Janek Mäggi re-elected as President of Estonian Draughts Federation

At Estonian Draughts Federation’s general meeting yesterday, Janek Mäggi was elected as President of Estonian Draughts federation for the next two years. Tarmo Tulva and Grand Master Arno Uutma were elected Vice Presidents for the same period. The new Management Board of Estonian Draughts Federation consists of 7 members, including the President, and its powers are valid until February 2011.  Viktoria Lehtmets will continue as Estonian Draughts Federations Executive Director.

„Draughts is a royal game, having, for instance, been the favourite sports of Napoleon Bonaparte,“ remarked Estonian Draughts Federation’s President Janek Mäggi, who, starting the fall of 2007, also functions as President of the European Draughts Confederation. „In the couple of last years, Estonian draughts have literally broken their way into Europe. The moving of European Draughts Confederation’s headquarters into the Tallinn House of Chess goes into history as a key event in Estonian draughts life, having enabled us to significantly promote draughts in Estonia and also bring Estonia into Europe via draughts.“

According to Janek Mäggi, Estonian Draughts Federation has two main branches of activities – the popularizing of draughts primarily via youth work and the organizing of international title tournaments in Estonia. „Last year we organized men’s and ladies’ European Championships in Tallinn, for which special thanks go to the Tallinn City Government, the Ministry of Culture, and all sponsors,“ added Janek Mäggi. “In the last couple of years, the youth work has become more active, spurred on by increased number of coaches and an active schedule of tournaments.”

Janek Mäggi is Estonian Draughts Federation’s president since 1999. He has been involved in draughts from 1982; in 1990 he was awarded the Master’s Candidate rank. He participated in numerous youth and junior title tournaments of the former USSR, and represented Estonia in the Soviet team title tournaments. His main occupation is management of the communications bureau Powerhouse. Actively involved in society at large, he is also Chairman of the Council of Tallinn Children’s Hospital Foundation.