The time is ripe. It’s time to unite the Lilliputians into a single region.
Economic, political, and sporting factors can radically alter the balance of power in the world of draughts. The seemingly utopian idea of uniting the three federations and forming a single governing body with a single vote at the FMJD General Assembly is gaining increasingly realistic prospects and a solid foundation. We believe that the events of this past week should compel the current leadership to give this matter even more serious consideration. We will discuss the prospects and rationale for merging the three small federations into a single entity representing a single region.
So, economic criteria. Estonia.
Neither Latvia, nor Lithuania, nor Estonia has the funds to support the development of checkers. Please take a look at the lineup for the upcoming, rather peculiar European Championship, which kicks off next week. You won’t find a single (!) representative from Estonia among either the women or the men. But no! We saw one. However, I can say with great certainty that the representative came at his own expense. Yet out of the 96 participants in the championship, 64 are from the Netherlands. Let’s be sure to keep in mind that the president of the FMJD is a representative from Estonia. The situation within the FMJD will not improve for Estonian draughts players in the coming years. On the other hand, as we recall, the president of the Estonian Federation actively signed letters calling for the disqualification of athletes and blocking any progressive decisions. Was this foolishness on his part, or sheer idiocy? Undoubtedly, both. Draughts in Estonia is doomed.
Let’s continue. Political criteria. Lithuania.
Lithuania hosted a so-called “international” tournament in memory of the legendary grandmaster Arūnas Norvaishas. The most ridiculous thing about this tournament is that, aside from Lithuanian participants, NO ONE from other countries showed up. This speaks to an undeniable conflict even with representatives from neighboring countries. And considering that neighboring partners have begun to abandon Russian draughts, the prospects for Lithuanian draughts are quite bleak. Checkers in Lithuania will soon be nothing more than a folk pastime. Like lapta or “the fool’s game.” Nor should we forget the clear preference for Nazi ideology among the federation’s leadership—both past and present. The relentless persecution of the distinguished coach and author of books on Russian checkers, 88-year-old Boris Ivanovich Druzhinin, speaks volumes. And what do you make of the unsigned letter—bearing only the name “SANDRA”—announcing the disqualification of athletes from Russia and the Republic of Belarus? Apparently, so that no one would figure it out. Indeed—it’s very difficult.
Idiocy? Undoubtedly. Which government official will fund this sport in the future if the most they can muster for an international tournament is three pitiful federations? No one. The future of draughts in Lithuania is bleak.
One more aspect: sports. Latvia.
After approving the competition schedule for next year at its last meeting and finally putting an end to Russian draughts, the Latvian federation has moved on to the final stage—destroying the coaching pool. Let’s wish them success in this endeavor—a success already achieved by neighboring federations, where the number of coaches is half that of the board members. We once joked in all seriousness that soon we’d see a national championship in Latvia featuring only those three magical letters. It’s practically come true already. In another two years at most, the federation won’t be able to field a U16 team. Instead, there will be two cheerful clown brothers who, through their incompetence and actions, are destroying Latvian draughts.
Picture this: A group of draughts enthusiasts are sitting in some Latvian village. And they hear from the federation’s announcement that from now on, they have to play draughts on a large board—and the Brazilian style. But coaches for the large board in Latvia are a dime a dozen, just like those for the Brazilian style. All you have to do is put up a notice, and two hundred people will come running right away. And as for the number of great draughts players in the country—you can’t even count them all. Can you believe it? Guntis Valneris will be 60 next year! And there’s still no sign of a new generation coming up. But in Latvia, a certain tradition has taken hold: You make your relatives champions, and life goes on. And as for what’s happening with the sport—who cares? It’s like the grass won’t even grow.
Is there a future for Latvian checkers? Of course NOT. The decline will continue—yes. Prospects—none.
Logical conclusion: To prevent the “little guys” from getting in the way of the big players with their political ambitions, statements, and actions, we propose considering the possibility of bringing them under a single administration and into a single region. These federations have no prospects for development.