Lukhanyo will compete at the Scotland Draughts Festival in September, where the World Qualifier winner will earn the chance to challenge for the world title in 2027.
South Africa (04 August 2026) – A draughts board can take you further than you might think.
For Lukhanyo Dyanibokwe, a champion from Philippi in Cape Town, the game of draughts (aka English checkers) has taken him from school competitions to international tournaments across Turkey, Germany and the United States.
Now, he is preparing for the 2026 World Qualifier in Scotland.
Lukhanyo has been invited to compete at the Scotland Draughts Festival in Stonehaven from 9 to 18 September. The event includes the WCDF World Qualifier in the 3-Move format, where the winner will earn the chance to challenge reigning world champion Sergio Scarpetta of Italy for the title in 2027.
It is the latest chapter in a journey that began more than two decades ago.
Since 2003, Lukhanyo has steadily built an impressive record in the sport. He was crowned the South African GAYP champion in 2022, finished 11th at his first World Qualifier in Turkey in 2023 and won the Dr Richard Beckwith Online World Cup.
In 2024, he finished third at the 3-Move World Qualifier in Germany, placed second in the World Blitz competition and successfully defended his Online World Cup title. He was also part of the South African team that edged the United States 73–71 at the Vidor Checkers Festival in Texas in 2025.
Getting to Scotland comes with a significant financial challenge.
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Support SA Guide Dogs By Donning Your Shades All Day!Lukhanyo is raising funds to cover return flights from Cape Town to Aberdeen, accommodation near the competition venue, local transport and basic living expenses. The estimated cost of the trip is around R36,000, with airfare and accommodation making up the largest portion.
“By supporting me, you’re backing South African draughts and helping me to prove that players from places like Philippi belong on the world stage.”
Lukhanyo also hopes that his journey will eventually inspire a documentary titled The Man Who Mops the Floors, tracing his path from a board scratched into a school desk to competing on the world stage.
To support Lukhanyo’s journey to the 2026 Draughts World Qualifier, follow the fundraising link here.
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