Bill Cosby's checkers tourney kicks off; proceeds benefit foundation in memory of son, Ennis

Jet, Oct 19, 1998

TV superstar Bill Cosby says he loves checkers and is backing the Bill Cosby Cube Checkers Challenge, billed as the world's largest checkers tournament.

"This game is like a magnet," Cosby said. "Kids and adults actually want to take a break from the computer to play it."

The tournament was scheduled to kick off at FAO Schwartz stores across the country at JET press time. The Nov. 9 championship will be held in New York.

Cube Checkers includes two improvisations on the original game: It's played with numbered cubes, and players get two moves at a time.

The $5 application fee will benefit the Hello Friend/Ennis William Cosby Foundation, set up in memory of Cosby's son, Ennis, who was killed last year as he changed a tire on a Los Angeles highway. A portion of the proceeds from sales of the game will also go to the fund.