Top 11 Draughts Players in the World: The Legends of the 100-Square Board

The Immortal Legacy of the Top 11 Draughts Players in History

The list below includes the geniuses who have graced the 100 square board. The rankings have been based on their performances in checkers tournament and World Championship titles, longevity, and their contributions to the development of the theory of draughts. In analyzing the differences between chess and checkers, it becomes evident that these legends played a game full of high-stakes moves.

All-Time Rankings and Legendary Profiles

1. Alexei Chizhov (FMJD Rating: 2369)

Alexei Chizhov was the Garry Kasparov of draughts in the latter decades of the twentieth century. He held a total of ten world titles, blending iron logic with the relentless exploitation of the tiniest positional advantages.

2. Alexander Georgiev (FMJD Rating: 2439)

Alexander Georgiev is the only modern player who truly challenges Chizhov’s legacy. Georgiev is known for his "creative chaos." He intentionally steers games into complicated, asymmetrical positions where his superior intuition allows him to outcalculate his opponents. Because many ask is checkers harder than chess, players like Georgiev prove that the depth of the 100-square board is nearly bottomless.

3. Iser Kuperman (Historical/Pre-Rating Era)

Iser Kuperman is a leading light in the Soviet draughts style, Kuperman authored several classic works of draughts literature. These include the tactical insights from the great man’s deep strategic thinking.

4. Ton Sijbrands (Historical FMJD Rating: 2476)

Ton Sijbrands is a cult figure in the Netherlands, Sijbrands is famous for his incredible memory. He holds multiple world records for blindfold simultaneous play, once playing 28 games at once without looking at a single board.

5. Harm Wiersma (FMJD Rating: 2370)

Harm Wiersma was the face of Dutch draughts in the late 70s. If you look at his games, you will understand how sharp and tactical he was at his peak, which led many writers to note his tactics, which are still being studied to improve the game.

6. Alexander Shvartsman (FMJD Rating: 2433)

The most versatile player in history. Alexander Shvartsman is the only person to reach the absolute summit in International, Russian, and Brazilian variants, proving his tactical logic is universal across different types of checkers.

7. Baba Sy (Historical Baseline Rating: 2100)

The first great African grandmaster. Born in Senegal, Baba Sy was famous for an instinctive style that amazed Europeans during the 60s. He epitomizes the international character of draughts. His rise also highlights how checkers vs draughts is not just a linguistic divide, it reflects entirely different competitive ecosystems, with Sy thriving in the continental European draughts tradition rather than the American game.

8. Guntis Valneris (FMJD Rating: 2389)

Guntis Valneris is the ultimate "tough out." In this list of the top 11 players in history, he is the only active player right now who has been going hard since winning the world title in 1944. He has remained in the world's top elite for over 30 years, showcasing incredible defensive tenacity and classical technique.

9. Anatoli Gantvarg (FMJD Rating: 2374)

Anatoli Gantvarg is specialty was his "Leningrad" style and his control of the center. The great champion was at the heart of the historic battles between the Soviet and Dutch draughts schools.

10. Andris Andreiko (Historical/Pre-Rating Era)

A tragic figure who died young, Andris Andreiko was a genius of the game. In his short peak, he won three consecutive world titles and was considered nearly unbeatable due to his lightning-fast calculation.

11. Tamara Tansykkuzhina (FMJD Rating: 2264)

Tamara Tansykkuzhina is widely regarded as the greatest women's draughts player in history. With a record seven World Championship titles spanning two decades and strong performances against top male players, she stands out as the game's most dominant figure.

Who Are the Top Players in 2026?

In the current 2026 season, the "Old Guard" faces its toughest challenge from AI-prepared youth. While Alexander Georgiev maintains a high ranking, Jan Groenendijk and Roel Boomstra are currently the most dominant active players. They have integrated supercomputer analysis into their training, which is essential because is checkers a solved game is no longer a theory but a reality that players must navigate. Additionally, N’Cho Joel Atse from the Ivory Coast has risen to the top 10, bringing a powerful resurgence to African draughts.

Conclusion

The history of checkers can be understood as a fight between man’s calculations and infinite possibilities. With a focus on 2026, these stories set very high standards for any future generation. Those who have just begun playing draughts should consider the strategies of checkers for beginners.