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MIAMI OPEN 2027: A Project Supported by FMJD and the World's Leading Grandmasters

In May 2026, our draughts organization, The NDF of the USA, officially applied to FMJD with a request to include MIAMI OPEN 2027 in the FMJD International Competition Calendar. The tournament will take place from September 4 to September 12, 2027, in Miami, USA.

We have already signed a contract with the magnificent Marriott hotel located on the first line of the Atlantic Ocean. More than one year before the tournament, an advance payment has already been made for both the hotel and the playing hall. The tournament prize fund will be USD 15,000.

All of this has been done for one purpose only — to give American players the opportunity to compete at home against the world's strongest grandmasters, while providing international draughts with a new prestigious tournament on the American continent. For many players from the United States who do not have the opportunity to travel abroad, this is the only chance to fulfill the dream of their sporting lives — to play in one tournament against the world's strongest players.

For many years, only one tournament was effectively held in the United States — the U.S. Championship. In 2025, we succeeded in organizing another tournament, MIAMI OPEN 2025, which became the largest and most successful international tournament in the entire history of international draughts in the United States.

The FMJD leadership supported this initiative from the very beginning. As early as March 2026, FMJD President Janek Maggi and Secretary General Jan van Dijk assured us that there were no obstacles whatsoever to placing the tournament in the FMJD Calendar. We are sincerely grateful to them for their personal involvement in this matter.

The tournament is supported by many outstanding grandmasters of the world (see the letter dated June 10, 2026):

1. Alexander Shvartsman – International Grandmaster
2. Guntis Valneris – International Grandmaster
3. Yuriy Anikeev – International Grandmaster
4. Artem Ivanov – International Grandmaster
5. Ivan Trofimov – International Grandmaster
6. Alexander Mogilianski – International Grandmaster
7. Natalia Sadowska – International Grandmaster
8. Vladimir Vygman – International Grandmaster
9. Igor Kirzner – International Grandmaster

Five members of the Netherlands National Team, including the current world champion and the current world runner-up, have also confirmed their support for the organization of MIAMI OPEN 2027 and their interest in participating in the tournament (excerpt from the letter of the Head Coach of the Netherlands National International Draughts Team, Rik Keurentjes, dated July 12, 2026):

1. Jan Groenendijk – International Grandmaster, current world champion
2. Jitse Slump – International Grandmaster, the world runner-up
3. Martijn van IJzendoorn – International Grandmaster
4. Wouter Sipma – International Grandmaster
5. Simon Harmsma – International Master

Official support has also been expressed by the Chairman of the FMJD Players' Committee, Mr. Jean Marc Ndjofang (see the letter).

All of this says only one thing — MIAMI OPEN is needed by the world draughts community.

But what is happening is difficult to explain. The tournament, with the support of the FMJD leadership, has already been included in the official FMJD Calendar three times. And three times it has disappeared from it. This has never happened before in the history of FMJD.

This raises legitimate questions. Why has an international tournament supported by the FMJD leadership, the world's leading grandmasters, and the FMJD Players' Committee already been removed from the Calendar several times? Who is behind this? We demand a clear and transparent answer from FMJD. We, the draughts players, have the right to know the name of this person.

Why do organizers who invest their own money, effort, and time in the development of draughts encounter such obstacles instead of receiving support?

It is especially puzzling that these actions are taking place within the area of responsibility of FMJD Tournament Director Lyublyana Turiy, whose primary duty is to develop international competitions, attract organizers and sponsors, and create new prestigious tournaments.

The saddest part of this entire story is that not only the organizers and sponsors suffer. First and foremost, the players suffer. American children and young people suffer because they would like to be proud that they are involved in such a wonderful intellectual game that attracts players from all over the world to their country. Dozens of American players suffer because, for financial reasons, they cannot travel to Europe or Africa and have dreamed for years of playing just once at home against the world's strongest grandmasters. For many of them, MIAMI OPEN is not just another tournament. It is a chance to fulfill a dream.

Today we appeal to the FMJD leadership.

We ask you to assess the current situation and ensure the consistent implementation of the decisions that have already been made so that situations like this will never happen again. We are convinced that international draughts should unite people, create new opportunities for players, and support those who invest their time, effort, and resources in the development of our sport. This is exactly what thousands of draughts enthusiasts around the world expect from FMJD. This is exactly why we continue our work.

On behalf of the Board of Directors of The NDF of the USA
Vice President A. Akselrud
July 19, 2026