World-class draughts player, Alex Holmes, visited South Africa to face Nelson Mandela Bay players in Motherwell NU 5 late last month, with the aim of preparing himself for the World Draughts/Checkers Championships that will take place from January 13 to 16.
Holmes indicated that his father, Gavin Holmes – who is among the top-rated players in the world – introduced him to the game of checkers when he was seven.
“When I was four-years-old I was just playing for fun, without knowing that I would be a checkers star player. When I was 13 I won my first world championship trophy in Barbados. I won four different championships when I was 13-years-old.
“When I played against the 20-year-old Ukrainian, Tanya Zaitseva, I was 19. I managed to defeat Tanya who is a star player. I have played in many countries, and that is a good experience to play in different countries. I was the best player, and each victory motivated me. To achieve your goal, one needs to be composed and focused.”
He commended the Nelson Mandela Bay players for giving him a tough time.
World and South African checkers champion, Lubabalo Kondlo, stated that it was the idea of Holmes’s father to come to South Africa to practise, as the American players live in scattered areas and it takes more than two hours to drive to each player.
“Alex is a great player and has a world master status, and I once defeated him. I have a world grand master status,” said Kondlo.
