Ukrainian draughts player Darya Tkachenko, who now lives in Wageningen, is taking on fellow countrywoman and title holder Viktoriia Motrichko for the world title in the coming days.

Tkatsjenko, who has taken the world title four times and the European twice, came to the Netherlands in 2022 after the Russian invasion of her home country.

Her contacts at the Wageningen draughts society WSDV helped her find a place in the domestic competition – and she is now competing under the Dutch flag, having lived here for longer than a year.

“On the one hand these matches are a distraction, but my real wish is for an end to all the disasters in the world and to be able to live a normal life,” she told NOS. The matches will take place in Wageningen town hall’s ceremonial room.

Tkachenko and Motrichko will play 12 matches between December 19 and 30, with a tie break on December 31 if necessary.

In the men’s competition, Wageningen’s own Jan Groenendijk is taking on Ukraine’s Yuriy Anikeev, who is the defending world champion.