In the match between Ukraine and Israel, two athletes met who are the only ones in the history of men’s world championships to become world champions in both checkers-64 and checkers-100.

In the French city of Saint-Doulchard, the team world championship in international draughts — draughts-100 continues. The tournament takes place from May 5 to 12, 2026, and it is there that the match Ukraine — Israel acquired a special sporting significance: two people met at the boards who made history in men’s world championships as champions in both draughts-64 and draughts-100.

The match Ukraine — Israel ended in a draw — 3:3. All three games ended peacefully, including the meeting on the first board, where Yuriy Anikeev played 1:1 with Alexander Schwartzman.

It was this game that became the main historical highlight of the match. Two athletes met at the board, who are the only ones in the history of men’s world championships to become world champions in both draughts-64 and draughts-100.

Anikeev represents Ukraine. Schwartzman is currently competing for the Israeli Draughts Federation.

The lineups in the match Ukraine — Israel were as follows:

Ukraine:

Yuriy Anikeev;

Yuriy Bobkov;

Matvey Kolesnikov.

Israel:

Alexander Schwartzman;

Alexey Verkhovykh;

Eduard Rabinovich.

The match by games was as follows:

Yuriy Anikeev — Alexander Schwartzman: 1:1;

Yuriy Bobkov — Alexey Verkhovykh: 1:1;

Matvey Kolesnikov — Eduard Rabinovich: 1:1.

For Ukraine, a draw with Israel was an important result: the Israeli team was considered the favorite by the total rating, but the Ukrainian team held the match and after three rounds topped the table of the team world championship.

Where and when the world championship takes place

The team world championship in draughts-100 started on May 5, 2026, in the French Saint-Doulchard. Men’s and women’s teams participate in the tournament, and winners are determined in three disciplines — classical game, rapid, and blitz.

The format of the classical tournament for men is specified in the official FMJD results system: St Doulchard/FR, dates — May 5–12, 2026, round-robin system, team tournament in draughts-100. There, the participation of the teams of Ukraine and Israel is also confirmed.

Why the match with Israel was special

The next serious test for the Ukrainian team was the match against Israel. The Israeli team is led by Alexander Schwartzman — one of the most famous draughts players in history.

It was here that an ordinary tournament meeting turned into a symbolic one.

On one line of the match were two athletes whose achievements are almost impossible to repeat. Schwartzman became the world champion in international draughts in 1998 and later won the world championship in draughts-100 several times, including the 2021 title. His biography is also associated with draughts-64: he is a multiple world champion in Brazilian draughts and one of the few players to reach the highest level in several versions of the game.

Yuriy Anikeev repeated this unique trajectory already in Ukrainian history. He was the world champion in Brazilian draughts in 2004, and in 2023 he won the world championship in international draughts.

Anikeev and Schwartzman: two schools, one rare record

In draughts, there is an important detail that is not always understood by the general audience. Draughts-64 and draughts-100 are not just different boards. They are different game worlds, with different logic, pace, strategy, opening base, and level of specialization.

Therefore, the title of world champion in one discipline is a pinnacle in itself. And becoming a world champion in both draughts-64 and draughts-100 is an almost impossible task.

Schwartzman did it first. Anikeev became the one who, years later, was able to repeat this path.

This is the main sporting intrigue of the match Ukraine — Israel in France. At the team world championship, not just representatives of two teams met. In one match, two unique champions came together, who went through different game formats and proved their superiority at the world level in both systems.

For Israel, this is a particularly notable story because Schwartzman now represents Israel. For Ukraine, because Anikeev remains the captain and one of the main faces of the Ukrainian team.

NANews — Israel News | Nikk.Agency notes that such sports stories are as important as political news. They show a living connection between countries, where Ukraine and Israel meet not through crisis, war, or diplomacy, but through intellectual sport, character, and personal skill.

How Ukraine played against Israel

By the sum of the ratings of the main lineups, Israel was considered the favorite of the match. This is logical: the Israeli team includes players with high international status and great experience.

But the Ukrainian team withstood the pressure.

All three games against the Israelis ended in a draw. For Ukraine, this was an important result not only from a tournament point of view but also psychologically. The team did not yield to the favorite, maintained stability, and after three rounds took first place in the table of the men’s team world championship.

In such tournaments, a draw against a strong opponent can be almost equal to a victory. Especially if it is a round-robin system, where every team point is important, and the fight for leadership is not in one match, but over the entire championship.

Why this championship is important

Ukraine’s leadership after three rounds for men and the confident play of the women’s team do not look like an accident, but a confirmation of class. The team goes through the tournament not only due to individual stars but also due to stability, balance, and the ability to withstand matches against strong opponents.

For Israel, this story is also not peripheral. The participation of Schwartzman and the strong lineup of the team make the Israeli team a notable participant in the world championship, and the match with Ukraine — one of the most interesting meetings of the tournament from the point of view of sports history.

While the championship continues, it is already clear: the meeting Ukraine — Israel in Saint-Doulchard became more than just an ordinary line in the table. It was a match where rare sports biographies came together at one board, and the Ukrainian team managed to withstand the test against an opponent considered the favorite.