Gabriel’s Sledgehammer

It was another terrific show by Selbs, David and Jill, although they’ll admit they were short of at least one Oompa Loompa, as the players could be as childlike and capricious as ever, with David too accommodating to the Augustus Gloops and Veruca Salts of this world. With a huge field of 160, split 80/80, when someone asks where their next opponent is, David needs to say, “you’ll find them – a little treasure hunt for you…”  Instead, he hops up and starts looking for the player, with a 7 minute queue wishing we could super glue his derriere to the chair.  No criticism from me on this, David is a darling, but just too acquiescing on the often superfluous demands placed on his slim shoulders.

The committee introduced the “3^rd Chance” for this tournament, which a big deal and not publicised quite enough.  Plenty of us didn’t know we were in an important play-off event, and were not merely “Lucky Losers” with about 60 quid up for grabs.  8/64 souls gave the 3^rd Chance Masters a swerve.  It was also confusing that the 3^rd Chance went down from 3 pointers, to only one as the day progressed, even in round 1.  The reasoning for this was simple.  The 3 pointers were for the flunkeys who got wiped out early doors, to give them a little more BG.  But as the day developed, folks who had played up to a handful of matches came in at 1 point.  It also meant that the last person to enter the draw went straight into the last 16 due to no-shows.  We actually found our champion through this “road less travelled”, with a 10 win streak, neatly highlighting its importance.

Nobody loves great Bg more…

I caught some flak after my St Albans report that I write too much about errors and not enough about good plays.  But, “backgammon is a game of errors,” said the great Falafel, and it’s far more instructive to report about the the crucial, tough plays that we get wrong.  Otherwise, when shown correct plays, the brain is tricked to say, “well, obviously…”  That being said, I adore terrific plays and have been known to dedicate entire feature articles to moments of brilliance, whilst interviewing people from all over the world on them.  Anyway!  If you want examples of great backgammon – I have a treat in store, with three of the finest plays you’ll see this year, incoming.

Gavlar!  You can’t be serious… or can you?

I winced when I drew Gavin Anderson in the Consolation as he usually gives me “a little shakin’, a little tenderizin’, and swallows me whole”.   But from 2-6 I got back to DMP.  What say you to his 41 off the roof?

We had a good laugh when I said, “got me”…  but a couple of minutes later GA was seriously considering the bonkers 6/5*.  And then he pulled the trigger.  And it’s right!  A truly fabulous play and a moment later I had 2 on the roof of his incoming 5 point board and he had gone heavy favourite.  He couldn’t quite settle the account, but what a superb find with 22% wins to 19.2.

A melodious Carol[l]

In his extremely tense late night play-off with the evergreen Warner Solomon, Stuart Carroll was faced with this 63.

I felt Stuart’s running play of 21/12 was too skittish and defeatist, and he needed to “hang tight” as so far down in the race.  But instinctively Stuart felt that going into a poorish race was better than waiting around for the shot and starting to bury.  Warner then rolled an intriguing 63 which could pick and pass the stranded man, but he correctly felt that was too big.  After scuttling with a 43 next up, Stuart then duly lost that race, but it was still right to run [by 44% to 41].  A great play, and one that very few would’ve found.

A missed cube by Mick, but then a masterclass.

In a fraught affair with Mick Kamintzi [red, on roll], he had the perfect chance for a cruelest of ‘action doubles’ here at 3-5 [7], but to my relief, couldn’t find it, for a near quadruple blunder.  I’d be forced to narrowly take:

It is very scary for him, but that hit is his passport to match and a miss is not terminal.  But then this cube a roll later was an absolute beauty at 51.9% with 13% gammons.  What a wonderful play reserved for the deepest thinkers.  Well played indeed.

Monday’s last 16

Some souls were denied a bank holiday lie-in and dragged back in for early Monday pre-school to finish the play-offs.  15% of the field didn’t return at all – surely to do with keeping tetchy loved ones sweet.

There was a pleasing match-up in the Quarter-finals of the Inters between the quasi-hustler Warner  [“When are you going to step up to the Masters, you rascal!”  “Scared!”] and the quietly ascending Fraya Dravern.  WS had the bright idea to refresh Fraya with champagne before the match, which FD thought was a fine idea.  One is reminded of the local Sherpas trying a similar gambit with Marion in Indiana Jones:

The Sherpas lost all their cash in that high stakes contest, and Warner duly lost his place in the tournament.  Know your audience.

Fraya then had a wonderful semi-final with Warren Eloff.  From 5-8 they became embroiled in a thrilling decider.  Fraya has 63 to play:

Most everyone agreed that Fraya was right to run here, but when one looks closer, it is “bloody as hell” to divorce the back checkers, especially as Warren is so close to cracking.  The correct play is stunning: 10/4, 6/3.  Most are making the deuce if not running.  The inevitable 63 fly shot arrived on cue, and then a soul-destroyed Fraya played her entering 41 too quick.  Now that she had been hit, the 24 anchor was vital, and not to do so was near fatal [13% wins to 22].  It is these critical moments that boot so many of us out of tournies.

Inters final

Jay Hayter, still on a high from UK representation in the victorious Genud Cup [UK vs USA women’s match], held Warren at evens for nearly an hour in the final before he scampered through to the finish.  Warm congrats to him.

Last 16 of Main

On Monday the two acknowledged aces left in the field, Wesley Howell and Ken Gibson both ‘fell at the first’.  It was a funny old tournament for the big guns, of which the top 9 players [according to me] had a 26-35 record.  Painful.

We liked what we saw from the charming Valentin Marotte, over from Paris, who lost a tense semi-final to Tim Wyse, who has represented Ireland online.  Gabriel George lost 2 of his first 3 matches in the Championship, but beat Steve Bibby in a thrilling DMP Semi, who allowed Gabe a backgame he didn’t perhaps deserve.  Gabe would have played in the Inters but his rise in the rankings just made him ineligible.  The final was ‘so-so’ with both athletes a little tired, but they made it to Double match point, and this is a dramatic last gasp shot ringing out into the night.  But out popped 54.

Huge congrats to Gabe, “one for the Gipper!”  As Ronald Reagan might say, about winning in honour of others.  In this case, up and coming, dreaming BG players everywhere.  One is reminded of Martin Sher’s victory in London 14 months ago – it had that sort of feel.  We need these surprise packages to keep us all coming back for more.

Next time, it could be you.

Results

Inters (80)

Main:  Warren Eloff
Final:  Jay Hayter

Cons:  Phil Doubtfire
Final:  Russ Clapham

LC:  Linda Taylor
Final:  Michael Broomfield

LL:  Can Cag
Final:  Baron Kolcak

Masters (80)

Main:  Gabriel George
Final:  Tim Wyse

Cons:  Matt Guy
Final:  Marius Marin

LC:  Chris Jones
Final:  Yousef Mahmoud

LL:  Tariq Siddiqi
Final:  Kees Rooke