Vadym Lapin’s Autobiography (1/2023)
I started playing checkers when I was 14 years old, at 18 I became European vice-champion and FMJD master (Russian version), at 24 I attained the FMJD International master title.
I was the Ukrainian national champion and multiple Ukraine Cup winner.
In 2014 I won 1st place in the World Team Championship as a member of the Ukrainian team (I played on the 2nd board and won all my games)
In 2018 I took 2nd place in the American Pool National Tournament and 1st place in the Miami City Tournament and in the Central Florida Tournament as well.
I had never played straight checkers before 2017, when I participated in the Ukraine National Championship, I took 2nd place without losing a match.
In 2017-2018 I played a variety of different state tournaments.
I took 1st place in the Virginia and Illinois opens, took 2nd in Kentucky, tied for first and second in Missouri and another Illinois open (with GM Alex Moiseyev), tied for second in Tennessee and North Carolina.
In the Ukraine I graduated from the National University of Physical Education and Sports with a master’s degree in “Physical Education and Checkers Coaching”.
I started my coaching career at 17 years old in Kiev’s Palace of Children and Youth (first checkers club in USSR, where the legendary Kuperman and Kaplan had studied and worked) and worked there as a coach for about 15 years.
As a coach I prepared Tetiana Zaitseva, Ladies world champion, European champion and plenty of Ukraine champions in different ages categories.
Since 2016 I was vice-president of Kiev City Checkers federation. In this position I took part in setting up the Children’s National Tournament where over 150 kids participated and it was transmitted on Ukraine national TV.
I refereed on this and many other tournaments in the Ukraine.
Presently I give classes at an after-school academy in South Florida, I have about 30 students, one of them won a Christmas Tournament in ICHF and took part in the Tennessee open tournament. At this school I organized a kid’s tournament in January for about 20 kids and we plan to set up another one in April.
In July I will take my students to Texas for the USA Children’s National and to Barbados for the Youth World Championship.
As a district manager I will set up District 4 youth and adult tournaments and publicize them on websites and local media.
Also, I will encourage my students to become members of ACF.
Vadym Lapin
11700 Luna Rd Apt 6301
Farmers Branch, TX 75234
561-606-0360 cell
In the 2023 American Checker Federation election, Vadym ran for ACF Player’s Representative and won. Vadym Lapin is also currently waiting his US Citizenship approval.