The Top 10 draughts players in the World

No. 1 gmi ALEXANDER GEORGIEV

Rating: 2439

International Grandmaster (gmi)

A draughts player, born in 1975. Georgiev is definitely one of the most talented players in the history of draughts. Not only his achievements prove it, but also his style of play, which is unique and incomparable.

• 9-time World Champion
• World Champion Blitz (2014)
• 3-time European Champion (1995, 2006, 2010)
• 2-time World Champion Rapid

No. 2 gmi ROEL BOOMSTRA

Rating: 2435

International Grandmaster (gmi)

A Dutch draughts player, born in 1993. Roel is the current World Champion. He played 3 world championship matches in his career, winning all of them. Boomstra is distinguished by a precise and technically outstanding style of play.

• World Champion (2016, 2018, 2022)
• 3-time bronze medalist of World Championship (2013, 2015, 2021)
• European Champion Blitz (2022)
• World Champion Rapid (2012, 2019)

No. 3 gmi ALEXANDER SHVARTSMAN

Rating: 2411

International Grandmaster (gmi)

A draughts player, born in 1967. He's a multiple-time World Champion well-known for his creative and sharp playing style. Shvartsman is the only grandmaster in three types of draughts: Brazilian, Russian, and international.

• 5-time World Champion (1998, 2007, 2009, 2017, 2021)
• 10-time (!) World Champion Blitz
• European Champion (2002)

No. 4 gmi ALEXANDER BALIAKIN

Rating: 2407

International Grandmaster (gmi)

A Dutch draughts player, born in 1961. He is one of the strongest grandmasters who has never managed to win a world title. Alexander recently became a coach and took a group of the most prominent Dutch players under his wings.

• 4-time World Championship medalist (1986, 1992, 1994, 2005)
• 2-time World Champion Rapid (2015, 2018)
• multiple Dutch Champion

No. 5 gmi MARTIJN VAN IJZENDOORN

Rating: 2391

International Grandmaster (gmi)

A Dutch draughts player, born in 1997. In 2017, he became the Dutch champion. He was recognized as a great talent at an early age, winning most European and World youth titles. Now his biggest challenge is to become a World Champion.

• 2-time bronze medalist of the European Championship (2016, 2018)
• 5th place in World Championship (2021)
• Dutch Champion (2017)
• 2-time medalist of World Championship Blitz (2021, 2022)

No. 6 gmi ARTEM IVANOV

Rating: 2383

International Grandmaster (gmi)

A Ukrainian draughts player, born in 1988. Currently number 1 in Ukraine. He is known for his deep knowledge of draughts theory and his own extensive studies.

• World Champion Rapid (2017)
• 2-time European Champion Rapid (2014, 2018)
• 4th place in World Championship (2015)
• 8-time Ukrainian Champion (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2021)

No. 7 gmi JAN GROENENDIJK

Rating: 2381

International Grandmaster (gmi)

A Dutch draughts player, born in 1998. Jan came very close to winning the 2015 World Champion title as a 17-year-old. In the end, he finished second. Since then, his career has accelerated.

• European Champion (2022)
• silver medalist of the World Championship (2015)
• 4th place in the World Championship (2019, 2021)
• Dutch Champion (2021)

No. 8 gmi JITSE SLUMP

Rating: 2375

International Grandmaster (gmi)

A Dutch draughts player, born in 1999. Jitse was very close to becoming a European Champion in October 2022, but eventually, he finished second.

• 2nd place in the European Championship (2022)
• 9th place in the World Championships (2019 and 2021)
• World Team Champion (2022)
• 2nd in the European Championship Rapid (2021)

No. 9 gmi PIM MEURS

Rating: 2374

International Grandmaster (gmi)

A Dutch draughts player, born in 1988. Since 2008, Pim has participated 6 times in the Dutch Championships, and his best result was 2nd place in 2013. After that year, Meurs abandoned active playing, taking part only in the Dutch club competition.

• 2-time bronze medalist of the European Championship (2010, 2012)
• World Champion Juniors u19 (2006)

No. 10 gmi GUNTIS VALNERIS

Rating: 2372

International Grandmaster (gmi)

A Latvian draughts player, born in 1967. The most powerful player from Latvia, a multiple national championship winner. In 1994, he won the title of World Champion.

• World Champion (1994)
• 2-time European Champion (1992, 2008)
• World Champion Blitz (1999, 2007)
• 6-time World Championship medalist