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By: Mncedisi Mvinjelwa

Although draughts is not your most common or best known sport, there is a talented draughts player right here in our city that has plans to put draughts right in the middle of the spotlight.

Lubabalo Kondlo, a Wells Estate resident, is the best draughts player in the country. He has been fying relatively low under the radar, but not by choice. He loves the sport of draughts, and wants others to get to know more about how to play it.

From a young age, Kondlo was playing draughts, a skill he learnt from the elderly folk in his community. In his heydays he would go straight from school to play draughts. He later joined the Vulindlela Draughts Club, which paved the way for his journey to the top.

After joining the Vulindlela Draughts Club in 1985, he was coached and mentored by Mzoli Ngwendu, who himself is a master of the game and a well-respected draughts player.

The late Lulama Gwashu, also a draughts player, was one of the biggest infuences in Kondlo’s draughts career by offering expert mentoring skills and fne-tuning his game.

Kondlo explains that draughts a mind game, and requires intense concentration. He clinched the title of South African Champion from 1999 to 2002, and in 2001, he went head to head against Irish draughts player, Hugh Devlin, to beat him by a convincing margin. It was in this game that Kondlo gained recognition.

In 2007, he participated in the United States of America Open Championship - and won! Later on in 2007, he won the world qualifer and went on to compete in the world title match in Ohio, USA. Of the 24 games he played, he lost just one.

Kondlo is currently ranked Number Two in the world, and is the frst African draughts player to have Grandmaster status, which is the highest honour bestowed in the world of draughts.

Although draughts is his frst love, Kondlo is also a keen soccer player and great lover of all sport.

He says his family has been his support system throughout his draughts career. “Although draughts is not a sport that pays, my family continues to support and encourage me,” he said.

In October 2011, he travelled to Italy to participate in the World Qualifer games, with the winner getting the opportunity to go up against the World Champion, Ronald King.

“What pushed me to succeed where others might fail is the support from my family, dedication, passion for the game and self-discipline. I also take time to read about the game and educate myself about the latest developments in the game. I would like to encourage and motivate the youth to take an interest in the game, as it helps to develop a sharp mind and map out a plan for their lives,” said Kondlo.