Wisdom wins third straight ‘Settle All Arguments’ Class 1 title

ST JAMES, Jamaica —Police inspector Jason ‘School Boy’ Wisdom captured the Class 1 title for a third consecutive year at the Jamaica Draughts Association’s fifth ‘Settle All Arguments’ tournament at Jarrett Park, Montego Bay, St James, recently.

Wisdom finished ahead of veteran Worth ‘Black Panther’ Foster, who secured his first Montego Bay podium finish, and International Grandmaster (IGM) Wayne ‘Shines’ Reid, who recovered from early setbacks to place third.

Host and promoter Mikoyan ‘Sir Micks’ Robinson, a justice of the peace (JP) and president of the Montego Bay Warriors Draughts Club, indicated that a special additional trophy will be made to recognise Wisdom’s three consecutive victories.

Wisdom had long credited IGM Reid as his teacher. Their close friendship and mutual respect have remained strong as the inspector has developed into one of Jamaica’s leading players.

Foster, the oldest player in the Class 1 field, retired from his job some years ago. This has afforded him more time to focus on draughts. A respected player who helped develop IGM Reid, Foster had never reached the Montego Bay podium.

His previous tournament podium finish came at the 2025 Jamaica Draughts-64 Community Outreach Championships in St Mary, where he placed second behind IGM Reid and ahead of former president, Deputy Superintendent Jermaine ‘Titan Tiger’ Delattibudiere.

Foster’s performance highlighted the appeal of a sport where younger and older players can compete on the same board.

Reid, 54, was among the favourites. He suffered his first losses to Christopher ‘Ice-Man’ Wright and Sudian ‘Computer’ Suckram but recovered to claim third place.

Reid won the JDA national title in 2025 and the American Pool Checkers Association (APCA) Top Masters title in 2023 and 2025. Last July, he finished second at the APCA tournament in Memphis, Tennessee, behind Kenya’s IGM Crispin ‘GOJ’ Odhiambo Ojwang.

Wisdom, who was unavailable for the 2025 & 2026 APCA tournaments, had finished second to IGM Reid in 2023.

Vessel captain Ricardo Roach finished fourth in Montego Bay after placing second in the APCA Masters Division earlier this year. His result was a strong showing in Jamaica’s highest local division, Class 1, broadly comparable to the APCA’s Top Masters division.

The ‘Settle All Arguments’ series began five years ago, allowing players to settle debates about who was strongest over the board.

Robinson, the acting JDA president after Delattibudiere resigned earlier this month, had hosted tournaments in Montego Bay for several years before the series began. He finished joint seventh with Ricardo Bookal.

Carl Simpson won Class 2, followed by Kevon Fullerton and Nick Spence. Junior national runner-up Justin Angus finished fourth, just outside the medals.

Jason Case won Class 3, with Steve Francis second and Danny Banton third.

Reigning national youth champion Shavier Jaddo was absent but is expected to defend his title at the nationals. Detective Constable Oshane McKenzie, a software developer, is also expected to return to competition in Class 2.