Barbados off to World Mind Games
Saturday, September 20, 2008
from http://www.barbadosadvocate.com/NewViewNewsleft.cfm?Record=36870
Web Posted - Sat Sep 20 2008
By Alan Harris
BARBADOS will be represented at the International World Mind Games which are being hosted in Beijing China from the 13th-18th of October. Ronald Suki King, currently the number one draughts player in the world, Jack Francis, who is currently ranked fourth in the world, and the lone female competitor for Barbados, Wilma Branch, who is undoubtedly the best female draughts player in Barbados, will fly the Bajan flag high in China, as did the Barbados Olympic athletes did just last month.
Speaking to Barbados Advocate Sports, the threesome said that preparations are on track and they were in the process of pro-actively seeking out financial assistance from the government and persons in the private sector to aid them in their quest to bring glory to Barbados through the game of draughts.
The International Mind Games will see three styles of draughts being played which are 100 squares, 8 by 8 (Russian style) and three move restriction. The winner of the three move restriction will gain the opportunity to play Alex Moise for the three move championship of the world next year. King, who just successfully defended his world Go-as-you-please title, believes that this championship will return to Barbados after he demolishes the competition in China and wins a chance to play the champ.
This event is seen as an unofficial Olympic event with Olympic medals being handed out but no prize money attached to the victory. This event is also being viewed by the international draughts community as the launching pad for the addition of draughts to the Olympic line up. If this was to ever become a reality, Suki said There is a real chance of hearing the Barbados national anthem if draughts was in the Olympics. We are some of the best if not the best in the world at draughts.
The Bajan threesome took the time out while speaking to Barbados Advocate Sports to thank their sponsors who have already come on board such as the National Sports Council, Barbados Tourism Authority, Pizza Man Doc, Jordan's Supermarket, Professor Hillary Beckles and Mr. Lionel Weekes. However, they stressed the need for as much corporate sponsorship as they can garner, as the trip was estimated to cost $30 000 for the team and one manager who is yet to be named.
