Career
Guntis Valneris started playing draughts when he was 10 years old. Viktor Adamovich became his first coach. In 1982 Guntis Valneris switched to international draughts, with Emmanuils Merins becoming his new coach.
1987 was Valneris"s debuting year in the European senior championships, and the next year he for the first time played in the senior World championships.
Both times he finished with a good overall balance but not on a podium. The match that took place in Tallinn ended with Chizhov"s unqualified victory.
This defeat did not stop Guntis. The next year, in a return match, Chizhov took the world title back from him.
At the 2003 World championship he shared the first place in a three-way tie with Chizhov and Alexander Georgiev but lost to Georgiev in a marathon tie-break barrage and finished third overall.
Guntis Valneris currently remains one of the world international draughts leaders.