Tournament players
Alexander Schwarzman
Moscow, 18 september 1967 is an International Grandmaster draughts of Russian nationality. He is known as very creative player, in particular for its positional offerings and a large amount of encirclement parties. Schwarzman is the reigning world champion. Schwarzman is a versatile player who has also been several times world champion on the 64-fields board. During the previous Groningen Seaports Masters he reached the fourth place.
Alexei Chizhov
Izhevsk (Russia), 1964. Defending champion of the tournament. With 10 titles most frequently world champion in the history of draughts. Was in 1988 for the first time World Champion and is still continuously candidate for the world title. World Champion at the juniors in 1983. Was the convincing winner of the first Groningen Seaports Masters. Is now coach of the Chinese players. Entered into the first Groningen Seaports Masters as spokesman of the players. In flawless Dutch he told about the many similarities between Russians and Groningers.
Martin Dolfing
Groningen, 12 november 1977. Is a Dutch draughts player who grew up and still lives in the city of Groningen. For over 10 years he belongs to the top of the Dutch players. Is sometimes compared with Jannes van der Wal for his talent and his modesty. Martin is a real self-taught, had no trainer and became by self study on world top level. In the previous Groningen Seaports Masters he lost no game. He is a formidable player in this tournament. Dutch Champion in 2002. He owns the titles International Master and National Grandmaster. Shared the third place this year with Pim Meurs in the Dutch Championship, but lost the barrage.
Kees Thijssen
August 24, 1975. Draughts has he learned from his father when he was nine years old. Father took pleasure with five pawns less and won the first mutual parties. Kees was stimulated by this paternal force majeure and went to the library to see a book about draughts. This was the famous textbook draughts with Jannes. Kees Thijssen became Champion of Netherlands in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007. Winner of numerous international tournaments: Brunssum 1996, Den Haag 1999, Bijlmer tournament in 1999 and 2001, Zeeland Open 2000, Nijmegen 2003, Curacao 2003, Cannes 2004, Salou 2004 and 2006 and Amber 2006. On his eighteenth Kees went to Amsterdam to study, became a member of draughts club Hiltex and came in touch with Anatoly Gantwarg, who introduced Kees in the strategic world of draughts. Kees learned tremendously from Anatoly and already after a few months he was the youngest NK-finalist since times (1994).
William Orie
Top player in Suriname and two-time former champion in 2008 and 2009. Economist and Professor at the University. Staff officer on the Directorate Monetary Affairs and Economic Affairs of Central Bank van Suriname. William Orie is closely involved in supporting the dams in his country. The Club has strong youth players, some of which also might be present at the Youth World <<championships 2010. For the draughts game new perspectives come in sight; the country has a long draughts tradition and there will be more international successes possible.
Alexander Baljakin
Arkhangelsk, April 8, 1961 is a Dutchman naturalized draughts player who was born in the Soviet Union. For years he played for the Soviet Union and Belarus and now he lives in Netherlands. He is a top player who has already been 30 years working on top of the game. His performances were less after his emigration, but since a few years he’s back at the top. This year he won almost everything there was to win. He will certainly compete for the first place in this tournament. Alexander Baljakin is one of the most strategic players in the draughts world. His insight is phenomenal. The only spot on his list of honors is the fact that he never has been world champion. It cannot be excluded that he will change that in the World Championships to be held in 2011. Baljakin has written several books, including "Twelve Systems" together with Anatoly Gantwarg. and in 1997 his book about the current world champion A. Schwarzman appeared (in Dutch): Schwarzmanie.
Luca Lorusso
For years he belongs to the best players of Italy. A country with a long draughts tradition. In the years 1960, 1964 and 1968 World Championships were held in Italy and several European Championships. Luca belongs to the younger generation and was previous years champion. This year he ended up in third place. He is the editor-in-chief of the Italian checkers, speaks Russian and is studying literature. He comes from Trieste, that as a city with a long draughts tradition with many old champions, such as Saletnik and La Porta. Italy has also the Italian checkers with many practitioners.
Zoja Golubeva
Minsk, April 30, 1967. She is an international draughts player who was born under her maiden name Sadovskaja in Belarus. She grew up and after her marriage in 1989 moved to Riga (Latvia) At tournaments, she is, with her explosive style, always a welcome addition. In October 2010, after 10 years, she obtained her 12th world title, after a barrage against Nina Hoekman. For the first time as Latvian! For the ladies, she has the highest rating. They won both the 1st World Mind Sports Games in China as the European Championships ladies. Zoja is a student of the Soviet draughts school. The parties of Ton Sijbrands were there a must-see. When the stolid Latvian got congratulations with her world title by the Tournament Director of Groningen Seaports Masters and got an invitation to play in Delfzijl, she wrote in an email in response: " Thanks a lot! It was only the reason for me to be World Champion! "
Guntis Valneris
Riga, 6 september 1967, International Grandmaster of Latvian nationality and World Champion in 1994. Also he was European champion in 1992 and 2008 and World Champion Youth in 1984, 1985 and 1986. He is a two-time World Champion quickly draughts in 1999 and 2007. For more than 20 years he belongs to the world top players. Guntis began with checkers when he was ten years old. Viktor Adamovich was his first coach. When he was 13, he was already the Latvia's youth champion and of the Soviet Union before Alexander Schwarzman. In 1982 he moved to the 100-fields Board. Emmanuils Merins was his new coach. In 1990, during the World Championships he finished in Groningen equal with Ton Sijbrands. The rematch was never played because Ton Sijbrands withdrew. In the next match for the World Title against Alexei Chizhov he lost. After his World Title in 1994, he lost a match against Alexei Chizhov. The expectation is that in this edition of the Groningen Seaports Masters he will compete for the first place.
Dul Erdenebileg
Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia) 1976. By far the strongest player of the continent of Asia. The International Grandmaster was several times World Cup participant and both multiple Asian (also in 2010) and Mongolian champion. Good rankings in Dutch open tournaments. In the last draught games in China (WMSG = World Mind Sport Games) he reached in the rapid competition at the last eight. In the Groningen Seaports Masters 2008, he somewhat disappointed with 8 points, but he was one of the tasty bunch of the tournament with spectacular parties. He is now planning a better performance. In Mongolia, he is a well-known sports hero. On the street he is often recognized and occurs regularly on TV.
N'Diaga Samb
Dakar (Senegal) 5 August 1966. N'Diaga Samb is draughts player of his profession. He is Senegalese and has lived several years in Netherlands, before he went back to his native country. He became International Master (MI) in 1992 and International Grandmaster (GMI) in 2000. In 2001, he was on the 11th place of the world rankings. In 2008 he was on the 8th place. N'Diaga Samb has an aggressive playing style, and is does not matter against whom he plays. He defeated reigning World Champion Schwarzman already three times. N'Diaga Samb is considered by many to be the strongest player from Africa. He began his career in 1985. In 1986, he was regional champion and winner of the 1st mind games international festival of Dakar.
Rufus Foster
Is a strong player from Trinidad & Tobago. Draughts is very popular on the islands of Trinidad & Tobago in the Caribbean. Traditionally they play often for money. There is also a lively competition on about twelve to twenty locations on the island group. President of this competition is Rufus Foster, who as a former douanier, who retired early and now spends much time on organizing and play draughts himself. He belongs to the ten best players of the island of Trinidad. They are known as crafty players with a lot of practical experience. Well-known top players are also Dickson Maughn, Charles, Anthony Anderson and Timothy Dennis Aqui. Play along in this international tournament – so strongly – he will find a kind of achievement of a boy's dream.