New site BABA SY

[Hanco Elenbaas]

Carl "Buster" Smith, May 3rd 1972,
Hengelo, World championship, vs Andreiko


Carl Smith died in his residence Chicago in 1992 when he was 72 years old. Smith was the first American who represented his country during international tournaments. He was a competitor in the World championships in Bolzano 1968, Hengelo 1972 and Amsterdam 1976.
His greatest succes was the tournament in Hoogezand-Sappemeer, The Netherlands, 1977, in which he finished third with 16 points out of 11 games, just one point behind the winning couple Harm Wiersma/Rob Clerc, but before players like Baba Sy, Kaplan, Hans Jansen and Mamina N'Diaye.
(free from Ton Sijbrands magazine Dammen, november 1972)

Raoul Delhom (France) - Carl Smith (USA) 0 - 2
Open Championship of The Netherlands
May 9th 1970 Hengelo
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[Hanco Elenbaas]

Baba Sy interviewed for Dutch television by Jan Cottaar
during 3rd Lucas Bols tournament,
January 2nd 1962


World championship Amsterdam,
October 14th 1960


Training during
1st Lucas Bols tournament Amsterdam,
January 1st 1960

[chessdrummer]

Hi Hanco...

I believe you inadvertantly copied my picture to one of your posts. As much as I am humbled by that gesture, I do not believe I deserve such a honor as a chess player! However, I am preparing to write another story on the content which draught players have been so generous to provide here. These men deserve the honor.

I have had chess players to contact me with an interest in draught because of the stories I have written on Baba Sy and Ndiaga Samb. I hope I'm not creating defectors. That was made possible by those of you who contibuted to the thread. I will see to it that these players are given proper respect in the chess world! I just spoke with Charles Covington yesterday and he spoke of another African player named Wolderbiye(?) from the 1800s? Any word on this draughts player?

Thanks.

[Hanco Elenbaas]

Hi Daaim, this must be Woldouby from Senegal, who had his greatest successes around 1910, 1911.

In the before mentioned book from Walter van Beek and Ada Dorgelo, The fascinating World of Draughts, on page 46 in the article Draughts in Africa by Salif Sene there is a picture from 'Le Champion Africain Woldouby'.

On the site of the Asian Draughts Confederation http://www.asiandraughts.org/files/history1.htm Leo Springer, a son of former world champion Ben Springer, mentions Woldouby:

"As it happened in those days there was an African, living in Paris, who made a bet with everybody whom wanted to play him in the cafe's.
This Mr. Woldouby, had studied a certain position, always coming forth from the classical play, and he pretended always to win, either with white or black!
This famous position, the so-called Woldouby-position later on was investigated by many top players and every time they came up with new variants, one time winning, another time drawing, until at last the final word was spoken: a draw, which it remained until now."

I mentioned before the 'In Memoriam Baba Sy' in 'The fascinating World of Draughts' in which Roozenburg writes: "What Woldouby could not accomplish with his dazzling performance in Paris in 1910, Baba Sy did accomplish: he opened our short-sighted eyes for the hitherto undreamed draughts talents on the continent of Africa."

The late Philip de Schaap wrote:
"Who was this Woldouby? Born in Senegal, he was in Europe around 1910 and, part of a group of people from Senegal who let themselves 'be seen' on exhibitions, he also came in Paris. There one could play a game of draughts with him for a little money, but nobody succeeded in beating the always very quick playing Senegalese, even celebrities like Bizot and Sonier failed. Woldouby stayed in Paris and easily beat Marius Fabre in 1911 in a match for the championship of Paris. He was a feared opponent for a decade and died in Paris in 1922 from tuberculosis."

[Hanco Elenbaas]

GMI Bassirou Bâ from Senegal in a cold The Hague
during the WC 1994, November 15th against
Alexander Baliakine from White Russia



Vladimir Milshin (Russia) - Ndiaga Samb (Senegal),
WC Zwartewaterland, May 17th 2003

[Hanco Elenbaas]

Ndiaga Samb started today in the World Championship Blindfold and Rapid Draughts in Schiedam, The Netherlands. The tournament will last up to May 8th. The opponents of Ndiaga are World Champion Alexander Georgiev, ex-world champions Alexei Chizhov, Harm Wiersma, Anatoli Gantwarg, Alexander Schwarman, the Dutch champion Kees Thijssen and his countrymen Rob Clerc and Ron Heusdens.
On the very nice website one can view games in applet and lots of photos.
http://www.wkblinddammen.nl./ (Dutch and English version)

[Hanco Elenbaas]

World champion Piet Roozenburg vs Pierre Ghestem,
the dethroned French World champion,
Last round WC 1948,
Rotterdam, December 4th 1948
Pierre Ghestem (right), the last World champion
of France, is doing here the last moves in his last
official Draughts game ever.
Later Ghestem also became World champion Bridge.


