South African wins world medal in checkers board game

20 December 2012 - 12:47
By Sapa

CLEVER GUY: South Africa’s Lubabalo Kondlo has clinched the silver medal in a global checkers competition, according to Mind Sports SA.

Kondlo, from Port Elizabeth, represented the country for the third time, competing in the checkers event at the second annual SportAccord World Mind Games in Beijing, China, which ended on Wednesday.

“Lubabalo Kondlo is one of the greatest checkers players that South Africa has ever produced,” said Mind Sports SA president Colin Webster.

“Having clawed his way up from just being a club player, Lubabalo is now a player who is highly respected both here at home as well as overseas.” 

The tournament was won by American Alexander Moiseyev, the ’three-move’ world champion, and Michele Borghetti of Italy finished third behind Kondlo.

Ronald King of Barbados, the ’go-as-you-please’ world champion, finished fourth.

Checkers is a form of the board game draughts and is played on an eight-by-eight squared board with 12 pieces on each side.