FIDE Master Shreyas Smith and Woman Candidate Master Gabriella Watson grab the early lead at the half-way point of the 2024 Jamaica Absolute (Men) and Women’s Chess Championships.

Both Smith and Watson lead the way with perfect five points from five games. In the Absolute section contested by ten players, Smit—the second-ranked player and four-time national champion, stood supreme in sole first place after notching five straight victories.

His victories include a pivotal win in the third round against FM Joshua Christie, his fellow Chess Olympian and the number one seeded player.

Smith played aggressively with the black pieces in a King’s Indian Defence and reaped the rewards. Smith solidified his position with another crucial victory in the fifth round against the defending champion FM Jaden Shaw.

Smith, with his five points, leads Christie (four points) followed by four players tied on 2.5 points in Jhustice-Dimonte McDonald, Corbin Harvey, Nathan Hare and Shaw. In the sixth round, the top clashes see Smith and Harvey having the white pieces against McDonald and Christie, respectively.

Meanwhile, in the ladies category, Watson, fresh from her sparkling, title-earning performance at the recent World Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, is leading with five wins from as many games.

Watson, by far the highest-rated player in the ten-player event, looks unstoppable. On Watson’s heels are Suraiya Matandara-Clarke (4 points) and Kaia Gayle (3 points). In the sixth round, Watson will have a bye while Clarke will have the white pieces against Gayle, a crucial clash that is likely to determine the top finishers.

The championships will continue today at 6:00 pm at Christar Villas Hotel. The events are sponsored by the Jamaica Chess Federation, the Sports Development Foundation, Christar Villas Hotel and the Magnificent Chess Foundation.