World Championship Matches 2024
The World Championship Matches 2024 will take place in the city of Wageningen at the end of this year, from December 18 to December 31.
Yuriy Anikeev (UKR), the 2023 World champion crowned in Curaçao, will defend his title against challenger Jan Groenendijk (NLD), who finished as the runner-up in 2023. Simultaneously, Viktoria Motrichko (UKR), the 2023 women's World champion, will defend her title against challenger Darya Tkachenko (NLD), the 2023 runner-up.
From December 19 to December 31, the players will compete in 12 classical games, playing one game per day. If the matches remain undecided after these games, a tiebreaker will be held on December 31 to determine the 2024 World champions in both matches. There will be no rest days, putting considerable pressure on the players. The original intention was to host the matches in the reigning champions' home countries, but this proved unfeasible due to the current situation. As an alternative, the Netherlands, the home country of the challengers, was chosen.
Jan Groenendijk is a four-time Dutch champion (2020-2024), while Darya Tkachenko is a two-time Dutch champion (2023 and 2024) and competes for the Netherlands.
According to KNDB regulations, players can represent the Netherlands if they have resided there for over a year.
Lyublyana Turiy (USA), an FMJD international referee, will be the main referee for the matches.
It is unique in the draughts world to have both title matches held concurrently in the same venue, which will create a spectacular event, ultimately crowning two World champions for 2024.
The December schedule will also allow supporters to visit Wageningen to watch the games live.
The official event website is: **World Title Match Draughts 2024**
Wageningen holds a special place in the draughts world. In 2016, part of the World championship match between Roel Boomstra and Jan Groenendijk was held there, and in 2013, the city hosted a major World Cup tournament.
This season, the local draughts club WSDV is competing for the title in the Dutch club championship. Moreover, both challengers, Jan Groenendijk and Darya Tkachenko, share connections with the city, making Wageningen a fitting choice for the matches.
These events have been made possible through the cooperation of sponsors, with the support of the Wageningen municipality playing an essential role.
Playing schedule
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Wednesday |
18-Dec-24 |
Press conference |
|
Thursday |
19- Dec-24 |
Round 1 |
|
Friday |
20-Dec-24 |
Round 2 |
|
Saturday |
21-Dec-24 |
Round 3 |
|
Sunday |
22-Dec-24 |
Round 4 |
|
Monday |
23-Dec-24 |
Round 5 |
|
Tuesday |
24-Dec-24 |
Round 6 |
|
Wednesday |
25-Dec-24 |
Round 7 |
|
Thursday |
26-Dec-24 |
Round 8 |
|
Friday |
27-Dec-24 |
Round 9 |
|
Saturday |
28-Dec-24 |
Round 10 |
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Sunday |
29-Dec-24 |
Round 11 |
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Monday |
30-Dec-24 |
Round 12 |
|
Tuesday |
31-Dec-24 |
Barrage
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Game starts every day between 10 a.m. and 11 a.m.