THE DUEL

High Tech Campus stage for duel for the world title in draughts. From January 5, 2022, challenger Roel Boomstra will take on reigning world champion Alexander Shvartsman in his home country. The competitors play twelve games in the High Tech Campus located in host city Eindhoven, unless there is an earlier decision. If after twelve games no final decision has been reached, there will be a thirteenth and decisive rapid game on 20 January 2022, which will settle the duel. Interestingly, a tiebreak will be played after every six consecutive draws.

Alexander is 5 times world champion draughts and also holds the title International Grandmaster. He is the reigning world champion. Alexander is known for his creative playing style, especially his positional sacrifices and his high number of elegant games involving encirclements.

Roel is 2 times world champion draughts and is in possession of the title International Grandmaster. In November 2011 he received this title. Apart from draughts, Roel graduated in July 2020 as a Master of Science in Physics at the University of Groningen.