A ten-day African draught championship tournament will kick off in Banjul today.

Twelve countries including the hosts Gambia will take in the championship that doubles as qualifiers for the World Draught Championship scheduled to take place in Brazil later this year. Other participating nations are Uganda, Nigeria, Cameroon, Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Mali, DR Congo, Guinea Conakry, Senegal and Mauritania.

One of the participating countries, Uganda, has arrived with at least 20 star players for the competition that runs from July 12 to July 25, at the Paradise Suite Hotel in Kololi. Ugandan team captain Frank Zziwa said his Ugandan draught stars are ready for the tournament, hinting that they have been undergoing serious training at Kampala Club ahead of the championship.

The nine top draught players from the Banjul tournament will be selected to represent Africa at the World Draught Championship in Brazil. The tournament in the South American country is fixed between October and November this year. Gambia's minister for Youth and Sports, Mr Sheriff Gomez, is expected to preside over today's opening ceremony.