players

officials

ORGANIZATION COMMITTEE

Rudi Azimullah Membership / General Questions

Yevgeniy Sklyarov Visa and Letter Support

Lyublyana Turiy Hotel / Tournament Website / R & R

Galina Petukhova Accounting

Claude Bouloute Player Transfers

ARBITERS

Rudi Azimullah

President of ICAONA

Tampa, Florida, USA

I am happy that we can play a tournament again. See you all soon!

Makendy Saint Juste

GMI

Ocoee, FL, USA

Pan-American Champion 2022, Winner of US Open 2021

Yevgeniy Sklyarov

MI

Hungtington, NY, USA

6th Time Champion USA 1994, 1995, 2010, 2012, 2019, 2024

Souleymane Keita

MI

Washington, DC, USA

US Champion 2022

Our game is not easy. Never accept it!

Andy Charles

MI

Trinidad & Tobago

Claude Bouloute

MF

Miramar, Florida, USA

I know playing draughts is a passion for me, but nothing can be compared to the love that I have for my Lord Jesus-Christ.

Kumar Sookram

MF

Trinidad & Tobago

Amaury Peralta

MF

Dominican Republic

The checkers taught me discipline, friendship and dreams;
that's why I work so that they grow in my land.

Ricardo Edouarzin

CMF

Tamarac, Florida, USA

National champion of Haiti 2015

The principles of this game stimulate my judgments and my reflections.
It’s another way to explore one's intelligence!

Galina Petukhova

CMFF

Pan-American Woman Champion 2022

Oceanside, California, USA

All goals are achievable!

Adeola Showami

(nickname Adex Show)
Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Despite playing the Nigerian version of draughts for so many years,
the love i have for this game makes it so interesting and exciting to be playing the International version and to be a part of this amazing ICAONA community.

Mark Sokolovsky

Chicago, Illinois

Andrzej Jagieła

Rzeszów, Poland

I am visually impaired and have a great passion for checkers, which is why I eagerly take part in tournaments in Poland and abroad. I am currently the Polish Vice-Champion and a team World Champion for the visually impaired.

Jean Bertrand Stephane Policard

Haiti

Yefim Kotlyar

Skokie, IL, USA

I took a 50-year break from playing checkers, but am eager to reengage with my former passion

Lomegard Kersanvil

Miami, Florida, USA

Preparation creates champion!

Francisco Almonte Ledesma

(Nickname Moreno)

Detroit, Michigan, USA

Aly Wilbert Edouard

Miami, Florida, USA

Rafael Jimenez Ceballo

Dominican Republic

Hello everyone, my name is Rafael Jimenez Ceballo
and I will be present at the majestic US Open
to give my best and be able to live an experience
more like in 2022, which was my first participation.

Wilner Jean Baptiste

Miami, Florida, USA

I am an electrical & computer engineer working for US Patent Office specializing in semiconductors. My three kids are all electrical engineers. Draughts is my life. I think all engineers should play draughts! It's good for logic, energy. All you need is patience!

Jean Claude Morisseau

Miami, Florida, USA

I’m happy to be among you, my friends; it is for me a great privilege.

Jean Joseph Fleurime

Miami, Florida, USA

91 years young!

Leszek Stefanek

Wilkołaz, Lublin region, Poland

I was born in 1959 and am playing international (100-square) draughts since 1981. I am a 3-time finalist of the Polish Championships, with my best result being 9th place in 2001. Since 2006 I represent the Hetman Lublin Sports Club for the Blind and Visually Impaired, and since 2007 I am in the Polish national team. I have earned Bronze medals at the European Championship 2010 and the World Championship 2025, 7 national titles in the Polish Championships for the Blind and Visually Impaired (2009, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2024, 2025).

Mieczysław Kaciotys

Zawidów, Poland

I’m passionate about mind sports — I play bridge, chess, and most of all, international (100-square) draughts. I combine mental and physical activity every day. I’m a World Championship and World Cup medalist in Nordic Walking for the visually impaired. I’m joining the US Open Championship in Miami to challenge myself against the best, gain new experience, and promote sports participation among people with visual impairments.

Barbara Wójcik

Lublin, Poland

I’m 60 years old. I am visually impaired and have been passionate about international (100-square) draughts since 2004. I’m a member of the CROSS Hetman Lublin club, where I develop my skills under coach Leszek Stefanek. I’m part of the Polish national team for the blind and visually impaired, and in 2025 I became the Polish Women’s Champion in this category. Draughts are both my passion and a form of rehabilitation, helping me overcome my disability.

Dorota Szela

Rzeszów, Poland

My name is Dorota. I’ve been playing international (100-square) draughts for 10 years. In 2020, I took 2nd place at the Polish Women’s Championship. I enjoy books, music, and singing. I’ve competed in many tournaments, including the World Championships in Turkey (2021 & 2025) and in World Cup in Latvia 2025.

Ewa Wieczorek

Białystok, Poland

I’ve been playing international (100-square) draughts for 23 years, representing the Victoria Integration Sports Club in Białystok. I’m a multiple Polish champion in the women’s category for the blind and visually impaired.

Yevhen Bohush

Miami, Florida, USA

Rising USA star, participant of World Championship Youth 2025

Pierre Antoine Augustin

(Nickname Ti Piè)

Brooklyn, NY, USA

Born in Cayes, Haiti, live in New York