On the first day of the finals of the African Open Frisian Draughts, it became clear that the African players had quickly mastered the Frisian rules. Irregular moves, which until then had to be corrected with the help of the computer, hardly occurred anymore.
In the Masters Finals, Cédric Djoko (black) managed to lure his opponent Simon Eyock into a combination to promote a piece. However, this piece could be taken back immediately. Djoko then decisively ended the game. More mistakes were made on the other board. Stéphane Ndoko (black) first gained an advantage and then lost it, after which his opponent Yves Constang Molemb did the same. Ultimately, in an equal position, the latter made the final mistake, giving Ndoko the point.
In the Grandmasters, Jan van Dijk, again with black, achieved a fairly easy victory over Guy Tatou. Next to them played Aleksej Domchev (white) and Jean Marc Ndjofang. After a balanced start, the latter got himself stuck in the middle game. Domchev increased the pressure, and eventually Ndjofang had to sacrifice material, which did not help him out, however.
In the afternoon round, Molemb (black) was unable to hold his own against Djoko. After a mixed start, he gradually lost control of the game. Eyock (black) was once again unlucky: although he built up an advantage, he overlooked a nice combination, which his opponent Nkodo also only saw at second glance. But that was enough for the victory.
In the Grandmasters, Ndjofang (white) managed to push Tatou off the board fairly quickly. The longest game of the day was between Van Dijk (white) and Domchev. The latter thought he could work his way out of a wing blockade with a temporary sacrifice, but underestimated the risk of the accompanying free move. Van Dijk gained a piece. He then gave Domchev the chance to equalize, but Domchev overlooked this as well. The Lithuanian player fought until the last pieces, but Van Dijk did not let the win slip away.
Van Dijk is now undefeated at the top with 2 points in the Grandmasters. In the Masters, Nkodo and Djoko lead the rankings together, also with 2 points.
Photo 1: Jacek Pavlicki (centre), president of the World Draughts Federation FMJD, makes the first move on the board of Aleksej Domchev (left) and Jean Marc Ndjofang.
Photo 2: Aleksej Domchev (left) in the final phase of his game against Jan van Dijk. Ndjofang (left), Sayouba Kiema from Burkina Faso and Eyock watch intently.
