Beijing afterwards.

[Alex_Moiseyev]

The tournament in Beijing was successful for many reasons. One of them - we had a chance to watch other forms of draughts and they also had a chance to watch us and some players to play in our events. Several players during the tournament told to me and other people that they didn't expect so much complexity of Anglo-American Checkers which requires an excellent cross-aboard skills and detail scientific knoweldges of opening PP, middle game strategy and knoweledges of endings phase.

In the past few days Michael Shabshai from Israel per my suggestions loaded Kingsrow with 8 pieces ending database, bought already several Boland and Ryan books and contact with Don Goodwin relatives for catalog list ! This is certainly very good news for us and checkers.

R.Paegle, Latvian player who tied for the 2nd - 3rd place with Ron King and received a bronze medal, is not a newcomer to our game! He used to live for few years in Ireland and at the end of 1990's he played at least in one MSO tournament and did well! In the last tournament day, on Friday October 17, after last round was over, I congratulated him with very respectable 3rd place, gave him Sixth for free and provided some contact information with European players and event calendar for 2009.

I really hope his interest to checkers will not be lost and we will hear from him soon in the very nearest future!

Regards,

Alex

[Ingo_Zachos]

Yes, great event to make to contacts Alex.

There were also players from Itlay, and they already challenged the Germans to a match v;-)
Also, the players fom Japan and Mongolia showed that Checkers/Draughts can expand into Asia.
In fact, the next World Championship match for women (3-move) will be an all-asian affair.
I know that draughts on 64 squares, especially Shashki, is very popuilar in Israel,and Michael Shabshai already participated in the Checkers event at the CEMSO in Prague 2001 and won ahead of, among others, Dave Harwwod, so he is no newcomer to Checkers at all.
In 2005 Yan Waynruch, also from Israel, was another Checkers player from Isreal to play at tzhe CEMSO.
As I said, mayn players emerged from coubtrues, where no natuional events were held before, but that could change in the near future.
Also, the players from the former Soviet Union showed great interest in checkers, even if they played brazilian or shashki at the WMSG.
In 2012 we should adjust the schedule, and allow players to play both draughts 64 and checkers, maybe by asking for a competion in the first week.

Greetinx from old Europe,

Ingo Zachos

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Here is an interesting statistical information about medals, participants, names, countries and more.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Mind_Sports_Games

With all my efforts USA holds very respectable 11 place among 150 countries overall and 33 countries which have at least one medal ... not bad at all !

Alex

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Awarding ceremony in Beijing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jQ_yolY8AJs