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Marten Walinga crowned World Champion of Frysk Damjen for the fourth time after a nail-biting final and two play-offs

Harlingen-The final day began with a short speech by Durk Talsma, secretary of the SKS, the traditional Skûtsjesilen Competition Foundation. He emphasised the historic link between Fries Dammen and Skûtsjesilen as Frisian sports. This was followed by the eleventh game, in which both players opted to play one of the most complex openings. This type of game often ends in a combination favouring one of the players, and that proved to be the case here too. Walinga (black) deliberately played an adventurous continuation on the ninth move. Kooistra bided his time and gradually managed to turn the position to his advantage. On the 19th move, Walinga decided on a move that could have led to an exchange, but due to a wrong choice of capture, it resulted in a winning combination for Kooistra. This decided the game after just over 2½ hours of play. Thus, the longest game of the match was followed by the shortest; the score was once again level at 5½–5½, and a tie-break had to be played. In accordance with the regulations of the Stifting WFD, this took place shortly after the final game, with the colours reversed (Walinga on white), and half the playing time: 45 minutes for each player, with an additional 15 seconds per move played.

In practice, it turned out that not one, but two tie-breaks were needed. The first was very evenly matched and ended with a breakthrough for both sides in the long corner. The endgame of two against two pieces was played out perfectly correctly, resulting in a draw. After this, the playing time was halved again: 22 minutes for each player, with an extra 8 seconds per move played. Once again, the players opted for a relatively straightforward variation, in which the necessary pieces were cleared away at a rapid pace. As a result, just as in the first tie-break, there was enough time left to give the endgame the attention it required. For a long time, the game remained evenly balanced, with both players operating on the right-hand side of the board (for white). But as the game progressed, Walinga very gradually gained a slightly more comfortable position. Eventually, Kooistra decided on an exchange which left him with a piece positioned slightly too far forward. Walinga capitalised on this well, and ultimately, when both players had just four pieces left on the board, it became clear that the position was lost for Kooistra. The position was virtually symmetrical, but black had just a little more freedom and white was forced to make a sacrifice. As there was no immediate time pressure, Kooistra sportingly shook Walinga’s hand, allowing the latter to claim the world title for the fourth time.

At the prize-giving ceremony, Harlingen’s councillor Hendrik Sijtsma remarked that Fryslân had enjoyed two outstanding weeks of sport: the SKS and IFKS championships, the PC and the Freule, not to mention the Fierljeppen. However, Sijtsma noted, the most thrilling championship this time was the World Frisian Draughts Championship. He then placed the well-deserved wreath around Walinga’s shoulders.

Once again, live commentary was provided by Alexander Shvartsman, assisted by Folkert Groenveld. Tens of thousands of spectators from all over the world have been following his analysis over the past few weeks.

(text Liuwe Westra, photo organisation)

The next World Frisian Draughts Championship is scheduled for 2028. Sixteen title contenders will once again compete. It is by no means certain that Walinga will be among them: he too will have to qualify over the course of the preceding year.

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