Info: KNDF
17.05.2025.
Hoogeveen – On Sunday 17 and Monday 18 August 2025, Hoogeveen will be the center of international draughts. In the modern sports complex Activum, located in the Bentinckspark, the Basalt World Championship Draughts Women Blitz and Superblitz will take place. During this prestigious tournament, the best female draughts players in the world compete against each other in lightning-fast games, where strategy and speed go hand in hand.
On Thursday, May 8, the official kick-off was given in the town hall of Hoogeveen by alderman Ronald Klok. The signatures were made and the first game was played symbolically.
DroomDamsters and Fitter Brein: the engine behind the World Cup
The championship is made possible by the efforts of two leading organizations: DroomDamsters and Fitter Brein. DroomDamsters focuses on strengthening and promoting girls’ and women’s draughts, with the aim of binding more girls and women to draughts. In addition, this initiative offers young talents the opportunity to develop, to measure themselves internationally and to inspire the next generation.
Fitter Brein emphasizes the social and mental power of mind sports such as draughts. This social foundation is committed to raising awareness about mental fitness and social connectedness, and sees draughts as a powerful tool for young and old. Draughts is an accessible game for everyone!
Young Hoogeveen women at the helm
The organization of the World Cup is in the hands of three young figureheads of the Hoogeveen draughts club. Twenty-year-old Lisa Scholtens, three-time world champion and European champion, is both player and co-organizer of the tournament. Together with Nicole de Vries (21), European champion, chairwoman of DroomDamsters and also participant, she is the driving force behind this unique event. Vera Brunink (21) is responsible for the sporting and technical course of the championship as tournament director and arbiter. “It is an honour to be involved in this world championship. Draughts is a sport that requires strategy, patience, and perseverance, and it’s great to see how women in this sport continue to grow and raise the bar higher and higher. I am proud that something like this is taking place in my own city,” says Vera, who is enthusiastically looking forward to the World Cup.
Hoogeveen: city of mind sports
Hoogeveen is not only a dynamic city with a vibrant cultural life, but also a place where sport – and in particular mind sports – plays an important role. The municipality actively invests in sports, including draughts.
“It is fantastic that we can welcome the World Championship Draughts Women Blitz and Superblitz in Hoogeveen. It shows how sport brings people together and inspires them. The fact that our young, under 22 years old, female talents organize this event makes me extra proud. It shows what you can achieve if you follow your passion,” says the sports alderman.
The Hoogeveense Draughts Club (HDC) is one of the most active and successful draughts clubs in the Netherlands. With a strong youth academy and a rich tradition in national and international competitions, Hoogeveen breathes draughts.
From 11 to 16 August, the 16th edition of the Hoogeveen Open, an international draughts tournament, will take place, also in the Activum. Draughts players of all levels compete there for a whole week on the checkerboard.
Hoogeveen, with its rich draughts tradition, is the perfect backdrop for this world championship. Thanks to live streams, the World Cup can be followed worldwide, so that enthusiasts everywhere can enjoy the spectacular blitz and super blitz competitions. The organization expects an exciting, accessible and inspiring tournament for everyone.
Want to contribute?
We want to make this tournament a great success – and we can really use all the help we can get! Does this appeal to you and would you like to contribute? From €50 you can already sponsor a checkerboard! This can be done both privately and professionally. Companies are also welcome to do their bit. For more information, take a look at wkvblitz.kndb.nl/sponsor-us.
More information
All information about the tournament can be found at wkvblitz.kndb.nl and via the websites of the organisations concerned: www.droomdamsters.nl and www.fitterbrein.nl. Information about the Hoogeveen Open can be found at www.hoogeveenopen.nl.
The tournament is made possible by:
Basalt Bouwadvies, Municipality of Hoogeveen, Province of Drenthe, MMC Veenendaal, M3 Groep De Ontwerpster, Hotel Martensplek, J.E. de Vries Advies, C.B.A. Concept Bedrijfsadministraties, Drentse Dambond, KNDB, FMJD and all board sponsors and donors.
