Way to the World championship.

World championship which will be played in Zwartsluis from 1 till 23 may 2003 is approaching.

From 20 participants 13 names are known.

Alexei Chizhov and Alexander Georgiev ( both Russia) got their places in the championship as the Champion and the Challenger.
It is still to find out who of them will make the first move in Zwartsluis as the reigning champion - in March 2003 they will play in Ufa the Match for the World title.
The winner of the match will get the crown of the World Champion. But he will keep it home for probably the shortest period in the history of draughts - just 6 weeks.
11 other known names are:

Alexander Schwarzman (Russia, 3st place in the Challenge)
Alexander Getmanski (Russia, 4st place in the Challenge)
Vladimir Milshin (Russia, 5th place in the Challenge)
Gerard Jansen (Holland, 3rd place European Championship)
Guntis Valneris (Latvia, 4rd place European Championship)
Anatoli Gantwarg (Belarus, 5th place European Championship)
Edvard Buzhinski (Lithuania, 6th place European Championship)
Vladimir Veitsman (USA, 1st place Panamerican Championship)
Adam Andall (Grenada, 2nd place Panamerican Championship)
Dul Erdenebileg (Mongolia, 1st place Asian Championship)
Ton Sijbrands ( Holland, sponsor place )

7 names have to be filled in the remained period.
African championship which has to have place in March will define 4 African candidates for the participance.
2 players will qualify through the Qualification Tournament of the European Confederation in Cannes
And the last player will come from the organising country - the Netherland. National championship will be played in Amsterdam in March and will complete the list of participants of the long awaited draughts show.