Checkers appeared in Brazil in the early 19th century. Initially, this pastime was popular among the upper class, but soon captivated other social strata as well. In the mid-20th century, checkers sport in Brazil experienced a rise, largely thanks to Russian émigré Vladimir Mikhailovich Bakumenko.

Vladimir was born in 1909 in Kharkiv and, during his school years, repeatedly took prize places in local checkers competitions. By the age of 20, he became the champion of the USSR and wrote sports columns for Soviet newspapers, despite being a technological engineer by profession.

Everything changed during World War II. According to some reports, during this period he worked in the German propaganda department and in 1945 fled to the American occupation zone. From there, he moved to Brazil, to São Paulo, where he got a job as an accountant in a construction company.

Soon, Bakumenko began participating in local checkers tournaments and quickly became a leader. To the surprise of the locals, he easily defeated well-known champions and soon became one of the best players in Brazil. It is no wonder that one of the leading sports newspapers in the country, “Esportiva,” offered him a column on checkers.

Under Bakumenko's influence, the Brazilian Checkers Confederation was established. He developed a set of “golden rules,” which included useful advice for players, such as “do not touch the squares of the board with your fingers after calculating” and “avoid useless conversations during the game.” The rules also included ethical recommendations: “do not apologize for your defeat, value your opponent’s victory.” Vladimir Bakumenko passed away in May 1969, but checkers in Brazil remain popular to this day.