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This fourth event in as many weeks saw 31 players come out to
play. In those 4 events 96 different people have played. If we
compare that to the turn-out of other backgammon clubs around the
country that’s a pretty impressive stat. However if we compare it
to bridge or chess clubs it’s pretty woeful. Ah but is it fair to
compare backgammon to bridge or chess? On the basis that they are
all mind sports I think it is. So why does backgammon not pull in
the crowds like other ancient mind games do? ‘Cause bg is not as
accessible enough to the playing public is my opinion.
Am I happy with 96 active players per month? Before I answer that
I should first of all like to thank each and every one of the 96
who came out to play, especially to those that answered my plea to
come out to this event – but more of why I did that later. Now to
answer my own question; No. Ok, it’s a good start to the new era
that we’re trying to create with Bg in London but it’s not enough.
Target is 150 active players per month. 96 is only 64% of target.
That’s nowhere near enough for my liking let alone to keep this
ship afloat and sailing into the waters I want it to. Am I overly
ambitious? Some would argue that I am but I’m on a mission here
and you better have a strong anchor to hold me back. If we can
achieve 64% of target in month 1 without really pushing the
advertising and only firing on 2 of the 4 desired cylinders
(venues), then yes, 150 is a realistic figure. The historians say
that the 1970s was the last great boom period of backgammon. Well
move on over please, we’ve better communications here in 2008 so
it’s far easier to spread the word and the word is backgammon.
The evening kicked off earlier than usual. In my plea to players
to come out to play I’d suggested that they might like to come and
have a meal at 6.00 pm before they played. About 12 did and most
of those that arrived later also ate. We also got the £10 and £5
Tournaments off to a 6.45ish start instead of kicking them off
after the BMPs had been sorted out in their Auction and hence the
LMPs starting after 7.30. This resulted in 5 matches being in
progress by 7.00 pm. We’ll do that again for sure. The Jackpot
went up to £100 entry and got going at 7.15 pm.
We had the usual broad range of players too. Of interest was one
new player that had emailed me last week asking if this would be a
good evening for her to come along and join the workshop as per
advertised on the Bg in London website. Some time ago Sean
Williams suggested going around London pubs, setting up a bg
board, inviting people to play and saying that if they won two
matches on a trot they would be given, free of charge, a
backgammon board. Nice idea particularly given that we’ve some
PartyGammon backgammon boards in stock. Ok, I did think to add the
caveat that the player would have to come along to a Bg in London
event to collect the board but even so it’s a damned good idea. So
I replied to Jane saying Sean’s “win two, win a board,” told Sean
I’d offered this and, good bloke that he is, Sean agreed to teach
Jane and play for a board. As it happened Jane didn’t win the
required two on a trot so I didn’t give her a board (booo, hiss)
though Chrissie gave her a Polo shirt (horray for Chrissie) but
Jane still got a excellent lesson and I’m hoping and think she’s
set to come back again.
So, here we go folks – here’s the deal: First time novice only
backgammon players – email me before an event to book your
workshop and if you win two games on a trot against a player
nominated by myself you’ll win yourself a PartyGammon bg board. In
the “small print” it does say that you’ve gotta pay the £5 evening
registration fee and I think the decent thing to do would be to
buy your opponent a drink. Who qualifies as a novice to be decided
by myself or the person I nominate to play. We’ve a limited number
of boards available – when they’ve all gone this offer runs out.
Interested? Email me –
mike@backgammoninlondon.com
This second Bg in The City was a bit of a “test case.” The venue
has proved itself to be excellent for our requirements. The
service is wonderful, the food is equally good and well priced,
there is plenty of space to shake, rattle and roll and mingle,
it’s near a mainline station and we pretty well have the pub to
ourselves. However for the Landlord to warrant opening up the
upstairs where most of the action takes place he requires a
certain level of spend. This wasn’t achieved on our first event
there so it became vital that this was at least neared on our
second event. So we plugged the event to likely players by letting
them know the above and informing them that if we collectively
didn’t spend more we would probably be looking for another venue
in The City which would be a step backwards rather than the
required step forwards.