In Dammen the magazine from Ada Dorgelo and Ton Sijbrands, number 9, October 1985, there is an article from former world champion Piet Roozenburg in which also Woldouby is mentioned, mainly because of the late-classical position which is mentioned after him.

<img src="http://fmjd.org/dias/save/11151609609.png">
Woldouby-position [1911]

Piet Roozenburg wrote that he took the autobiographic details about Woldouby out of the August 1910 edition of the Paris monthly "Le Bulletin Mensuel", in which some anonymus wrote:

"Mysterious Africa: In the Jardin D'Acclimatisation at this moment an encampment is established from Moors, Moroccans, Senegalese, Sudanese, Egyptians, etc. Among them is a Draughts player, Woldouby, who is available all afternoons for enthusiasts who visit this small exhibition. He, though young -only 21 years old- proved to be of extremely great strength. Indeed he did some remarkable performances.
Only Isidore Weiss over the whole emerged as a winner; Ottina didn't play; Bizot lost seven from the twenty games; Fabre lost six games in one session; Toucheboeuf six; Sonier three and Ardouin recently lost two from the four he played.


Isidore Weiss, world champion 1899-1911; Match Louis Raphaël - Isidore Weiss, March 1901; Marius Fabre, Vice-world champion 1925

It is true that all these masters felt hampered by the obligation to play on the dark fields and also by the not very comfortable accomodation to play in. Whatever, their opponent also felt strongly handicapped. He has the habit to play Sudanese style, which means that the long line is on the right and he claims -which is rather credible- that he is much stronger in that game than in ours. One can judge about the refinement of his game, if one sees the magnificent combinations he executed in all speed against Zimmermann. It seems that in Senegal there is another master, called Bapou N'Diaye, even much stronger than Woldouby, who leads 7-4 against Woldouby. Ahmadou Kandi, who died a couple of years ago, classified only after these two masters.. Thanks to the willingness from Mr. Tournier, one of the directors of L'Afrique Mystérieuse, we can announce Woldouby's visit to Café du Globe on August 20th between seven and eleven thirty."

Piet Roozenburg: About this séance on August 20th 1911 our reporter in a next issue of "Le Bulletin Mensuel" gives the following story:

"Fifty members of the Damier Français reacted to our appeal. Woldouby has arrived, flanked by two beautiful blacks, one of whom is one head larger than the largest among us. We opened fire, although we'd better say that we were baptised of fire, by two lost games.
We wanted to follow the Moor and we reached the point that we moved the pieces as quickly as he did, but in our mind the combinations went slower more and more, while Woldouby raised his speed. It was a matter of several minutes after which we gave our place to Fabre, who lost one of two. Bizot and Chardonnet gained the same result.
After that the turn was to De Haas, who postponed his departure to join in this little party, accompanied by his son-in-law Mijer, editor of Dutch journal "De Telegraaf". Woldouby did attach great importance to measure again with De Haas. In a former meeting he lost one of the two games. But exactly this wish alienated him completely from the goal he was striving for. After having permitted a combination to King, which costed one piece, he wanted to save this extra piece instead of taking off the King with two pieces.
We avail ourselves of the opportunity to thank the directors of l'Afrique Mystérieuse and especially Mr. Tournier for the fact that they enabled the members of Damier Français to admire the brilliant and astounding quick play of the young master Woldouby."

[Hanco Elenbaas]

Woldouby [1911]

[Jacques PERMAL]

Thanks a lot HANCO !!It is the 1st photo of WOLDOUBY I've ever seen !!

[Hanco Elenbaas]

The picture of Woldouby was sent to me by Mr. Tjalling Goedemoed (Kosmos) of Leeuwarden.
It is part of the Piet Roozenburg article in 'Dammen' number 9, October 1985 and is also printed in 'The Fascinating World Of Draughts' on page 46 in the chapter 'Draughts in Africa' by Salif Sene.

Woldouby wasn't the first African to play international draughts tournaments. In 1894 there was a tournament in Paris in which 25 years old Ahmadou Kandi of Senegal, ended 5th with 37 points out of 28 games, only two points less than shared victors Louis Raphaël (Marseille), A. Dussaut (Paris) and L. Barteling (Paris). The Later World champion Isidore Weiss finished 4th with 36 points.

