"Youngest American State Checker Champ"?--answer

[Mr. Checkers]

How old?--and who was he? That is our "Checker Trivia" question of the Day"? "Happy New Year" "Inky" and Ms. Becky (Cont.)

[rich beckwith]

Great question! Nathan Gogo at 2005 IL tournament? Not sure of his age then...13 or 14.

I ruled out Long (age 16) and Tinsley (age 19), according to Ohio book. I'm not sure about Chamblee's state title history.

[Patrick Parker]

lets find a state without a champ and let a 5 year old be it
we just have to find a 5 year old

[Palomino]

Hi Rich,

(I'm filling in again for Ms. Becky and Mr. Checkers)

Nathan Gogo is a great guess but not the answer we were looking for. I believe the first tournament Nathan played in was the 2003 District 6 Tournament, held August 23-24, 2003 in Dowaigac, Michigan. Nathan was 13 years old and got everyone's attention by beating Master Player, Ron Baily in the first round. I'm sure you remember that tournament well Nathan finished in 5th place and you finished in 1st place, taking home the District 6 Championship Title. http://usacheckers.com/aug2003results.php#district6 Well I'm not sure just how old Nathan was in 2005 when he won the Illinois Title, I've tried to contact him without success. It may well be that the difference is only a matter of months and days but the answer we were looking for is:

Sollie "Smokey" Jeruchemson, winner of the California State Title when he was 14 years old, holding the title for 3 consecutive years. Jeruchemson played Jesse B. Hanson for the Pacific Coast Championship Title in May 1928, lossing the match with 7 losses, 2 wins and 17 draws. Unfortunately Jeruchemson died not long after this Match. The whole story can be read in the book: Hanson-Hall Pacific Coast Championship Checker match of 1955: including the games of the Hanson-Jeruchemson Match of 1928.

Thanks goes to Dennis Pawlek for suggesting this trivia question. http://www.checkers-online.de/Players/Pawlek.html

Regards, "Pal" Bucker

[Nathan Gogo]

Hello guys. I was 13 when I won the title. My first tournament was Iowa State Championship, then couple weeks later the Michagon one. I was 12 at the time.

[Patrick Parker]

you lived in those states?


havent seen you online in a while nathan

[Nathan Gogo]

you lived in those states?


havent seen you online in a while nathan

No I just went there to play. I've lived in Chicago all my life.

I know I havn't been playing much lately.

[rich beckwith]

Dear Nathan,

Do you know if you will go to any tournaments this year (including ACF Youth Nationals or World Qualifying Youth Tournament, both in Las Vegas)?

[Nathan Gogo]

Dear Nathan,

Do you know if you will go to any tournaments this year (including ACF Youth Nationals or World Qualifying Youth Tournament, both in Las Vegas)?

Most likely not. I havn't been playing much lately, and i've never been there either. I'll be happy with just the IL State this year. Hopefully I can make that one. But who knows.

[mday]

May be another potential lost Youth Prodigy in the checkers scene?

Perhaps you can enlighten the ACF of why you are losing interest? Speak out before it is too late maybe the ACF will change something