has the organizing of draughts improve from about 15 years

[tgf]

Perhaps being able to provide a copy of all games for free to ACF members. Also in the works are plans for a new rating system. Through this rating system, only paid ACF members will have access to their rating.

You can't make money on checkers, the market is too narrow, so it is probably the idea to recoup some costs, you spend $10 for a $1 dollar return. But if you already spend $9 why not add that other $1 and drop the idea to extort fees from players? We all do it because we want to, we each pay our way freely, the financial reward is desirable, but more of a dream, really who should pay for your hobby? Only the winners might break even in tournament, all others spend hundreds if not thousands for the trip, kind of strange to stick them for more.
About plans - biggest plans are not yet actions...

[Chexhero]

Perhaps being able to provide a copy of all games for free to ACF members. Also in the works are plans for a new rating system. Through this rating system, only paid ACF members will have access to their rating.

You can't make money on checkers, the market is too narrow, so it is probably the idea to recoup some costs, you spend $10 for a $1 dollar return. But if you already spend $9 why not add that other $1 and drop the idea to extort fees from players? We all do it because we want to, we each pay our way freely, the financial reward is desirable, but more of a dream, really who should pay for your hobby? Only the winners might break even in tournament, all others spend hundreds if not thousands for the trip, kind of strange to stick them for more.
About plans - biggest plans are not yet actions...

Actually, some of the plans have been put into action. However, much of these things discussed are time consuming processes. Those who contribute to the ACF are all volunteers. If you are unhappy with the amount of progress these volunteers are making, you can always volunteer yourself. The ACF does not make a profit and in fact, many of these volunteers spend money above and beyond their own personal cost so that others may enjoy their checker hobbies. I put in labor to do the ratings for free. But the ACF cannot stay alive without funding, so membership dues are a necessity. I understand your concerns, but we are doing the best that we can on a volunteer basis.

[tgf]

Actually I did not mean anyone specifically, just the concept expressed that only paid ACF members could see their rating.

As far as volunteering I do my part, my way, with no ties to any group or individuals. Those who support my projects know I make no efforts to collect any money, thus their own contributions are also free and voluntary.

[Chexhero]

I am glad to hear you are promoting the game. We are not actually going to charge an extra fee for the ratings. Rather, we are only going to provide ratings to ACF members. The goal is to increase ACF value and encourage more people to join, not to collect more money. People are not going to join an organization if they don't find enough value in it. The cost that ACF members pay, mostly go toward bulletins, which cost a lot to mail. Most players still prefer to receive paper bulletin instead of electronic.

[champion374]

in checkers the most thing people intrested in is being world champion. we all thou every one cant get the that status .
in chess how ever people more look to aim being a Grandmaster . in checkers seems like people don't really fuss on being a grandmaster

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Probably the good question under this topic is - what do you expect honestly and realistically from checkers after 15 years ?

We all know what we had and where we were in 1999, how about 2029 ?

[champion374]

i hope prize money is bigger by then bigger sponsors.

[neilwenberg]

Good points both Mike and Alex. I am trying to promote checkers in Fargo. We had the Fargo Open Checker Tourney a little while ago and came up with 12 players, six in adult class and six in junior class. I emailed results to JR. Right now I am trying to get a checker club up and running at our local library and have the West Fargo Open Checker Tournament scheduled for Saturday, December 13 at the West Fargo Public Library. My only goal for checkers and my involvement as a 77 year old is to get more players involved in our great game!

[champion374]

we lost some Countries in checkers to most notable Canada.will be intresting to see when the world cup comes around.

[Alex_Moiseyev]

World Cup do not generate any new events, but count existing ones - USA National, Barbados National, events of former European Cup etc

Winner of the World Cup earn prestigious rights to play in the WQT

[chipschap]

As someone talked about above, going to a tournament and getting slaughtered, I'd love to do that! Not that I want to lose, I just want to play. But travel is very costly from my location (Hawai`i).

We had a tournament here twice but then our sponsor sold the business and we didn't get a new sponsor.

Unfortunately even internet play has declined. There are fewer sites and fewer players.

I think the big window of opportunity was during the recession (2008 onward) but I may be overestimating that. People needed inexpensive entertainment but they didn't turn to checkers.

Will checkers ever overcome the 'kids and old folks' stigma?

Every week I try to present "real" checkers in The Checker Maven but that readership is down, too, to about half of what it was at the very peak (though still in the thousands).

It is a tough problem and in the modern world the deck is stacked against us. However, if we give up and don't try, it will truly be over. I'm not going to do that and I hope others will keep the faith. I'm continuing Checker Maven for as long as I can (with eyesight limitations being the big factor). I hope for another five years.

[Richard Pask]

More books to come!

Although the intensity of work is currently preventing it, with Bob Newell's great suppor,t next year I intend to complete the 11-16s and the following year the 12-16s.

Following that, I hope to make available a one-volume work entitled 'Logical Checkers' (around 500 pages), covering the opening (explained!), midgame, endgame and tactics: making it possible for newcomers to play a decent game during all its phases. I would never kid the reader that such a book would make them a master player, but I think an emphasis on understanding, as opposed to rote learning, is key.

Also, the Parragon Book, 'How to play checkers/draughts' is now available in the UK in several high street shops, so it is hopefully reaching a wide audience.

So don't give up hope!