Kevin Kurik becomes world champion in rapid draughts

Twelve-year-old Kevin Kurik has won the world title in rapid international draughts. He told ERR’s “Terevisioon” that he enjoys the excitement of the game and the chance to beat other players.

Kurik, a seventh-grade student, said he had played draughts for eight years and considered the world title a major achievement. He began attending a draughts club at kindergarten at the age of five. He is also a two-time European champion and a Baltic youth champion.

His coach, Arno Uutma, said concentration and a good memory are important in draughts, where mentally strong players succeed. He described Mongolia as particularly strong in the younger age groups, and said China and Latvia had also become strong in the past five years.

Uutma said Kurik had natural talent, but success also required sustained work, energy and regular competition. Kurik currently competes in the under-13 age group, which Uutma said would bring the toughest challenges ahead.

Uutma runs a draughts club at Nõmme hobby school. He said children often join after playing at home, and that parents want them to take up the game.