Thursday,March 29, 2012 

Documentary jumps into the world of competitive checkers “A serious and funny side of world championship checkers” by WKSU's Mark Urycki 

Few residents of our region are aware of it, but in the past few years, groups of men from around the world have been quietly meeting in dimly lit motel rooms in Northeast Ohio. They’re competing in the World Championships of Checkers.

When a Cleveland film production company realized that, they decided to make a documentary. And they found a story more complex than they imagined. Their film is called “King Me,” and it’s showing tonight at the Cleveland International Film Festival. WKSU’s Mark Urycki has details.
Click to listen:  Windows Media / MP3 Download (7:34)

When the president of the American Checkers Federation, Alan Milhone, wanted to get more attention for their matches, he turned to Cleveland production company, Think Media. Think Media’s Geoff Yaw says the company produces commercials and the high action, slam dunk montage that plays in Quicken Loans arena before Cavaliers games.

“We pretty quickly surmised that we weren’t the guys for that particular job.”

But when Milhone described a few of the top players about to go head to head in Medina, Yaw was interested.

“He told us the story of a very destitute black South African township restaurant who was fighting for the chance to become the world’s champion of checkers.”

Urycki: “When you went to the Medina matches was that already the World Championship?”

Yaw: “ Yep. We actually made this film in reverse. We shot the third act first. We shot the World Championship first.”

Urycki “So you jumped with both feet right into the fire.”

Yaw “ We had no choice. The match was happening in a week and a half.

Urycki “Were you sure you were going to get a documentary out of that?

Yaw “Absolutely not.”

Yaw and the Think Media crew were able to learn the game with the help of expert players from the American Checkers Federation. One hilarious moment comes from Russian-American Alex Moiseyev, who starts doing an impromptu play-by-play while the match is occurring over his shoulder. Another guide was a top American player, Richard Beckwith of Willoughby, who was glad to see cameras at the event.

Beckwith: “It’s a very difficult game to master just like chess. We’ve played in Beijing in Olympic-like games there. We’re looking for good sponsors so we were thrilled to have the cameras crews come in and take a peek into our world.”

David vs Goliath And Goliath

The movie, “King Me,” revolves around a black South African player, Lubabalo Kondlo. Geoff Yaw took his crew to South Africa to investigate Kondlo’s struggles with the white leader of the South African organization that runs the competitive checkers in that country . Kondlo supporters believe the man was sabotaging the black man’s chances to compete.

A third major character in this David and Goliath story is Ron “Suki” King, the world champion that Kondlo hopes to challenge. Geoff Yaw says “You can’t write a guy like Suki. You have to see the movie to understand but he’s the kind of guy that refers to himself in the 3^rd person.”

Yaw says his crew was very lucky with three entertaining main characters and a host of other fun people. Even the championship match was decided only after six days and in the last of 24 games.

And yet the site of the epic struggle was a very plain conference room in the Rodeway Inn in Medina.

Top player Richard Beckwith, who has helped organize these matches,

says more such matches could be coming back to Northeast Ohio and now they are live-streamed over the internet.

“We’ve changed the way we put on matches now. “

Urycki: “More glitz and glamour now?”

Beckwith: “Exactly.”

The makers of the documentary, “King Me,” are also hoping for more attention. They’re working on a deal for wider distribution.

The film plays tonight at the Cleveland International Film Festival.

Listener Comments:

Your article stated "The movie, “King Me,” revolves around a black South African player, Lubabalo Kondlo. Geoff Yaw took his crew to South Africa to investigate Kondlo’s struggles with the white leader of the South African organization that runs the competitive checkers in that country. Kondlo supporters believe the man was sabotaging the black man’s chances to compete."

However, it should be noted that Geoff Yaw has himself stated "In no way does King Me portray the disagreement you two once had to be driven by race in any way as the above quote suggests. So, in short "no" that's not what it's all about."

I hope that clarifies your article.

Posted by: Colin Webster (South Africa) on April 11, 2012 2:04AM

I want to see the movie!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: Irma Sierra (MEXICO) on April 4, 2012 1:04AM