Congratulations to Vladimir Olegovich Langin on his birthday!

Today is the birthday of Vladimir Olegovich Langin, president of the St. Petersburg Draughts Federation – he is turning 65!

Throughout his life Vladimir Olegovich has gone through all stages of draughts activity, from a novice in the game to a world champion, coach, organiser and leader.

Vladimir Olegovich Langin has been president of the St. Petersburg Draughts Federation since 1993 and president of the International Draughts Federation (IDF) since 2012; Honoured Worker of Physical Culture of Russia, Honoured Master of Sports of Russia, Honoured Coach of Russia, International Grandmaster, Grandmaster of Russia, Master of Sports of the USSR, three-time world champion in Russian draughts.

He has been awarded medals of the Order ‘For Merit to the Fatherland’ I and II degrees; the medal ‘In Memory of the 300th Anniversary of St. Petersburg’, the medal ‘80 Years of Goskomsport’, the badge ‘Excellence in Physical Culture’, and the honorary badge ‘For Merit in the Development of Physical Culture and Sport in St. Petersburg’.

For more than 40 years, he has been passing on his experience to the younger generation. A top-level coach and teacher, over the years he has trained eight world champions among men and women, 13 grandmasters, and more than 50 masters of sport.

As president of the St. Petersburg Draughts Federation, he organizes more than 50 draughts events for all groups of the population in our city every year. The ‘White Nights’ and ‘Memorial of USSR Champion V.A. Sokov’ tournaments have been a hallmark of St. Petersburg for many years.

On his initiative and with his direct participation, a specialised sports school for chess and draughts was opened and is operating in St. Petersburg (1995), as well as a specialised draughts department at the P.F. Lesgaft National State University (2008).

As president of the International Draughts Federation, he has held about 70 world, European, African and Pan American championships for men, women and veterans, team championships for men’s and women’s teams, as well as about 40 world and European youth championships for boys and girls in all age groups.

We wish Vladimir Olegovich good health and new successes in the development and promotion of draughts at all levels!