Suki to boycott national competitions because of disagreement with BDA

The island’s top-rated draughts player Ronald ‘Suki’ King will not be defending his national 3-Move Restriction title.

Citing irreconcilable differences between himself and President of the Barbados Draughts Association (BDA), Glyne Howell, King has taken the decision not to partake in any national tournaments as long as Howell remains at the helm of the organisation.

It means that a new champion will be crowned when the 3-Move Restriction Championships push off on Sunday at the Top Grade Academy in Bush Hall, St Michael.

In an interview with Barbados TODAY, King, a grandmaster, accused Howell of improperly running the BDA.

King, a former president of the association, disclosed that he had written to both the Director of the National Sports Council, Neil Murrell and Minister of Sports, Charles Griffith about the situation.

“I’m not competing in the tournament and I’m not taking part in any other national draughts competition as long as Mr Howell is the president.

“I am boycotting all of the tournaments until elections are held next year and we get rid of him,” King said, while alleging that Howell was running the BDA “by himself without an executive committee”.

However, in an interview with Barbados TODAY Howell refuted King’s claims.

He maintained that the BDA was a “fully functioning” association, and explained that King had been upset ever since he was elected as BDA president in January this year.

“Everything that Suki has said is totally untrue. The BDA has a fully functioning committee which was elected this year according to the constitution. We had a committee meeting up to Thursday night. Everything we do is decided by a committee,” Howell said.

“It is just all politics. Suki was in charge of draughts up until last year. He was president for two years and before that he was vice-president. The BDA held its Annual General Meeting and elected a new president and ever since Suki has been attacking everything we are trying to do,” he further pointed out.

Howell explained that since assuming the position, the BDA held its national tournament in June and July and numbers were higher than in previous events.

Additionally, he said the first ever national youth champion was also crowned.

Howell pointed out that King’s decision not to participate in national tournaments would not hamper his ability to take part in international tournaments, as King had his own association and could therefore play under his own banner.

“The World Qualifier was held in Turkey this year and he participated. He has his own association and can play under his banner so it won’t affect him,” Howell said.

In King’s absence, the island’s number two player Jack Francis will start as the favourite to win the competition.

He will, however, receive stern challenges from the likes of Kent Layne, Junior ‘Post’ Walrond, Michael Barker, Carson Farley and Junior Burgess.

Francis recently placed second at the Scottish Open on the tiebreak to King, while Layne placed a commendable fifth.

The 38-year-old Layne told Barbados TODAY he was in the best form of his life and was hoping to improve on his sixth place finish in 2022.

“I’m more confident because of my Scotland performance. This is the most prepared I have ever been for any tournament and I’m more confident now,” he said.

“With Suki out I feel I have a good chance of winning. Jack and I drew 0-0 in last year’s tournament but he beat me 1-0 in Scotland. I’m not going to let that happen again.” 

randybennett@barbadostoday.bb