The worst possible publicity for draughts is having good-for-nothings and political incompetents in leadership positions

Checkers in the western part of the European continent will soon become a refuge for the poor and the lowest strata of society due to the policies pursued by the leadership of a supposedly international organization. Youth sports are gradually being destroyed, and immigrants from the countries of the former Soviet Union—where they started out playing for free and with “everything provided” to play checkers, and who have created nothing in the countries to which they fled. The unprofessional—and at times simply dim-witted—leadership of the so-called international federation will soon complete the transformation of checkers on the Western continent into a contest of ruins and historical relics. For there will be no interest left in checkers among the intellectual youth.

Already, the so-called World and European Championships are turning into a gathering of clowns in costumes and people who love to write and sign all sorts of letters, pretending to be wronged and insulted.

To get to the heart of the matter: Most federations in Western Europe have received the regulations for the European Youth Chess Championship to be held in Tallinn in August 2026.

1. What will ultimately destroy youth policy in the development of draughts is simply the incomprehensible level of greed and unprofessionalism in management.

Even our leading managers in the tourism sector were stunned by the prices of a two-star hostel that was supposedly provided by an international organization for the European Championship.

The desire to profit from children’s competitions turns the entire leadership of this international organization into a gathering of people from the infamous Epstein list. How little intelligence must one possess to make decisions about hosting the European Championship under such conditions? Let us recall:

1.1. The organization no longer accepts ANY ATHLETES for free.

1.2. The organization does not provide (even as compensation) ANY CASH PRIZES. In fact, athletes actually pay for the opportunity to play checkers—a rather dubious pleasure.

1.3. We remind you that the IDF ACCEPTS AT LEAST 6 PEOPLE PER COUNTRY!

Question: Where is the best place to hold the event, and where would young people be eager to go if the IDF’s conditions were to take another leap forward?

Let’s compare prices. Let’s take the well-known Hilton hotel chain and a low-end hostel for competitions.

Hilton  Price for 2 adults and 1 child, including breakfast, from August 1 to August 8, 2026	Низкопробный Хостел в лесу, 8 км от центра Price for 2 adults and 1 child, including breakfast, from August 1 to August 8, 2026
84 -102 eiro a day	193 eiro a day
Photo attached	Photo attached

 

2. Who needs such long tournaments for children, and does it make sense to hold only one round per day?

Excuse me, but I’d like to ask: Are these draughts players—athletes or just “nerds”? How can the sport become attractive, economically viable, and profitable if only one round is held per day? Can anyone justify the practicality of this, especially in this day and age, when the social economy is in crisis?

A few follow-up questions: Who will be attracted by competitions for coaches? In the woods, after lunch? What kind of briefing for coaches is this that it has to take up an entire day?

3. Tell me, what kind of addictive behavior is it when a new website is created for every European or World Youth Championship? Who stands to profit from this?

But the main question is: for what constructive purposes is this being done? Looking at the international federation’s website makes you want to hang yourself rather than take an interest in draughts. Let’s make a simple comparison. Open the updated website of the Dutch Draughts Federation and the international one. Which website strikes you as modern and visually appealing?

Let’s repeat the question: Why are new websites for youth championships being created, and with what funds?

We could go on and on asking questions. But let’s note one thing. The amateurs in charge of the draughts movement will continue to ruin the sport, which is losing its coaching and youth potential. And politicians who are “playing it safe” and leaders from the list of “Epstein’s retirees” will completely corrupt the sport of draughts.

For now, the outlook is bleak….