Draughts wizard and former world champion Ronald “Suki” King left last night for Turkey, eager to make his presence felt at the World Draughts Go As You Please Qualifier.
King, 67, told the Saturday Sun he was confident he would prevail in the qualifier, the winner of which will earn the right to challenge world champion Matteo Bernini of Italy.
“I am a King. Bernini is no king. The title does not belong to him. It should belong to a real king. I am in good form and really looking forward to the Qualifier,” said King, who left with a suitcase of books.
King, who hails from Holder’s Village, is being sponsored by the National Sports Council, the Central Bank, Sewing World, and Rayside Construction.
Regarded as the Muhammad Ali of the draughts world for his “trash-talking”, King was awarded a Barbados Service Star (BSS) in 1992. At the CARICOM Heads of Government Summit in St Lucia in 1998, he was honoured as one of the top 25 sports personalities of the region.
King will be joined in Turkey by compatriots, grandmaster John “Jack” Francis and emerging player, Kent Layne.
The eight-round tournament starts on Tuesday. (MK)