King vs. Kondlo, Day 1

[Alex_Moiseyev]

I doubt it'll be too long before we see a win in this match!

Ha-ha, you are optimist !!! if both players make all right moves - it is only a draw. So ... you predict that someone should make mistake ... and more then once ... correct sir ?

Without seeing an actual text of games I can't say - how much pressure was involved.

[Ingo_Zachos]

.. .Eventually Ron grew impatient and asked for a 40-move count to try and force a draw, ...

How can someone ask for a move-count?
He has to write down the moves that were made and he has to prove that it is 40 moves, no other way, or am i wrong?
If he fails to write down properly he also has no right to claim a draw, that's how it is handled in chess.
Any count would only disturb the opponent, and be totally unfair as I see it.
How r the rules in checkers on that?
I want to know if I am in Beijing, as that might cause trouble.

Good work, John.
You r a real checker journalist.

Greetinx from Germany,

Ingo Zachos

BTW:
Alex, how many games were decided in your 2000 encounter?
All games drawn?
So I would say, based on your games against Ron, that it is highly unlikely that all 24 games will be drawn.
It all depends, of course, on the participants, so let's wait and see.

[william]

well done John

I could feel the tension building the more I read your account of the first 2 games ; just a pity they don't have professional
commentators in checkers , as I think you'd be able to make a good living at it lol.

Keep up the good work

WILLIAM DOCHERTY

[Alex_Moiseyev]

John does exceptional work and I am proud to have him as editor of "Sixth" and other my literature works. As far as I know, today John does his doctoral degree in journalism and English literature in OSU (Ohio State University - best football team ever !)

Concerning match I agree that not all games will be drawn. Knowing Ron a bit I also can say - If he called 40 moves rule, that means position was absolutely drawn with no questions or chances, and it was a wasting time to play it.

The funny thing is - he (Ron) often does this (playing many unneccessary moves) in opposite play against his opponents, and now Lubabalo returns a ball.

Lets wait and see.

Alex

[jimloy]

You ASK for a 40 move count. As far as I know, the referee does the counting. This is ACF rule #12:

Rule #12
A draw is declared when neither player can force a win. When one side appears stronger than the other, and the player with what appears to be the weaker side requests the referee for a count on moves, then, if the referee so decides, the stronger party is required to complete the win, or to show to the satisfaction of the referee at least an "increased" advantage over his opponent within 40 of his own moves, these to be counted from the point at which notice was given by the referee. If he fails to do this, he must relinquish the game as a draw.

[Alex_Moiseyev]

From Alan Millhone email (w/o details): all four games today were drawn.

[Lindus Edwards]

Thank you John for the detailed reports which I enjoyed immensely. Sounds like a wonderful match.

[Alan Millhone]

Hello Checker/Draughts players:

I have Ron and Lubabalo with me as I type. Game one was Old 14th. and game three was another var. of old 14th. Second game was Second Double Corner and so was fourth. Played from 9AM till One PM and the afternoon was from two PM till 5. Endings were exciting but no cigars as yet !

Comments from Kondlo: Im glad that there is no game won by king and i really need to play not to lose but today king promise me that is gonna end this by tomorrow.

comments from king:the 8games made me more alert,so im fully interested in this match,so im gonna be very dangerous now.

[Alex_Moiseyev]

If Lubabalo drew another 4 games tomorrow, then I start to believe, that he has some chances in match.

[Alan Millhone]

Hello Everyone:

Game 5 was 11-15,23-19,8-11,22-17,4-8 to a draw . The game lasted one hour twenty minutes and consisted of 48 moves.

Game 6 was was SDC with Ron handling whites and lasted one hour and 15 minutes for 28 moves to a draw.

Game 7 was like game 5 and lasted 34 minutes with 38 moves to a draw.

Game 8 was SDC with Ron with whites and was a 30-25 var. and game lasted 27 moves.

Game 9 begins at 9AM More later

Sincerely:
Alan Milhone, President
American Checker Federation
Match Referee WCM King-Kondlo

[tommyc]

Thanks to John Acker and Alan for the updates on the Kondlo / King match they could teach "our bhoys" a thing or two in the art of communication skills.

[Alex_Moiseyev]

From Alan Millhone:

In game #9 Ron had red and they played 11-15, 23-19, 7-11, 22-18, etc to draw. Game took one and half hour.

Game #10 was again a SDC, and they repeated one of the previous games. Game #10 was played 10 minutes in total.

It seems like SDC was prepared by Ron for this match and so far Lubabalo didn't find a reasonable and sounds way
to create serious problems for white.

Very serious professional match, I enjoy this scenario which is close to my expectations and give some hopes

More later ...

Alex

[Jay H]

GREAT job, brother !!!
It is like being navigated thru the streets of an unknown city by a skilled taxi-cab driver......I almost feel like I am there !!!
Niiiiice, and THANX !!

Regards

Jay H

[rich beckwith]

the topic was the WCDF and its leadership, especially the recent decision to award free plane tickets (to Beijing) to several officials and British players, but without announcing the decision or even offering it to other players. Ron was quite upset at this development, particularly since he and the other Barbados players—not to mention players like Lubabalo, who unlike Ron just can’t afford to pay their own way—had been pretty much ignored.

Hmmmmm. Ron King must have a much better memory for GAYP lines than he does for Beijing arrangements! I informed Ron by phone 3 months ago that he would get a free flight to Beijing (which isn't so free, as he still has to get himself to London), and then I had him fill out a form about this to give to Henri Macaux. Ron even specifically told me he wanted to fly from London and not New York so that he could more easily attend the Irish Open after the Beijing event. Anyway, I reminded Ron about this the other night. Furthermore, the original list for free flights was not about just "British players," although circumstances worked out that many of the referees, officials, VIPs, and high rated players just happened to be from there.

[tommyc]

Well said Richard obviously ,John (Acker) seems to be somewhat overwhelmed by Rons bubble effect on humans,and has some little Ron tunes to learn about .As THE OL SAYING GOES YU CANT BULL-SHIT A BULL SHIT-TER!!!! GRRRRRRRRRRRR