As prisoners of the cave according to Plato (A short report on the EC 2024 among boys and girls)

A short quote from the classics: “Imagine a tribe that is condemned to live in a deep cave. Its members have shackles on their legs and arms that prevent them from moving. Several generations have been born in this cave, the only source of knowledge for which are faint reflections of light and muffled sounds reaching their senses from the surface.

Now imagine what these people know about life outside?

And so one of them took off his shackles and reached the entrance to the cave. He saw the sun, trees, amazing animals, birds soaring in the sky. Then he returned to his tribesmen and told them about what he had seen. Will they believe him? Or will they consider more reliable that gloomy picture of the underworld that they see with their own eyes all their lives?” (Plato’s philosophical parable)

When the boycott of our tournaments was announced, we saw the joyful squeals of many. When they printed speculations, accused the leaders of our tournaments of all mortal sins, we warned that the boomerang knows how to return. When our children were persecuted, we warned that such leadership would lead draughts to death. We were right about everything.

One has only to look at the composition of the Baltic Cup, the number of medals won at the “home” and “weak” European championships to predict the further course of events on the draughts field. And ask a logical question: “Who do you think will negotiate with these “representatives” of the federation?” But sooner or later they will have to sit down at the negotiating table. But who will talk to these “representatives” at the international level? And it’s time to start thinking about it.

The final collapse of the U-16 and U-19 groups is in its final stages. Next year the talented R. Štāls and V. Mitrevičs will no longer be able to play at the world level.

As one of the songs says: “How much money are you going to feed your family with?”

We offer statistics of the last European Championship. As always, the most profitable, stable and result-oriented clubs are in the first place. Zoya Golubeva, Robert and Olesya Misans constantly provide high results.

But the club of magic three letters shows worse and worse results every time. Maybe it is for them that the Baltic Cup exists? To look successful at least on someone’s weak level? We recommend that this three-letter club go on a charity tour of Latgale, giving sessions to two coaches. Two acrobatic brothers. And continue to destroy everything around them. We wish them good luck in this!

Yes, I almost forgot! The main thing is to take pictures several times a day before the competition! This will definitely help! As some psychologists say, it is very motivating and develops memory! (True, in an old age, when you remember where you took part.)