Goj set to play in World qualifier, US Open

National draughts champion Crispin ‘Goj’ Odhiambo has received invites to play at this year’s World Qualifiers Tournament and the US Open set for July in Vidor, Texas and August 30, 2021, in Tusla, Oklahoma respectively.

A grandmaster who until January 31, 2021, was undefeated in over a decade, Goj as he is popularly known in checkers' circles, has intensified his preparations for the two championships as he will be up against some of the best players globally.

The painter by profession is fancying his chances in the two events having held his own against the world’s best in 2019. He played World Draughts Champion, South African Lubabalo Kondlo, in a 20-game competition in November 2019. The highly attended class act ended in a stalemate as the two grandmasters played for 18 draws and one win each. 

Kondlo, became the World Checkers and Draughts Federation (WCDF) champion in 2018. He defeated then world champion, Italian born Michele Borghetti, in the United States. He won 25-15 (5 victories, 15 draws, 0 defeats) in the Go-As-You-Please (GAYP) variation of the game.

“I was supposed to travel to South Africa for a rematch with the International grandmaster but financial constraints delayed my travel then shortly after Covid-19 hit. Kondlo is a top-class player at the popular 3-move version of the game. He is the first and still only draughts grandmaster in the continent and the first world champion from Africa. Playing against him helped me gauge my game and as a result, more invites are coming,” explains Goj.

Last weekend, Goj last his first match in 14 years when he played in a tournament held at Mbotela Social Hall. His last loss in 2007 was to Mombasa County’s Isaac Kidunguu. Playing in a best-of-four format over the weekend, Goj lost one game to Thomas ‘Mantom’ Obonyo while the other three ended in draws.

The loss saw him rank second in the tournament at 15 points behind Ukunda’s Bernard Odawo who had 17 points. Obonyo was third while Kiema Musyimi and Steve Gidi finished fourth and fifth respectively.