The World Draughts Federation is 75 years old

13.09.2022

The World Draughts Federation is 75 years old. Indeed initially the FIJD (International Draughts Federation) which became 10 years later the FMJD (World Draughts Federation) was founded on September 13, 1947 in Paris by the 4 countries: France, the Netherlands, Belgium and Switzerland. Quickly other countries joined the federation (Italy, Canada, Haiti and then the USSR). The African countries, particularly French-speaking, joined the FMJD in the 1960s confirming the global dimension of our organization.

Of course international competitions took place before this date and several champions were considered the World Champions (I.Weiss, H.Hoogland, S . Bizot, M.Fabre, B.Springer, M.Raichenbach, P.Ghestem).

The objective of the FIJD was to bring together the draughts players and the national federations through common rules, regulations and international competitions (World Championship in particular) on 100 squares draughtsboard. Its headquarters were set in Paris and its official language was French.

How far we have come over the past 75 years! We are now more than 50 countries and we regularly receive new applications for membership. World championships at different game times and for different age categories are organized. The rules of the game on 100 squares are harmonized and the FMJD welcomes all forms of draughts/checkers. We are part of several organizations such as IMSA, GAISF, AIMS and we strive to obtain IOC recognition.

We were able to celebrate this anniversary in Riga (Latvia) during the last World Championship in Blitz games in a very special context. The organizers had published a commemorative draughtsboard on this occasion and a ceremony followed with a friendship drink.

May the idea of the founding fathers of the FMJD to develop the game accross the world continue to animate us for the coming decades!