We would like to thank everyone who did not come…

Some important aphorisms about men:

If a man has no brains, he is a fool; if he has no heart, he is a scoundrel; if he has no bile, he is a weakling. D. Lawrence

When nature leaves a chink in the mind of any man, it usually covers it with a thick layer of self-satisfaction.

H. Longfellow

It is better to be a dissatisfied Socrates than a satisfied fool. J. Mill

We would like to express our gratitude to all those who, either voluntarily or by chance, did not come to Riga for the draughts event. The draughts event was organized by fans of the Austrian artist and his iodine-deficient comrades. We are pleased to see that the draughts community, for the most part, does not support the clan of costumed characters and various draughts scoundrels who sign various letters about harassment and disqualifications, those who try to turn draughts into a political field of bloodthirsty clowns. Never forget those who take part in these tournaments, organized by a group with a clear deficit of intelligence, decency, and basic moral standards.

Let us recall the words of the president of the local federation and the entire pack of scoundrels from checkers at the last FMJD meeting:

Vladislavs Vesperis, President of the Latvian Draughts Federation, stated that the Latvian
Draughts Federation believes that FMJD should not lift the restrictions on the participation of
Belarusian athletes while the war continues.
FMJD President Janek Maggi responded that, according to the International Olympic

Committee (IOC), the Belarusian Draughts Federation (BDF) fulfills all the required conditions.
This position was communicated by the IOC on 7 May 2026. He further noted that the Russian
federation does not fulfill these requirements.
It was recalled that the suspension of the Russian and Belarusian federations in 2022 had
been adopted in line with the recommendations of the IOC following the outbreak of the war
in Ukraine. It was further recalled that, on 7 May 2026, the IOC stated that it no longer
recommends restrictions on the participation of Belarusian athletes. In light of this development,
the Executive Council considered it appropriate to review the measures adopted in 2022.
On 19 May 2026, FMJD informed all member federations by letter that the Executive Council
would decide on the readmission of Belarusian athletes at its meeting on 12 June 2026.
FMJD subsequently received a number of responses from its member federations. The majority
of those responses supported lifting the restrictions.
Before leaving the Executive Council meeting, Vladislavs Vesperis expressed his hope that
a wise and balanced decision would be reached.
Following further discussion among the Executive Council members, it was observed that,
as an International Sports Federation, FMJD should act in accordance with established
international sporting guidelines. It was also stressed that any easing of the restrictions
should be gradual and accompanied by appropriate safeguards, while continuing to express
solidarity with the people of Ukraine and opposition to the war.
After careful deliberation, the proposal of the FMJD President was approved.

Therefore, we would like to express our gratitude once again to those who did not come and did not support this checkers event. In no case should we support political clowns with radical brown tendencies.

It is not worth focusing on local checkers players and their number at the tournament. Considering that they are simply poor and cannot afford any tournaments outside their own federation. Moreover, most of them support the local government, and some even have signatures on their behalf.

Be reasonable and remember that checkers are only a small part of life, which does not negate the existence of moral principles.

There is no idiot who does not imagine that he is a great man, and no donkey who, when he looks at himself in the river, does not look at himself with pleasure and does not find himself to be a horse.

G. Flaubert