It is always difficult to attribute a particular playing style to a player, and the same applies to Ndiaga Samb. To me, the Senegalese was above all a player who often sat at the board with a fighting spirit. His historic—and above all, heroic—battles with former world champion Alexander Schwarzman stand out, sometimes even with physical intensity. These encounters often did not end in his favor.
I would like to share a personal memory of Samb. In the summer of 1992, the Brunssum tournament consisted of an elite group of ten players who played a round-robin tournament, as well as an open tournament with nine rounds following the Swiss system. That year, I shared a small tent with Erno Prosman at the Hitjesvijver campsite, which had long been the traditional lodging for draughts players participating in Brunssum. Coincidentally, Erno played in the first round against my future wife, Ewa Schalley (who at the time still bore the name Minkina). The game ended in a draw, but I still clearly remember that at one point, both Auke Scholma and Samb were leaning over the board.