2025 Tennessee State “3-Move” Open Tournament
March 7th & 8th 2025
Results:
Larry Keen Open the 2025 Tennessee State Open 3-Move Tournament by welcoming all 14 checker players. Only 8 Masters and 5 Majors played. Larry is the President of Tennessee Checker Association (TCA), who introduced Alex Holmes our newly elected ACF President. Alex delivered his impressive address to the State of Checkers. 3 areas he talked about were:
1. Rising contributor & promoting more youth checkers as Florida is doing.
2. Like today we have online tournaments & planning more to increase awareness of the ACF organization and increase memberships. I think we can make the online tournaments better while also incentivizing people to play in tournaments especially with this new website coming to us soon, which by the way I’ve seen the progress of it! For example chess does a weekly event that a lot of the top players play is called “Titled Tuesday”, which means people with a title to their name can only play in them, this is an incentive for those people that haven’t played in an official tournament that only plays online to want to come in person to a tournament. I know it sounds crazy but that’s exactly what chess did and I think we should follow in their footsteps in that regard.
3. Standardize our Checker Tournaments especially in the States of: OH, TN, NC, VA, FL, TX, IL, and Southern. Alex explained how using our DGT North American Checker/Chess Clock and Game Timer would greatly improve our tournaments by preventing disputes, stopping excessively slow play, game delays, time overruns, and staying on a timely Tournament Schedule.
Of course there was some resistance and discussion, but Alex knew the subject and how the game timer worked so he answered questions, discussed, and convinced the players at this 2025 TN Open tournament to vote. Michael Holmes made a motion to use time clocks which was seconded, and unanimously carried. All players did use time clocks at the 2025 TN Open and will also at other State Tournaments mentioned above.
The players (Masters) agreed to play seven 2.5 hr. rounds, as 4 Friday and 3 on Saturday with time clocks set 35+3 per side. Game Recorder sheets were provided. Masters played a Round Robin. The Majors played 6 rounds of Modify Swiss where the two top players with the highest accumulated game points after their 5 round would be re-paired on their final round. BTW, this tournament ran smoothly, those unfamiliarly with clocks acclimated easily with no complaints!
All checker players signed a "Thank You" card for Joe McDaniel for his generous $1,000 prize fund contribution.
Alan Millhone brought a box of DGT North American Checker/Chess Clock and Game Timer to the tournament so everyone could used the same clocks.
A large cooler of bottle ice water was furnished by Glenn Fuquay and Larry provided the Friday evening Pizza Party (12 large pizzas $250). A $20 entry fee, $356.26 playing room expense, $3,200 from Gene Lindsey Fund, McDaniel $1,000, $4,280 Prize Fund payout, and Larry's contribution, made a total tournament budget of $4,886.
We appreciate Randy Keen as our scorekeeper and Larry for their effort and support for checkers. We also appreciate Jerry Askins as our tournament assistant.
Larry Keen suggested that 2026 Southern should be moved to NC since attendance didn't support the $350 playing room expense at Comfort Suites in Lebanon. Hopefully another venue is available with a less expensive playing room that fits the WC Green Fund and tournament budget.
Some Photos taken at the 2025 TN Open.
Alex posted on English Draughts - February 24, 2025 9:16 AM.
Alex Holmes, “Hello everyone, with the recent passing of this ruling unanimously, the state tournaments TN, NC, Florida, VA, Ohio, IL, the Southern in Tennessee as well, will be mandated to use clocks and any other popular state tournaments that I could be missing is also required, the time control will be dependent on the Referees/Tournament Directors on each round. I should be able to go to all of the tournaments this year that need clocks so I will bring suggested time controls for the times those referees would like to have. Thanks, and I’m sorry if anyone disagrees with this ruling but the first step of many to making the tournaments more professional and a better experience for new upcoming players. This ruling will also be effective immediately, including for the upcoming Tennessee tournament in two weeks!” Again Thanks for your understanding.