An international draughts tournament held from September 9 to 17 in Trinidad and Tobago has delivered a historic win for Team Suriname, with Amoni Afonsoewa securing first place in the highly competitive 2000–2099 rating category.
Hosted over nine days of intense, strategic play, the tournament drew a diverse field of top draughts competitors from across the globe. Suriname’s national delegation, led by the Suriname Draughts Federation (SDB), held its own against elite international opposition, with Afonsoewa delivering the squad’s standout individual performance. In addition to Afonsoewa’s category win, Arief Salarbaks and Niaaz Salarbaks turned in strong consistent play to finish as the highest-ranked Surinamese competitors in the tournament’s open overall standings.
Another notable milestone from the tournament came from Suriname’s Phavan Basdewsingh, who submitted an official application during the event for the prestigious international title of Candidate Master of the FMJD (CMF). If approved, the title will mark a major career milestone for Basdewsingh, elevating his standing in international draughts. One of the tournament’s most anticipated matchups saw Basdewsingh go head-to-head against former world champion Guntis Valneris of Latvia, highlighting the high caliber of competition Surinamese players faced over the nine-day event.
Looking back on the team’s participation, the Suriname Draughts Federation expressed deep satisfaction with the delegation’s performance. Officials emphasized that the squad represented Suriname with honor and dignity, and beyond the tangible tournament results, the invaluable high-level international competition experience gained will be transformative for the long-term growth of the country’s draughts athletes.
“Competing at events like this gives our players the unique chance to test their skills against competitors of varying skill levels and contrasting playing styles,” SDB representatives noted. The federation underscored that the experience gained at the Trinidad and Tobago tournament will directly contribute to the ongoing development and expansion of draughts as a competitive sport across Suriname, laying stronger groundwork for future international successes.