Top players battle for EC honours
THE Eastern Cape’s best draughts players will be converging on King William’s Town today as the Eastern Cape Draught Association (ECDA) provincial championships take place over the next two days.
The top four selected players from seven regions in the province will be battling it out for the top two finalist spots.
The ECDA was only formed last year but has been steadily growing and this will be the first provincial champs being held after last year only saw qualifiers battling out for the World Checkers Federation Champs.
“The Eastern Cape is the Mecca of draughts and it continues to grow,” said ECDA treasurer Mfuzo Dyira.
“This is the second time that King William’s Town is hosting games of this magnitude for our newly established Eastern Cape Draughts Association and we expect the venue to be full of players and spectators this weekend.”
With a strong base of players in the Eastern Cape some of the most well known draught players will be taking part.
“The cream of South African draught players including Lubabalo Kondlo, Mzikabawo Luntonti, Melikhaya Nonyukela, all from PE, Lindile Knockpaarl, Mvuleni Mvengane, both from Uitenhage, Luyanda Tete from East London, Christpher Mazinyo of Zwelitsha and Simphiwe Rasana and Zwelinzima Mbanya both from Grahamstown will be taking part,” said Dyira.
Top prize would obviously be to win the competition. However, the top two players will qualify to represent the country in the US next year.
Last year three players were selected to represent SA in Italy. However, only one was able to go in the end.
“Last year we had three move restriction qualifiers when Lubabalo Kondlo, Luyanda Tete and Vuyani Mazibuko were selected to represent us in Italy,” said Dyira.
“This year we will select two players for Go As You Please (a draughts variation) to represent us in the US next year.
“Earlier this year, of the finalists that were selected. only Lubabalo Kondlo managed to travel to Italy, as financial constraints prevented Luyanda Tete and Vuyani Mazibuko from representing us, but Kondlo played well in Italy and ended up in the top four of the competition.”
With draughts still an up-andcoming code and the ECDA still building a base of support it is difficult to get funding for its players. However, they are hopeful that more people will come on board as its popularity grows.
“Our major challenge as the organisation is sending our selected players to world qualifiers. We appeal to the Eastern Cape business community to assist the two players that will be selected,” said Dyira.
The event kicks off today at Tony’s Car Wash in King William’s Town and anyone interested is welcome to attend. The action should conclude by tomorrow afternoon.