NationNews.com
Barbados' Leading Newspaper

Suki seeking $33,000 for campaign

Date: July 10, 2008
Brief: Suki seeking $33,000 for 2008 campaign
by: Tyrone Evelyn

Suki seeking $33,000 for campaign

WORLD NO. 1 ranked draughts player Ronald "Suki" King is in search of financial support to fund his 2008 travel schedule.

According to King, it will take about $33 000 to finance his travel. King, the only man to have held the three move restriction and Go-As-You-Please titles simultaneously, is seeking to attend four tournaments - the Gene Lindsay 3-Move US Nationals, the 9th District Open, The British Open and The Ohio State Tournament - between now and September as preparation for his title defense of the World Go-As-You-Please crown.

United States national champ, South African Lubablo Kondlo, is slated to square off against King for his World Title at the Rodeway Inn, Medina in Ohio from September 8 to 30. But the Barbadian World Champion, who has held the Go-As-You-Please title since 1991, reasons that he might not fare well if he doesn't get the necessary tune-up for the September showdown.

"I'm really in trouble because I need some sponsorship," conceded King while speaking to the NATIONSPORT in a recent interview, "and if I miss these tournaments I wouldn't be getting any practice and walking into this match like a zombie."

King has an even more pressing, imminent overseas engagement just a month after his title clash, as the game of draughts will take part in the first ever World Mind Sports Games to be held in Beijing, China - an event which King and fellow world rated Barbadian Jack Francis have qualified for.

(JM)