Ahmadou Kandi is mentioned in 'Le Bulletin Mensuel' from August 1910 as the third best player from Senegal in the early 1900's, after Bapou N'Diaye and Woldouby. Kandi died in Senegal around 1908.

More about Ahmadou Kandi in 'Dammen' 48 and 49, September and November 1989, where Cock van Leeuwen writes about Kandi and refers to issues from 'Le Jeu de Dames' 1894, 1895 and 1896.
Kandi ended 3rd in the tournaments of Lyon 1894 and Paris 1895. In both tournaments several Africans participated.

In 'Dammen' 74, April 1994 there is more about the great Woldouby.

[Hanco Elenbaas]

From forum French Draughts Federation, http://ffjd.free.fr/

NAPOLEON et le jeu de DAMES (Divers)

Message envoyé par malickniang Le 30/05/2005 11:30:42

Le pion dédié à NAPOLEON est peut-être le plus beau du jeu de dames?
Revoyez le pion NAPOLEON que Baba Sy a montré dans la partie des français Hissard et Chilland dans le tournoi international de Yalta de 1961 ( pion NAPOLEON qui avait échappé aux 2 joueurs ).
Un pion d'une rare beauté, que l'on ne reverra pas de si tôt.
C'était l'oeuvre de Baba Sy, le plus grand joueur africain de tous les temps ( c'est le camerounais Jean Marc Ndiofang qui le dit dans le site internet de Patric Kopp ).
Oui, Baba Sy est le plus grand joueur africain de tous les temps.
Que les africains ( surtout sénégalais ) qui prétendent avoir dépasser Baba Sy, reviennent sur terre, restent humbles et aient un trionphe modeste ( eux qui n'ont encore rien gagner sur le plan mondial ).
Je ne connais pas tellement l'histoire de NAPOLEON et le jeu de dames, mais Baba Sy a donné raison depuis Yalta 1961 à ceux qui ont baptisé ce pion NAPOLEON , tellement le pion de Baba Sy était beau.
On en redemande encore.

Malick Niang
Kaolack Sénégal


NAPOLEON et le jeu de DAMES

Message envoyé par malickniang Le 30/05/2005 20:17:27


Dans son ouvrage ( secrets et merveilles du jeu de dames ) édité vers les années 70, Le français Henry Chilland nous montre la position du fameux diaghrame.
Hisard venait de monter sur un pion de Chiland, et Chiland devait perdre et le pion et la partie.
Effectivement Chilland perdit et le pion et la partie.
La partie terminée, Chiland montra la position à Baba Sy, et sans hésiter Baba Sy exécuta sans la moindre hésitation la fulgurante combinaison NAPOLEON.
Sur le pion monté, Baba Sy en rajouta un deuxiéme qui servira d'envoi en dame, Baba Sy ramena la dame avec un autre pion à la case 28, il s'en est suivi un échange de 2 contre 2, aprés Baba Sy fit une autre percée avec un autre pion, suivi d'un dégagagement, puis vint la raffale de 6 pions du Coup NAPOLEON avec dame.
Que l'on m'exuse pour mon français tropicalisé, je ne maîtrise pas la langue de Molière.
Un pion d'une rare beauté que l'on voit plus aujourd'hui.
Pion à voir absolument, pour ce qui ne l'on pas encore vu.
Malheureusement, je ne suis pas expert en diaghrame, sans quoi, j'allais vous montrer le fameux coup NAPOLEON de Baba SY.
Peut-être que l'infatiguable Laurent Descamps viendra encore à notre secours, et va nous aider de nouveau.
La plus belle combinaison de Baba Sy, c'est la combinaison en 11 temps qu'il effectua à la Haye en Hollande en 1960 dans une partie de simultanée avec 150 personnes.
La seconde c'est le coup NAPOLEON que je viens de commenter.
La troisiéme, c'est c'est la rafle de 7 pions qu'il exécuta lors de la coupe du monde 1962, contre le redoutable champion russe Agafonov.
Cordialement.

Malick Niang
Kaolack Sénégal

[Hanco Elenbaas]

Thanks to monsieur Malick Niang and monsieur Laurent Descamps!



In 1961 Baba Sy won the strong International Tournament in Yalta, USSR.
The position in the applet is out of the game in Yalta between the Frenchmen Michel Hisard (with white) and Henri Chiland. Hisard played 28-22? after which Chiland moved 5-10? Directly after the game Baba Sy showed Chiland how he could have won via the so-called Coup Napoleon!

