Deido and Bepanda draughts clubs came first and third respectively while Messa II of Yaounde came second.

The opening of the draughts season took place over the weekend at the Meumi hotel in Yaounde with clubs from the Littoral region dominating the competition. Deido Draughts Club came first with 12 points, followed by Messa II club of Yaounde on 10 points and Bepanda draught club from the economic capital in the third position with 9 points. Each club comprised five players, four field players and one reserve.

In the individual category, Tamga Emmanuel topped the chart with six victories and one draw recorded. The competition brought together eight draughts clubs from around the country excluding the three northern regions including Dinosaure of the Esseka, Win System of Buea, Tamdja of Bafoussam, Moni Onana of Yaounde, Messa II of Yaounde, Baba Sy Yaounde, Bepanda and Deido of Douala.

Quizzed on why the late start of the season, the president of the Cameroon Draughts Federation, Claude Ngondiep said it was due to elections in the federations and immediately after the elections the federation had to prepare for the world championship in Ufa-Russia during Jean Marc Ndjofang emerged vice world champion. He announced an ambitious programme to promote the cerebral sport in the country notably by taking draughts to schools. He disclosed that the regional inter club competition will soon take place and that a Cameroon-Senegal friendly was in the pipeline.

Presiding at the closing ceremony, the representative of the Minister of Sports and Physical Education lauded the fair play spirit that reigned during the competition. He congratulated the victors and urged the vanquished to work harder so as to achieve success the next time. He urged the federation to work towards making Cameroon a great draughts sports nation so as to capitalize on Ndjofang’s exploit. Cash prizes and participation certificates were distributed to winners and participants.