Does the FMJD have balls? Let’s see…

Oh, guys, how exciting it will be soon on the world draughts scene! Let’s stock up on snacks and watch the interesting events unfold! Let’s bet on our favorite candidate, but first things first… Let’s start with the basic settings of the draughts world.

So, let’s begin.

Chapter 1: Basic principles and foundations of the sport

The FMJD is one of the five founding federations of the IMSA (International Mind Sports Association), which organizes the World Mind Sports Games – the equivalent of the Olympics for mind sports. It was founded on September 14, 1947, by four federations – France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland. The USSR joined the FMJD in 1956.

The International Mind Sports Association (IMSA) is an international organization formed on April 19, 2005, by four international sports federations that are members of the General Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF): the World Bridge Federation (WBF), the International Chess Federation (FIDE), the World Draughts Federation (FMJD) and the International Go Federation (IGF).
As of 2020 the IMSA included seven international federations, including, in addition to the four founders: the World Xianqi Federation (WXQ) since 2015, the International Mahjong League (MIL) since 2017, and the Card Games Federation (FCG) since 2018.

The initiative to create IMSA came from José Damiani, president of the World Bridge Federation (WBF). Attempts to include bridge and chess, whose international federations were recognized by the IOC in 1999, in the Olympic Games program were unsuccessful. That is why José Damiani held a series of consultations with the IOC leadership, after which the prospect of obtaining Olympic status for international intellectual sports games – the Intelympic / Mindlympic Games – was outlined.

Preliminary conclusion: All intellectual games organizations interact with each other and actively participate together with the International Olympic Committee, mostly in a subordinate relationship. The IOC’s recommendations should be accepted for implementation on an unconditional basis.

Consequence: Janek Mäggi’s decision, together with his new team, to cancel unfair disqualifications and take note of the IOC indicates a reasonable and balanced position for the preservation and development of draughts, based on the Olympic Charter, which does not allow discrimination on political, racial, linguistic or religious grounds.

 

Chapter 2: Economic, social, and educational resources of draughts

Literature on draughts: It is worth looking at the overall picture in the field of books on draughts and stating the obvious. In the world of books those written in Dutch, French, Spanish and Russian have the greatest potential and volume.

Educational resources: World-class coaches and draughts schools, which occupy the entire market, are located in countries such as the Netherlands, Russia, Belarus, China and Mongolia. In terms of the number of young talents and development prospects these countries are significantly ahead of the rest.

Economy: The full cycle of the intellectual sports economy, which includes databases of games and players, computerized refereeing programs, a high level of funding for high-performance sports, a constant number of world and European champions among adults and juniors, unique opportunities to hold high-level tournaments using artificial intelligence and modern IT solutions, and the ability to finance international organizations, are found in the Netherlands, Russia, Belarus, China and Mongolia.

Consequence and conclusion: In order to preserve and develop the sport what kind of sanctions and disqualifications can be considered in relation to countries that are recognized leaders and founders of draughts?

 

Chapter 3: Small, but smelly (Watcher Syndrome)

An international organization dealing with issues related to its own existence and based on basic economic laws is sometimes forced, sometimes by definition, to preserve large national organizations and rely on them in matters of sports development. This is an axiom.

Taking into account the recommendations of the IOC, whose decision is decisive for all International Federations for all sports, all FMJD members must strictly comply with the decision of the FMJD Board. Without delay!

But!… Here are the Minutes of the meeting of the Latvian Draughts Federation dated January 19, 2026 (in Latvian)

In brief:

1. Prepare a joint statement from the federations of Poland, Ukraine, Estonia (!!), Lithuania and Latvia on the ban and continued discrimination against young athletes from Russia and the Republic of Belarus.
2. To declare strictly and unequivocally that the FMJD must develop a strategy for 64-square draughts and their development.
3. To continue the disqualification of players who played in Russia.

Conclusion: We (the poor and proud federations) don’t give a damn about the Olympic movement, the Charter, and the FMJD’s decision. We are the foundation of the entire draughts system, and we will proudly carry and take out anyone at your expense.

 

Final Chapter: Does FMJD have balls? Let’s see…

Replica: When the poor teach the rich how to live, it always looks tragicomic. The poor can only teach the rich how to wear ragged clothes with holes in their pockets correctly and proudly.

Difficult and important days lie ahead for Janek Mäggi and his team. The challenges they face and the decisions they make could influence the development of world draughts and attitudes towards his team.

1. If the letter demanding that athletes from Russia and Belarus be barred from participating was signed by the Estonian Federation, then this is a direct conflict of interest and a reminder of the lost elections in Tallinn in 2021. After all, when there is no agreement within one’s own federation, how can one lead the FMJD? Let’s watch their actions.
2. If the smallest members start to push through their decision, while these small members themselves are in a dire economic situation, then the International Organization will take another step towards complete chaos and collapse.
3. Will J. Mäggi’s team take the reins firmly in hand or continue the policy of permissiveness towards small shopkeepers?

V. Lenin comes to mind: “Any cook can run a state” (in relation to small and poor federations).

Our answer: “No, they can’t!”

Let’s grab a bag of sunflower seeds and wait to find out the answer to the question: “Does the FMJD have balls?” We are awaiting the decision of the FMJD Executive Committee.