CHARLIE WILLIAMS TOPS 2016 SOUTH BEND POOL CHECKERS TOURNEY; ART BELL WINS 2016 BIG BOARD!

  Charlie Williams, Louisville, Ky., won the 18th Annual Pool Checkers Festival in South Bend, Ind., on Saturday, Nov. 12, 2016.   Charlie scored 19 out of a possible 24, racking up 8 wins, 3 draws, and one loss to take the $100 first prize.  Clorius "The Mongoose" Lay, Gary, Ind., was second at 18, and Fred D. Shurn third with 15.

  Top Master Lay scored a win and a draw with Williams, who also reached the Top Master rank this past summer.   However, Lay ran into his only loss at the hands of last year's champ Wayne Lockheart, and Lay had one more draw than Williams. 

  Herman Joiner, Chicago, took the "B" division with 18 out of a possible 24.   There were 11 entries , same as last year, but we did not have snow to blame this time.  The players agreed to play in two classes, 7 in "A" and 4 in "B," with the "B" group playing a double round robin of 4 games against each opponent.

  Roger Blaine was the organizer and director, and once again Art and Linda Bell graciously invited the players to their home after the tournament for delicious food and more checkers.

 The totals (in this event wins are scored as 2 points and draws as 1):

Placed	"A" Division - Players	State	Points
1	CHARLIE WILLIAMS	KY	19
2	Clorius Lay	IN	18
3	Fred D. Shurn	IL	15
4	Jackie Carr	TX	12
5	Wayne Lockheart	OH	10
6	Arthur Bell	IN	5
7	General Owens	IL	5

BELL WINS BIG BOARD PLAYOFF   

  Art "Sonny" Bell, South Bend, won the playoff game against Vern Cloud, Buchanan, Mich., to take the prize in International or 10 x 10 checkers on Sunday, Nov. 13, 2016.  The two had split their first two contests, and Bell won the "rubber" game.  Only four competed this time, and Roberto Ernest and Roger Blaine played only one game with each opponent.