By Duncan Mackay at the Beijing International Convention Centre

Joel N'Cho Atse became the first draughts player to win a major tournament with victory at the SportAccord World Mind Games ©SportAccordDecember 15 - Joel N'Cho Atse today became the first draughts player from the Ivory Coast to win a major title when he triumphed here at the SportAccord World Mind Games.


The 31-year-old overcame his underdog status in the draughts blitz tournament to beat Russia's 10-time world champion Alexei Chizhov.

The women's competition was won by Belarus' Olga Fedarovich, who beat Ukraine's Victoriya Motrichko.

Qu Defa, winner of the Nissan Tilda after winning an on-line tournament held alongside the SportAccord World Mind Games was the happiest champion of the day ©SportAccordQu Defa, winner of the Nissan Tilda after winning an on-line tournament held alongside the SportAccord World Mind Games was the happiest champion of the day ©SportAccord

But no-one was happier than Qu Defa, who won a special gold edition Nissan Tilda car awarded to the winner of a special on-line Xiangqi - Chinese chess - tournament.

Focused on the Chinese market, the Beijing Olympic Development Association (BODA), along with Tencent QQ Games Centre, ran the on-line qualifying competition for local mind enthusiasts.

The top players were then invited to take part in a special off-line tournament with Qu triumphing.

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