31 players responded – not quite the 40 I was hoping for but most
of those that came had a meal and thus the required spend was
nearly achieved. The Landlord (Farhed) understands that Rome
wasn’t built in a day and we’ve been invited back in a fortnight.
So thanx to all that came. We’re on track.
Next we need to plug Bg in The City to city workers. So we’ll be
outside Liverpool Street Station handing out flyers to city
workers passing by between now and the next meet. “Win two, win a
board” will be the theme. To do this we A) could use some help in
handing out flyers so you’re welcome to join us if you would like
to and B) we’ll need some experienced players to give over their
next Bg in The City evening to playing / teaching novices so hands
up those would like to / are able to do this as well please.
Back to the tournaments of the evening. In T2 (a £10er) John
Reddington is evidently a “get on with it” player for he polished
of Simon M is super quick time and he had done his opponents of
last week. Second time player Tristan did away with recently
successful player Graham R. Emily and Stephen (both first time Bg
in London players) had a long match which Emily won and Vicki
Ondis beat Steve Prior. Ding ding. Round 2.
In T1 Michael F. lost to Shino, Lawrence overcame Michael Michael
and Raj put Shirley out. Peter B v Simon Barget was the last 1st
round match to complete with Simon coming out the victor. Ding
ding. Round 2.
In T4 (the £5er optional pool) first time player Robert Lewis
quickly lost to Mike Michaels so Robert came back in again to play
Jake who sent Robert packing nearly as quickly as Mike had.
Undeterred Robert came back in a third time (without entering the
optional pool this time) to now self promoted to tournament player
Jane. I’m pleased to say that Jane won her first ever tournament
match but this I suppose is of little importance to Robert can be
said to have scored a hat-trick. The last pairing in this
tournament was a strapped up handed Sue Perks versus Roxanna and
the one handed player won. Ding ding. Round 2.
T3 was our second £10er of the evening. Sue Perks had been bowled
out of this by Martin Barkwill, Stewart Pemberton overcame Regina,
Sue K lost Dave Moon courtesy of the double cube, and casualty of
T2 Steve Prior eliminated Roxanna. Ding ding. Round 2.
At 7.15 I’d looked around and seen all present players active on
the boards so I’d presumed I’d slotted all players into
tournaments instead of counting how many matches I should have in
progress and then checking the number actually in progress as is
my usual way. Had I stuck to that I’ve have found we had one match
too many going on. So at gone 8.00 o’clock when Peter Hartley came
over to me to ask what he and John B should be playing in I was
rather lost for words. Michael Michael and Shirley were downstairs
in the bar having a drink so I asked them in they would like more
play to which they replied yes so I thought my error was solved.
But they changed their minds and I had to cover my embarrassment
again. But Sean was free and if I could find a fourth we could run
the desired 4 player £50er. Raj stepped up and save my day. Monies
paid, draw done and off they set in T6.
T5 was another £10er made of players that had made way for others
in other tournaments and a late arrival. Regina put out Simon M.
who came back in again to beat Sue K. and Michael F did for new
player Stephen Booth. Ding, ding. Round 2.
With 8 players per Tournament Round 2s are actually Semi-Finals so
let’s do those players that got thus far the honour of calling
them all Semi-Finalists rather than round 2ists. But seeing as I
think I’ve already mentioned everybody at least once I’m not going
bore you to tears and massage egos by re-mentioning names (booo,
hiss) and instead inform you that Mr John Reddington made it two
wins in two weeks by winning T2, as did Martin Barkwill who won
T3, Sue handicapped Perks won T4, John B won T6, late arrival Zoe
won T5 but the big one was won by that tall quite man, he of
versus Falafel in Monte Carlo fame but rare Bg in London player
because he’s usually busy on Tuesday evenings so Mondays suit him
better, Mr Lawrence Powell. Congrats all.
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