Jamaica’s ‘Titan Trio’ Touch Down in Memphis as Reid Chases Historic APCA Grandmaster Crown

KINGSTON, Jamaica — Jamaica’s foremost intellectual sporting representatives will arrive in Memphis, USA, this weekend as the Jamaica Draughts Association dispatches its “Titan Trio” to contest the 57th Annual American Pool Checkers Association Tournament, set for July 13–19, 2026.

With the delegation scheduled to land between July 10 and 12, Jamaica assumes a central position in a championship that could recalibrate the nation’s stature within the international draughts community, with International Grandmaster Wayne Alphanso “Shine” Reid pursuing an achievement of historic magnitude.

In accordance with the logistical demands of hosting an event of this scale, JDA President Jermaine Alexander “Titan Tiger” Delattibudiere will be the first to arrive, between Friday, July 10 and Saturday, July 11, 2026, to attend to critical administrative obligations. He will be joined by defending APCA Top Masters Champion IGM Wayne “Shine” Reid, while 1st Vice President Mickoyan Robinson, JP will complete the delegation upon his arrival on Sunday, July 12, 2026.

The competitive and symbolic gravity of the mission rests largely on Reid. As Jamaica’s first and only draughts Grandmaster, Reid earned his International Grandmaster title in February 2018 after winning the Classic section of Russian Shashki at the inaugural Pan-American Draughts-64 Championships in Montego Bay. His profile ascended further in 2025 when he captured the APCA Top Masters Championship against what analysts described as the strongest field assembled in decades.

That tournament concluded with Ukraine’s IM Vadym Lapin in second, his compatriot Andriy “Andre” Shcherbatyuk in third, and American legend GM Alfred “East Point” Barnett, a 17-time APCA champion, in fourth. A third APCA title in Memphis would confer upon Reid the formal designation of American Pool Checkers Grandmaster by APCA, placing him among an elite cadre of players holding both international and American grandmaster credentials and solidifying his legacy across both American Pool Checkers and Russian Shashki/Draughts disciplines.

Beside Reid stands Delattibudiere, whose evolution from “Sir Tiger” to “Titan Tiger” reflects a purposeful shift in both competitive philosophy and administrative leadership. The new identity, he states, embodies a more disciplined, strategic, and formidable approach to the game and to governance. A three-time 6th-place finisher at APCA from 2023 to 2025, Delattibudiere enters Memphis with renewed momentum following his victory in the Top Masters Division of the 2026 Jamaican Draughts-64 Community Outreach Championships.

His influence has also expanded institutionally. In June 2026 he was elected General Secretary of the Pan-American Draughts and Checkers Confederation, a development that coincides with the JDA’s deepening alignment with the FMJD — Fédération Mondiale du Jeu de Dames, or World Draughts Federation, the global governing body for draughts. This was historic as he became the 1st Jamaican to be elected to a post on Pan-American Checkers & Draughts Confederation (PAMDCC) Administrative Board. Under Delattibudiere’s leadership, Jamaica has attained provisional membership with FMJD for the first time in its history, with full membership anticipated by the end of 2026. This milestone is expected to provide Jamaican players with access to official world ratings, title norms, and expanded international competition, including the upcoming International Checkers Association of North America/USA 10×10, US Open Championships in Huntington, New York.

The third member of the delegation, Mickoyan Robinson, JP, represents the foundation of the Association’s community work. As JDA 1st Vice President and President of the Montego Bay Warriors Draughts Club, Robinson has been central to the expansion of Jamaica’s club infrastructure and to the institutionalization of the “Settle All Arguments” Pool Checkers Open Championship in St. James. What began as localized exhibitions has matured into one of Jamaica’s largest annual tournaments, supported by a calendar of club and parish matches that build competitive readiness and broaden public engagement.

This grassroots architecture has been instrumental in reintroducing draughts into communities across the island and in creating a viable pathway from community play to national representation. “Wayne brings championship pedigree and global experience, Jermaine brings visionary leadership and competitive intensity, and Mikoyan brings organizational continuity and community resonance,” Delattibudiere stated. “Together, they constitute Jamaica’s most complete presentation on the international stage.”

The competitive field in Memphis underscores the tournament’s elevated status. Foremost among the international entries is IGM Crispin “GOJ” Odhiambo of Kenya, East Africa’s undisputed number one and currently ranked 5th in the world. GOJ is expected to travel to Memphis directly from Texas following the conclusion of a fully sponsored two-week exhibition tour of Texas and Tennessee hosted by the City of Vidor.

He will compete alongside Steve Owino of the University of Nairobi. The presence of a player of GOJ’s calibre transforms APCA 2026 into a contest of intercontinental consequence. “With GOJ in the field, this is Kenya versus Jamaica, Africa versus the Americas,” Delattibudiere observed. “It requires our absolute best.”

Beyond the pursuit of titles, the JDA frames its participation within a broader developmental mandate. Draughts is promoted not only as a sport but as an educational and social tool. The game develops sustained concentration, strategic foresight, decision-making under pressure, and emotional discipline — competencies that translate directly to academic performance and that support youth development and community safety initiatives.

To advance this work, the Association will soon launch the “Boards & Beyond” fundraising drive, inviting corporate Jamaica and the diaspora to invest in the sport. The initiative seeks to fully resource the New York delegation, expand scholastic programs, and support Jamaica’s bid to host the 1st International 10×10 Draughts-100 Championships in 2028. Jamaica currently fields a number of strong players and would welcome the opportunity to send larger teams to APCA and to future FMJD events, but progress is constrained by limited sponsorship. The JDA therefore encourages reputable corporate partners to come on board and to help showcase Jamaica’s excellence in mindsports to the world.

“We have moved from survival to revival,” Delattibudiere said. “With this trio, and with the world’s elite now competing directly against us, we are building the structure for sustained growth and for the lasting international recognition of Jamaican draughts.”

As the pieces are set in Memphis, Jamaica arrives not as a peripheral participant, but as a nation with history within reach, leadership firmly established, and a vision that extends far beyond the final move of this championship.

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