Hot on the heels of Ronald “Suki” King successfully defending his World-Go-As-You-Please Draughts title in San Giovanni Rotondo, Foggia, Italy, another Barbadian is seeking to capture another world draughts title.
Kent “Ace” Layne is presently trying to raise funds to make the trip to Dundalk, Ireland for the October 25 to 30 World Championship which is expected to feature some of the world’s finest players.
Layne, who started playing draughts competitively at age 13-years-old, has won six national titles at the junior level and one at the senior B-class level.
In an interview with MIDWEEK?SPORT, Layne lamented the scarcity of draughts tournaments in the island, but said the Barbados Draughts Association is in the process of trying to source funding to stage more competitions.
Layne said while King is his mentor, he prepares for tournaments by playing online opponents.
“I learnt a lot from him. I also have some draughts books I read, plus I do go online and play against players from overseas,” Layne noted.
His biggest achievement so far has been a second placed finish to American Grand Master Clayton Nash in the World Junior Championship at the Wildey Gymnasium in 2004.
On reflection, Layne reckoned he should have won the title. He realized his error, when King, who was watching, reset the board showing him the blunder he committed which cost him the title.
Layne, an ardent motor sports and horse racing enthusiast, also journeyed to Ireland in 2005 where he competed against 12 players and finished fourth after winning five games and only losing one.
Layne acquired the nickname “Ace” after he defeated Irish Grand Master Miles Hanagan 3-0.
“Well, Barbados already has a King in “Suki”, a Jack in Jack Francis so you must be the ‘Ace’,” Hanagan told him after the match and since then the name has stuck with him in the draughts circles.
Layne remarked that while he has received some sponsorship from Chefette Restaurants Limited and R.L. Seale and Company Limited, he is still a couple thousand dollars short and would appreciate any assistance which any company or individuals can provide.
Layne also thanked the fans of his horse racing page – Garrison Savannah.com – who have contributed toward him making the trip as he must win an overseas tournament to qualify to play in the Masters category.
