The 20th GAYP National Checker Tournament 

IM Dr John Webster 2012 TN.jpg (175591 bytes)
 “IM John R. Webster GAYP National Tournament Honoree”
July 27th - July 30th 2015
Comfort Suites in Lebanon, TN 37087

(Usually scheduled the week of July - Monday thru Saturday)
(map)

This year's GAYP Tournament honors IM John R. Webster from Stoneville NC, a master checker player at 3 Move, 11-Man, and particularly in Go-As-You-Please or Freestyle Checkers, and a 45+ year supporter of the ACF and our game. The 20th GAYP National “IM John R. Webster GAYP National Tournament Honoree”  Checker Tournament will be held on (Monday thru Thursday) July 27th thru July 30th 2015, at the Comfort Suites in Lebanon, TN 37090. The hotel is located on Highway 231 (904 Murfreesboro Road) near I-40 (if on I-40 take exit 238 ramp and make left turn onto US-231 N / S CUMBERLAND ST / TN-10 N, back across I-40, hotel on right). 

John is best known for playing 4 International Matches (89, 95, 2001, & 2005) of which he has been a consistently outstanding member of the US Team. John is considered to have a pleasant gentleman's disposition that veils his spirited ferociously competitive checker game. He co-championed with GM Lubabalo Kondlo at the 2007 - 16th GAYP National "Derek Oldbury Memorial" and more recently, he placed 2nd in the 2011 Blitz GAYP National, between GM Ron King from St. George, Barbados and GM Jack Francis from St. James, Barbados. IM John Webster co-championed with GM Jim Morrison at the 2014 MO GAYP Open, and won the 2014 Mid-Ohio Open GAYP Checker Meet. John has won the NC State Open eight times, and won or was a top finisher in so many other district, state, annual, Southern, Strawberry, and local tournaments, making it too many to mention.

For reservations at Comfort Suites, call 615-443-0027 (cost $69.95+ Tennessee Tax 16.24% = Total $81.31 per night) or at Econo Lodge  (map), located 829 S. Cumberland Street, 615-444-1001 (cost $49.95+ Tennessee Tax 16.24% = Total $58.06 per night) and tell them you are a checker player.  Please call before July 11, 2015 for reservations; otherwise, rate is $120.00 at Comfort Suites. You should book your room early before the dead line because you have until 4:00 PM before the date of your arrival to cancel by phone only without charge or penalty. There is no guarantee the rates will apply or the rooms will be available after that date. You have a choice to register at Comfort Suites at $81 or Econo Lodge at $58, we get credit at both places, but tournament playing room is at Comfort Suites which has the larger playing room and more amenities. The playing room is free provided a combined total (from both hotels) of 12 rooms are rented. Otherwise, there will be a daily fee. A continental breakfast is available at both locations. Please make your reservations early.  For more information, call Frank Davis at 1-931-552-4246. Please complete the pre-registration form which will help our tournament staff plan a smoother tournament. You may review tournament bid for more details. Also wives should review restaurants and Things To Do!

On Monday, July 27, registration begins at 10:00 - 11:00AM followed by a business meeting at 11:00 - 11:30AM. Tournament play will begin following Lunch break.  Round 1 Start Time: 1:00PM. All divisions are scheduled to play ten two-game rounds, scored by game. ACF Membership is required to enter all divisions, and may be paid at registration.

The new 2015 GAYP National Tournament format was voted on at the Southern Open (Schedule).  The majority of players wanted a 4 day tournament Monday through Thursday. Masters will play 3 hour rounds, Majors & Minors will play 2 1/2 hour rounds as: 2+3+3+2. Rules of play and paring/scoring the tournament in general is patterned after the Tennessee Open which seems to be a proven format and a functionally well run event. Also emphasized at this meeting was reserving your rooms at Econo or Comfort by the July 11th dead line to get the checker room rate discount.  If you made reservations prior to this new schedule you should call and modify you hotel arrangements.  Connie Bullington, GMgr/Marketing Sales Director is aware of this and "oked" our playing room on current booked rooms at both locations.

We will use feed back and attendances to format our final (Schedule). Here are some notes from Richard Beckwith.  We anticipate a nice prize fund from contributions and the ACF Oldbury Fund.  This is a Frank Davis directed & organized National Tournament which in the past have proven to be some of the best well run and enjoyable on the checker circuit. 2000-2015 Tournament "Honoree" history  |  Display & Flyer  |  Plaque

Approximately 8 hours and 460 miles from Greensboro to Lebanon, TN   Take I-40 West into Tennessee then exit on 238 toward Lebanon turn left onto US-231 N / S CUMBERLAND ST / TN-10 N.  You can't miss Comfort Suites, which is across I-40 and on the right.    Website: Comfort Suite Lebanon July26 406112903  406113027  406113161    

2015 Tournament Dates  |  Contributors  |  2015 National GAYP Pre-Registered Players