2017 11-Man Ballot National Open

[JR Smith]

Important Rules to review... http://www.nccheckers.org/NCCA/2017%20J ... Letter.htm
Prize Fund update... http://www.nccheckers.org/NCCA/2017%201 ... update.htm
Game Recorder Form... http://www.nccheckers.org/NCCA/2017%201 ... corder.htm

2017 ACF NATIONAL
11-MAN BALLOT CHECKER TOURNAMENT
“The Seres Checker Classic”
$20,000 Prize Money

Dear Checker Player
This is your personal invitation to participate in the 2017 ACF National 11-Man Checker tournament on March 28, 29, 30 and 31 in Branson, Missouri. The 99% Crossboard, 11-Man Ballot is the purest form of Checkers. This will be a four-day event. Majors and Minors will play ten rounds (20 games). Two rounds will be played on Tuesday, March 28, three rounds on Wednesday, March 29, three rounds on Thursday, March 30 and two rounds on Friday, March 31. Masters will play twelve rounds (24 games) or 3 rounds per day Tuesday through Friday. The awards ceremonies will be after the final round. The entry fee is $20 with ACF membership.
The site of the tournament will be the Honeysuckle Inn, 3598 Shepherd of the Hills Expressway, 65616, in the heart of Branson. The phone number is (888) 561-3945. Please make your reservations now. It is important that you do this as early as possible. The rate is $59.95 per night.
There are several other motels in the area including the Willow Tree Inn across the street. (877) 922-6766.
We will provide shuttle from the Springfield airport to the motel. Let us know if you need this service.
There will be a social period on Monday, March 27 from 1 p.m. until 9 p.m. You may register for the tournament then or the next morning before the first round. Play will begin each day at 8:30 a. m. The social hour will also give you an opportunity to meet the tournament directors and sponsors and also play a few friendly games. Please plan to come early.
We will provide lunch each day for all participants.
Branson is a vacation paradise with over 75 shows plus Silver Dollar City, Whitewater, the Branson Scenic Railway and more. You and your friends and family can enjoy many of the attractions in addition to playing Checkers. There are many restaurants and shops within one mile of the motel. IHOP, Olive Garden, Golden Corral, Red Lobster, Cracker Barrel, Taco Bell and McFarlain's are fewer than five minutes walking distance. The IMAX theater is next door. The World of Checkers museum is a short distance.
There will be at least $20,000 in prize money... the largest fund ever for a national tournament! This money will be divided among the top players in three categories: Masters $11,560, Majors $5,480 and Minors $2,960. This event being sponsored by David Seres of Newport Beach, California, Dr. Ken Seres of Edmond, Oklahoma, and Jeannie and Joe McDaniel of Tulsa, Oklahoma.
If you wish to help with the prize fund, send your contribution to: 1416 S. Marion Ave., Tulsa, OK 74112. Make checks payable to Joe McDaniel.
Hope to see you in Branson. Contact us if you have any questions.

Jeannie and Joe McDaniel
1416 S. Marion Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74112-5923
(918) 633-1510
okrunjoe@cox.net

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Today I heard rumors on PlayOK site that Sergio Scrapetta and Michelle Borghetti from Italy might attend this event. Way to go !

There is only one way to prove pudding - eat it!

Sergio, is that really true or rumors only ?

AM

[sergio]

Hello everyone,
It's true. Michele and I are going to Branson to take part in the tournament.
I've already bought my plane tickets and Michele is doing the same.
We both get to Springfield airport on Sunday, March 26.
We have different airlines but arrive at the airport, more or less, at same time.
I'll be more accurate in the next few days.

It will be a great event!

Sergio Scarpetta

[okrunjoe]

This is really great. Looks like we will have the most talented and strongest field in recent history. Lubabalo is planning to come and we believe Suki KIng also.
The prize money is more than any other tournament. Jeannie and I are looking forward to seeing all of you. Hope you can come early on March 27th so we can play a few friendly games and share stories.

[Alex_Moiseyev]

and we believe Suki KIng also.

Joe and Jeannie, many thanks for all your work you done and continue doing for checkers!

Suki may definitely come to Branson but only if he will be notify somehow about upcoming event. We have Kent Layne as ambassador from Barbados on this site - maybe he spread these news among his friends ?

It will be a great honor for me to play in this tournament and later defend my title against winner (or 2nd player if I finish 1st).

AM

[okrunjoe]

We mailed a letter to the folks from Barbados who came the 2016 3-move tourney. So am sure Suki will know about it.

Joe

[okrunjoe]

Alex will have some super tough competition with Miki, Sergio, Suki, Lubabalo and not to mention Morrison, Laverty, Nash, Holmes and Beckwith.

Should be a great tournament.

Joe

[Bill Salot]

Have the stars from Ireland, Turkmenistan, etc., specifically been invited? How about the ladies? How about juniors?

[okrunjoe]

We mailed 335 letters to various players including many overseas in Europe and Asia. The ACF Bulletin, MCA Newletter and NC Checkers website will have all the information. We hope no one is being overlooked.

Joe

[Alex_Moiseyev]

We mailed 335 letters

That's a NUMBER, great job!!

Maybe top ladies and Juniors shall be awarded as National Champions with extra trophies and diplomas ?

[Bill Salot]

Joe, you, or a few of you, have done, and are doing, more than has ever been done for promotion of any checker event. You can't be faulted. But one, or a few, can't do it all. Maximizing results probably requires a ripple effect, including perhaps some financial sponsorship from overseas, with matching funds from us, to defray the expenses of overseas champions. I don't have much to contribute, but I would rather contribute to that than to the prize fund. Am I dreaming?

[Chexhero]

I am about 60% sure I am going. I had my sites set on GAYP Nationals, but this has become a hard event to turn down. Concerning other potential online checkers players to attend the tournament, Chee Xiong and Lorne Wells both claim they are about a 50% possibility. Eric Strange says he is almost sure he will attend, while Alfredo Mercado will not be able to attend the event. Clayton Nash is also a maybe at this point.

[Alex_Moiseyev]

I checked airfare prices today for trip Columbus - Springfield (Branson). The cheapest roundtrip deal so far is $548. Grr ... still looking. Maybe I shall use car - 10.5-11 hours driving.

AM

[rich beckwith]

Alex, It's only $410 from Cleveland to Branson (granted, a further airport drive for you) and with Chicago layover. This rate applies only from March 25 and returning April 2. Other combinations of travel dates show higher airfares, but there is also your personal factor of how many hotel nights you want to be (and pay for) in Branson.

[okrunjoe]

Everyone playing in the National 11-man tournament should plan to go to the Illinois state tournament which begins on April 1. You will finish playing in Branson on Friday, March 31. You can drive to the Illinois event in about 5 hours. The Illinois tourney starts the next morning. Please plan to make a whole week of it by playing in both events.