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[Hanco Elenbaas]

<center>
Ramon Sakidin and Bassirou Bâ
Amsterdam Easter Blitz Tournament
March 26th 2005
picture by Jan Pieter Drost
</center>

[Hanco Elenbaas]

The picture of Woldouby was sent to me by Mr. Tjalling Goedemoed (Kosmos) of Leeuwarden.
It is part of the Piet Roozenburg article in 'Dammen' number 9, October 1985 and is also printed in 'The Fascinating World Of Draughts' on page 46 in the chapter 'Draughts in Africa' by Salif Sene.

Woldouby wasn't the first African to play international draughts tournaments. In 1894 there was a tournament in Paris in which 25 years old Ahmadou Kandi of Senegal, ended 5th with 37 points out of 28 games, only two points less than shared victors Louis Raphaël (Marseille), A. Dussaut (Paris) and L. Barteling (Paris). The Later World champion Isidore Weiss finished 4th with 36 points.

Ahmadou Kandi is mentioned in 'Le Bulletin Mensuel' from August 1910 as the third best player from Senegal in the early 1900's, after Bapou N'Diaye and Woldouby. Kandi died in Senegal around 1908.

More about Ahmadou Kandi in 'Dammen' 48 and 49, September and November 1989, where Cock van Leeuwen writes about Kandi and refers to issues from 'Le Jeu de Dames' 1894, 1895 and 1896.
Kandi ended 3rd in the tournaments of Lyon 1894 and Paris 1895. In both tournaments several Africans participated.

In 'Dammen' 74, April 1994 there is more about the great Woldouby.

<center>
Richard Przewozniak - Aleksej Tsjizjov
Cannes 2004 </center>

On Richard Przewozniak's http://damierlyonnais.free.fr/histoire_damophile.htm there is a report out of the Progrès illustré de Lyon from November 13th 1898, about a Draughts tournament in Lyon, with as a participant the famous actress Sarah Bernhardt.
Also in the article there is some more about the 1894 tournament in Lyon, in which six Senegalese participated:

Ce tournoi pacifique est le second du même genre qui ait été donné à  Lyon depuis le concours international de l'Exposition de 1894, concours resté fameux par les incidents auxquels donnèrent lieu les luttes homériques entre noirs et blancs - il s'agit bien entendu des joueurs - entre les six nègres sénégalais, Amadou-Kandy, Alasane, Amadou-Bey, Topopo, Ali Cherry et Kercherra et la phalange des blancs lyonnais, phocéens et parisiens. Le redoutable Amadou Kandy se distingua d'abord par ses nombreuses incartades et par les scènes de violence et d'intimidation qu'il usa à  plusieurs reprises lorsqu'il se sentait serré de trop près par ses adversaires. Il fallut requérir à  la force publique pour calmer et mettre à  la raison le farouche et bouillant noiraud, dont la force aux dames, de tout premier ordre, lui permit de battre ses concurrents blancs.

Le triomphe d'Amadou fit épanouir d'orgueil les frimousses de tous les moricauds, et on put lire dans les regards étincelants qu'il s'agissait là d'une revanche de la guerre punique, d'une victoirede Jugurtha sur Scipion. Les luttes du Damier ne revêtent d'ordinaire ce caractère d'acrimonie, ni n'engendrent la dispute ni la mauvaise foi. Les damophiles lyonnais et régionaux, au concours de 1897 et dimanche dernier, à  la première journée du Concours de 1898, ont fourni la preuve que le grand calme et la loyauté sont une règle parmi eux.

C'est ainsi que le jeu de Dames passe, de l'avis de tous les connaisseurs comme une distraction saine des gens policés, en dépit des nègres turbulents qui voulaient en faire une machine de guerre et convertir de belles séances récréatives en scènes de pugillat.

Cela dit, une fois pour toutes, pour rendre hommage à  ce noble jeu, et nos damophiles, constatons que ses origines sont aussi inconnues que lointaines. Le dessin que nous reproduisons en tête de cet article, et qui est tiré d'une Histoire de la Grèce, représente deux soldats grecs se livrant aux agréments du pionnage devant les murs de la Troie et très probablement entre deux assauts, car ils ont eu la précaution de ne pas se dessaisir de leurs armes.

[Hanco Elenbaas]

<center>
Abdoulaye Baba Sy
President of the Senegal Volleyball Federation </center>