11 wins bring Jack US honour

HE WASN’T CROWNED king but Jack Francis got an honour nonetheless.Barbados’ reigning national Go-As-You-Please draughts champ received the inaugural ACF Gene Lindsay Award after winning the most games at the just concluded US National Three-Move Restriction Tournament.Despite finishing seventh, Francis won a tournament-high 11 games, having defeated three different opponents 2-0, and another by a 3-0 margin.But Francis wasn’t even the highest-finishing Bajan. That honour belonged to  Ronald “Suki” King, who finished second, and who defeated Francis in the second round.“This is the toughest US Nationals I have ever participated in,” said Francis, who failed to achieve his intended goal of a third-place finish.“The people who finished ahead of me already [competed] for a World Championship, and despite not finishing in the top three I am very satisfied with my performance considering my lack of three-move restriction practice.”However, the ever-optimistic Francis believes that he is ready to contend for the upcoming Three-Move World Qualifier, slated for October 27 in Dublin, Ireland, as the format of two-game rounds is more suitable for his style of play.“I am strictly confident of winning that qualifier, Suki or no Suki,” said Francis, who will be making his debut appearance at this year’s tournament.The winner of that qualifier will earn the right to play for the world three-move title against current holder Alex Moiseyev, who won the US Nationals.Francis is  preparing for his title defence of the national Go-As-You-Please crown, the battle for which starts this Sunday at the St Stephen’s Primary School. (JM)