understand why a move is strong, you can find the right move even in unfamiliar positions.”
- 1.
Game Analysis
We start by examining your actual games. Your moves reveal your thinking process—where it's strong and where it needs development.
- 2.
Pattern Recognition
Chess is a game of patterns. We'll build your tactical vision and positional understanding through carefully selected exercises and classic games.
- 3.
Opening Repertoire
Together, we'll develop an opening repertoire suited to your style. You'll learn the ideas and plans, not just move orders.
- 4.
Practical Application
Theory means nothing without practice. We'll apply what you've learned in training games and analyze the results together.
The future of Caribbean chess
“I dream of seeing more high-calibre tournaments held in the English-speaking Caribbean, with Jamaican players competing at the World Cup and becoming ‘the best of the best.’ The sky is indeed the limit for those willing to put in the work.”
Ready to master the game?
Take the first step toward chess mastery. Book your introductory session and discover how personalized coaching can transform your game.
- Personalized training plan
- Flexible scheduling
- Online or in-person lessons
- Progress tracking