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Jack, 'Suki' playing for the people
Published on: 6/7/06.
by BARRY ALLEYNE
NOW THE TITLE is for the people of Barbados.
They may be arch-rivals on the draughts board, but world champion Ronald "Suki" King and challenger Jack Francis put that behind them yesterday, continuing their efforts to raise funds for their World Go-As-You-Please title match.
Yesterday was a rest day after King took a 2-0 lead over the first two days of competition; but instead of working on their respective board analysis, the pair took to the streets of Barbados continuing to seek finances.
According to King, he and Francis came in with about $4 000 in sponsorship for the match, and a good response by Barbadians on Whit Monday at the BMEX exposition urged them to continue seeking financial assistance, while also playing for the sport's most prestigious title.
King also said yesterday that four more sponsors had come forward, the Central Bank, Banks Breweries, TMR and Almond Resorts.
"The help that we got on Monday was very useful, but Jack and I figured we would have to go to the people of Barbados for help, and that's why we have now dubbed the title match: The People's World Championship, King said yesterday.
King, who now teaches primary schoolchildren through a programme at the National Sports Council, said that some of the money earned from taking to the streets would also be used to construct more than 5 000 draughts board to be used in schools.
In addition, the two men are also organising a few events to help raise funds, including a road-tennis match to be held in Jubilee Gardens in Bridgetown, and a cruise next month.
King said that later this year, he would also be attempting to break his world record for playing simultaneous draughts games.
But even though the pair was working together yesterday, the competitive spirit could not be kept in for good.
They resume their title match in Jubilee Gardens at 5 p.m. today, and the usually reserved Francis spoke for the first time since going down 2-0.
"My mind is very settled now. I let Suki's tardiness over the first days offset me, but now I'm ready to roll. I can't even see which is the next game Suki can win," he asserted.
"I'm positive those two games that Suki won, are the only two games he'll win."
King, as expected, had the perfect response. "When this match is over, Jack will be able to publish a book with excuses. He's a world class player, and if I'm dead he'll be there to carry on the sport tomorrow, but he simply can't much up with me," said Suki.