The sport is table tennis and "Suki" is trying to become the Barbados Table Tennis Association's (BTTA) 2008 "B" Class champion.

King played for Legends during the 2008 Division 3 competition and he helped his team to its first Division 3 title.

The "B" Class competition, which got under way on Friday night, is part of the BTTA's Classified Championships which also comprise the "A" Class and Islandwide, the Intermediate and the Masters individual titles.

Anderson Carrington won both "A" Class and Islandwide titles last year, while Bryan Matthews and Antonio Pilgrim were the Intermediate and "B" Class champions, respectively.

King started his quest for the title with two wins in the first preliminary round at the Table Tennis Centre on Friday night.

He first defeated Jermaine Jackman in straight games 11-4, 11-5, 11-4, and returned later to beat Albert Collymore Jnr 11-4, 4-11, 11-7, 11-5 despite dropping a game.

These wins ensured his advance to the second round, which will be played at the same venue on Friday.

Also advancing to the second round were Julian Ifill and Ricardo John, the only two players to be taken to a five-game set.

Ifill first came up against Albert Collymore Jnr showed considerable resilience to win the set.

He actually lost the first two games at 8 and 6, but clawed himself back into contention by winning the last three games 12-10, 11-6, 11-8.

His second win was much easier and less dramatic, as he quickly took out Rhea Jackman of the Jackman clan, 11-1, 11-6, 11-5.

John had an equally hard time in his opening set against Guyanese newcomer Barry Ballah.

Ballah actually blew him away at 1 in the opening game but John bounced back to take the second and third games 11-6. 11-5. However, Ballah was not finished yet as he won the fourth game at 5 to tie the match 2-2. The local lad was not to be denied, as he went on to take the fifth and final game 11-6 and the set 3-2.

As Ifill had done earlier, John returned later in his second match and blew away Kayla Blackett in straight games 11-4, 11-2, 11-8.

Also among the winners on Friday night and advancing to the second round were national junior players Nadia Payne and Anthonette Riley.

Results of Round One played on Friday night:

Shane Roberts bt Ramon Jackman 11-1, 11-3, 11-8.

Ronald "Suki" King bt Jermaine Jackman 11-4, 11-5, 11-4

Roseanne Butcher bt Dillan Herbert-Clarke 11-6, 12-10, 4-11, 11-6

Quintyne Carmichael bt Nicholas Jackman 11-6, 11-6, 11-4

Julian Ifill bt Rhea Jackman 11-1, 11-6, 11-5

Ricardo John bt Barry Ballah 1-11, 11-6, 11-5, 5-11, 11-6

Lisa Collymore bt Ramon Jackman 11-5, 11-7, 11-1

Trevon Powlett bt Quintyne Carmichael 11-4, 11-8, 11-9

Jermaine Jackman bt Rhea Jackman 11-6, 11-6, 11-6

Jermaine Jackman bt Tanera Morris 11-5, 11-5, 11-6

Nadia Payne bt Kayla Blackett 11-3, 11-1, 11-1

Nicholas Jackman bt Khadijaj Jones 11-7, 11-1, 11-3

Ricardo John bt Kayla Blackett 11-4, 11-2, 11-8

Ronald "Suki" King bt Albert Collymore Jnr 11-4, 4-11, 11-7, 11-5

Roseanne Butcher bt Kayla Blackett 11-2, 11-2, 11-1

Anthonette Riley bt Shane Roberts 11-9, 11-5, 11-5

Nadia Payne bt Dillan Clarke-Herbert 11-7, 11-3, 11-4

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