The battered city championship is still alive
Back then, the Riga Championship was a unique competition held in the middle of summer, just before the European Junior Championships. The strongest players from across the regions would come to this tournament, and it was fully funded by the city budget. There was also a small—albeit laughable—prize pool consisting of everyday household items. Towels, badminton rackets, various kinds of napkins, and candles. It was funny.
Nowadays, there are practically no players left from the regions, the tournament is no longer free, and you can’t lure anyone with towels—not even with soap. Unless, perhaps, with candied fruit, which the local federation still treats local draughts players to. And the promise of victory… in something, somewhere.
Does playing with a shorter time control improve one’s skill? We doubt it. In Latvia, there are still two tournaments a year with classical time control. What kind of development of the game can we even talk about? Whatever keeps local draughts players happy—as long as they don’t cry. So here they are, playing…. And don’t ask why.