Chess with Akeem, a YouTube instructor who just earned his FIDE Master title, is competing for Jamaica at the 2026 Chess Olympiad in Samarkand. He's lost his first two games but stays focused on contributing points for his country and building his IM title next. His content creation and tournament play are separate worlds, though one feeds the other.
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Chess with Akeem is a popular content creator who creates instructional chess videos on YouTube with a great fan following. Chess with Akeem recently acquired his FM title and he is now representing Jamaica, his home country, in the Chess Olympiad 2026 in Samarkand. After his game, we decided to do a short interview with Akeem. Check out this special interview and also the moments from when Akeem joined the ChessBase India livestream. Check it out.
It's a pleasure to be joined by Akim Brown, popularly known as Chesswit Akim. Kim, how's it going playing for Jamaica in the Olympiad? How has your experience been so far?
Well, it's a great experience. It's my first Olympiad. I'm just happy that I'm here. Unfortunately, I haven't won any games as yet. I lost both of my games so far, but it's a long tournament and the goal is just to bounce back and, you know, hopefully give my country Country some more points.
It's wonderful to hear. And yesterday, you know, you played Team USA. You played such a probably the strongest opponent of your life over the board. How was the game? If you can share a bit.
Well, it was Team Uzbekistan.
Yes, absolutely. Sorry, Uzbekistan.
And it was a really fun game.
Definitely going down as one of my favorite games. I mean, the guys, the guy was just way stronger than me, but. I'm happy with the fight that I put up, you know, and I'm just happy that I fought and I just didn't get walked over, you know.
It's just wonderful to hear. And, uh, Akim, of course, you are a very popular content creator, you know, we see your videos all the time. And now when you come to tournaments, uh, like, do you switch off that side? Does content creation go hand in hand with practicing chess? How is this for you?
Um, in some cases, because I play a lot of games and It helps me to get better at chess, you know, it helps me to just stay sharp. But in terms of when I'm at the tournament, I don't really think about content creation. Like, playing chess tournaments and content creation is 2 separate entities for me. Okay. Like, if something huge happens in the tournament, for example, getting my FIDE Master title the other day, you know, that was huge, so I put it on my YouTube channel. But I don't usually, like, stream my games or those things.
It's wonderful to hear. And if you had a personal goal in this tournament, what would that be?
Um, honestly, my, my personal chess goal was to get my FM, so I'm still trying to figure out what my next goal is. Obviously I'm trying to get IM, but in terms of this tournament, it just has to be trying to get my country as many points as possible.
That's wonderful to hear. Thank you so much, Akeem, for your time. Best wishes for the tournament.
Appreciate that, man.
Thank you.
For sure.
Was the savior for the Indian team. And you know, sometimes we better be lucky than good. And we have a very cool personality joining us.
Hi, Akim here. We are live stream.
Oh, hello guys.
We have 8,000 people watching. Akim, you want to join us?
For sure.
Yeah guys, Akim is someone This is the mic. Oh yeah, this is the mic. Sorry, I forgot. We— I thought we had lapel mic. But Akeem, we've followed your game yesterday against Nodirbek. No, was it Mukhitdin?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
And you played so well.
Really?
Yeah, you were like better, right? At some point it was around equal.
Yeah, it was around equal. It was equal. And then I, I just got outplayed in the end, but I think it was equal.
Guys, if you haven't followed Chess with Akeem, people are already saying Akeem, Akeem.
Hello guys, let's go! Oh yeah, for sure.
It seems like you are very famous in India also, Akeem.
Oh really?
Yes.
Nice, nice.
And you, did you become an FM recently?
Oh yes, I actually become an FM, and I'm so happy that you asked because I got the FM title from Sub-Zonal, right? And since getting the FM every single day people are asking, where's the title beside your name? So can you just clear that up for me? Like, why is the title not immediately beside my names?
So generally there is a 3-day— once every 3 months or once every 6 months, if I'm not sure about it, 3 months. And then all the people who have made their IM, GM, and FM title, they give it in one go. So here, I believe, once the Once this ends, by first of October, I think you should get your FM title. If not then, then maybe in another month or so.
Yeah.
So I think what you announced is not premature. You will become an FM.
Yeah, definitely. So basically, even after getting it from FIDE, it will also take a while to get it on Chesscom because Chesscom also has to verify it. So I'm so happy to, to clear that up, guys.
Nice. And Akeem, how are you feeling? Uh, the entire energy of the tournament— is it your first Olympiad?
Definitely, this is my first Olympiad.
Wow.
I'm very happy that I, I was able to qualify. Um, honestly, I'm not in the best of moods because I was trying so hard to win my last game and ended up losing. I'm sure you— that have happened, um, to you. Before. But aside from that, the energy is nice, the place is great. I'm meeting so many people from all different countries, so it's, it's crazy. It's definitely crazy.
Well, you shouldn't take it too much to heart because there are 9 more rounds to play, and who knows, in 9 rounds you could even make your IM norms.
Yeah, well, it's, it's, it's for sure. Um, for sure. Um, it's a long tournament, so I can definitely bounce back for sure. I'm not taking it too much because it was an FM resolution that I had. Before getting the FM, I would draw that game because I'm holding on to my Elo, but I'm trying to get IM. I'm, I'm, I know it's not going to be anytime like this year or next year, so I'm trying to raise my strength. And part of raising my strength is my fighting spirit, you know. So the position is drawn. I'm not accepting any draw. I prefer to fight and lose. It's hard, but—
In many of your games, I think on YouTube or Instagram, people could see that you're always trying to find some chances even in bad positions.
Yeah, yeah. So, I'm just trying my best to always play for the win.
Well, that's amazing. And I think your journey is going to inspire a lot of people, Akeem. Everyone's saying through the roof.
Oh really?
Yes, through the roof is what everyone was saying in the chat. I didn't know this term. They told me about it.
Oh, oh, oh yeah, yeah, because I, I usually do that thing. I usually do that thing.
So how is it?
Can you show us? Well, so I'm usually like—
okay, we'll learn.
Yeah, we'll learn it by—
yeah, so I'm like, yes, let's go.
So, so if you— so when I said, and your rhythm is just Follow what I do with my kids.
Okay, yeah.
So I'm like, if you watch this full video, apply what I teach, then your ratings will go through the roof.
Let's go, bro! Amazing, Akeem! This is so cool. Your energy is amazing, Akeem. Please do visit us when you win a game as well. We would love to check a game with you of yours.
Yeah.
And thank you for, for, you know, stopping by.
Yeah, for sure. Um, I'll see you guys again soon. All right, see you. Yeah, thank you so much for having me. Thank you. All right, guys, bye-bye.
Bye, guys. Another amazing personality in the world of chess, Akeem here.
