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I looked out the window to check the weather - a typical London
summers day in August - grey and wet but the wind wasn't overly
strong (you cynic Mike!) Damn - that'll mean a low turn-out this
evening I thought. Hah, you're predictions are worse than Michael
Fishs’ was in October 1987 just before the Great Storm. Maybe I
would be wrong.
At 5.45pm James Grenier arrived, got himself a drink and sat down
to read the paper before the action all started. Then at 6.00pm
Nav and Meena arrived for their lessons – doubling cube and how to
play the game – let the learning begin. Next in the door were Alan
and his girlfriend – sorry I’ve forgotten your name! Another
doubling cube lesson, the first had started so a third table was
swung into action. I opened registration and took names for the
Swiss, £10 Knockout and Auctionable Jackpot starting at a modest
£25. By 6.45 we had 8 names in the Swiss – draw done and off they
could go to commence play Swiss 1. Roundabout this time I realized
that my prediction of numbers might be about as good as it usually
is. Players were pouring in at a more than healthy rate and
Chrissie and I were working quicker by the moment. 7 players in
the £10 now – Anymore? No, ok – let’s do that draw. Off they go to
play Tournament 3.
The Auctionable list of players was getting longer and longer.
7.00pm. and we’ve 19 players interested at £25. I’m looking for
only 8 for Tournament 1 so I jack the entry fee straight up to
£50. 7 decline – no worries and thank yous – back to yous in a few
minutes folks. An increase to £60 sees nobody else budge, £70
same, £80 same, £90 same again, £100 and 2 players decline. We’re
down to 10 players now. £110 and most faces are set in stone but
there a couple of quivers. At £120 two decline. We’ve our 8 self
selected Tournament 1 players. They pay, the draw is done and
we’re back to our 11 decliners.
Again I start at £25 and invite late arrivals to join but there
are no more at this stage. Entry fee goes up to £30 and no
decliners, £40 the same, £50 and two decline, £55 and another
declines. We’ve our 8 self selected Tournament 2 players. Pay,
Draw, they go to play Tournament 2.
I’m left with 3 wishing a £50er. I spy another money player arrive
so I offer another £25er. No more takers. Ok – how about a 4
player £50er, also 7 pointers? Yup, our 4 are up for that but then
one re-considers and asks if it can be a £30er. The others are
fine with this. Pay, draw, off they go to play Mini-Jackpot 1.
Swiss Two has by now got 5 names in it. I need another 3 to make
it work. Who wants? A tiny while later those 3 are found. Pay,
draw, off they go to play Swiss 2.
The first £10er Knockout (Tournament 3) had player 8 slotted in.
Next up I’ve more £10 Knockout players. Pay, 2 players, off they
go to play Tournament 4. More join shortly after.
Now I’ve a few novice players. The doubling cube is alien by them
but they understand gammons and backgammons. Ok – Tric Trac Tourno
time is here. 4 players start in it and more might be added.
Now there are those that came for a bit of a social backgammon
scene. Meena and Lucy have been playing a learning game or two but
are back with me at the TD desk. One knows something of gammons,
the other learnt the basics of the game an hour ago. Combined they
could play in the TTT so I offer them a shared seat. They’re
tempted but it’s still a step further than they feel they’re ready
to go so they carry on with their simple learning non competitive
games. Cool. And still there are more down the far end playing
knockaround games in which they too are happy to continue. What’s the
time? 7.30pm. No it can’t be, my computer clock has gone wrong in
the last 30 minutes surely! Mobile phone clock checked and it
reads the same. How many players? Over 50, maybe over the 55.
Chrissie and I shake hands – that’s some sorting hat we’ve got
working there!
With another few late arrivals we built up to 60 players. Not bad
for a wet and now rainy evening in “empty London in August.” In
fact it matches our Bg in Camden attendance record of September
2006.
Now I don’t go out of my way to report bad news – that’s not my
style even if I do use my reports as brain storming sessions to
the further improvement of formats etc. but it’s a fact of human
life that one mans gain is another mans loss which, human nature
being human nature, does I understand make for good press.
We’ve had a situation of late (for a while of late) where one man
has been… well, doing rather well really.
You could be forgiven if you think I’m talking about Peter Bennet
– he’s been doing very well of late; trophies and prizes pretty
well wherever he’s been in 2008. Though in Cannes and by his own
admission where he “did ****** all in the rest of the event” he did
manage to beat “Falafel” Natanzon twice (Nations Cup Round 2
Doubles and Singles) which incidentally brings his record against
the Number 1 rated player in the world (vis Yamim Yamin’s Giants
of Backgammon) to as far as he can recall (I’ll take that as read
Peter, you’re record for accuracy is excellent and you’re not
given to telling fisherman’s tales) he has have never lost to
Falafel either in singles (3 wins) or doubles (2 wins). