Ronald “Suki” King showed the fighting spirit that champions are made of by beating Italian challenger Sergio Scarpetta in Game 16 of their World-Go-As-You-Please draughts championship showdown in Foggia, Italy, yesterday.

The flamboyant King, who was trailing in the 24-game series, adopted a single corner strategy to win the final match of the evening to square the series.

Scarpetta, who won Game 7 over the weekend to lead the series, had no answer to King’s aggressive style of play.

Playing the black pieces, King had an 11-15 opening to which Scarpetta played 22-18. King responded with 15-22 and Scarpetta reverted to 25-18. King then went in to a 12-16 opening and after some exchanges, the stylish Barbadian secured the win.

King will now also be heartened with the arrival of former president of the Barbados Draughts Association Desmond Maughan, who will manage his campaign for the rest of the series.

Scarpetta earned the chance to play King by winning the world qualifying event at Divi Southwinds in Barbados last year.

Italy are aiming for world domination of draughts, with Michele Borgetti claiming the World Three Move Restriction title last year by dethroning Russian Alex Moiseyev.

King only needs to draw to retain the title he has held since 1991.

His trip to Italy is being sponsored by the National Sports Council, Williams Industries, Guardian Life Insurance and the Central Bank of Barbados. (MK)

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