Ukrainian Draughts Player Secures Silver in Italy as Team Concludes 2026 Winter Olympics

Ukrainian Draughts Player Achieves Success

According to Главком: Ukrainian draughts player Vasylisa Kutsenko has won a silver medal in the women's competition at an international 100-square draughts tournament held in Italy. The event, part of the 29th Cup City of Verona, attracted 78 participants from 12 countries. Kutsenko delivered a solid performance, scoring 7 out of a possible 12 points with three wins, one draw, and two losses. While she finished in the middle of the overall standings, she secured second place among the female competitors, finishing behind only a representative from the Netherlands. Draughts, also known as checkers, is a popular board game with a strong competitive scene in Europe.

2026 Winter Olympic Outcomes

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian national team concluded the 2026 Winter Olympics without winning a single medal. Despite this, Ukrainian athletes managed to place within the top ten in various disciplines on eight separate occasions. Notable top-ten finishes included:

• Sixth place: Angelina Brikina, Oleksandr Okypniuk, and Dmytro Kotovskyi in freestyle skiing and ski acrobatics.
• Julianna Tunytska, Ihor Hoi, Nazarii Kachmar, Andrii Mandzii, and Oleksandra Moh in luge.
• Seventh place: Oleksandra Moh and Olena Stetskiv in women's doubles luge.
• Eighth place: Dmytro Pidruchnyi, Vitalii Mandzyn, Olena Horodna, and Oleksandra Merkushina in the biathlon mixed relay.
• Ninth place: Oleksandra Merkushina, Yuliia Dzhima, Khrystyna Dmytrenko, and Dariia Chalyk in the biathlon relay.
• Tenth place: Kateryna Kotsar in big air snowboarding, Oleksandr Okypniuk in ski acrobatics, and Vitalii Mandzyn in the biathlon mass start.

Vasylisa Kutsenko's international success highlights the growing potential of Ukrainian athletes in draughts, even as the nation's winter Olympians returned without a podium finish. The Olympic results, while not yielding the desired medals, still demonstrate a consistent level of competitiveness from Ukrainian athletes on the world stage. Continued support and development of sports infrastructure could be key to improving future outcomes.

As Ukrainian athletes continue to make strides in various sports, the recent achievement of Ukraine's first European medals in weightlifting by Kateryna Malashchuk further emphasizes the nation's growing presence on the international stage. Kutsenko's silver medal in draughts complements this trend, showcasing the diverse talents of Ukrainian sportspeople despite the challenges faced in other competitions.