Lucera to host international checkers championships in 2026

The Italian city of Lucera will serve as the ‘City of Draughts 2026’ from November 8 to 15, 2026. The event features four high-level international competitions held at the Best Western Hotel Palace.

A central highlight is the World Match for the English Draughts GAYP (Go As You Please) title, featuring a confrontation between the defending world champion, Italy’s Matteo Bernini, and American challenger Alex Moiseyev.

Additional competitions include the European Absolute Checkers Championship, the European Women’s Checkers Championship, and the European Under-18 Checkers Championship, all in the Three-Move specialty. The event is organized under the auspices of the World Checkers/Draughts Federation (WCDF), the European Draughts Confederation (EDC), and the Italian Draughts Federation (FID), supported by the Puglia Region.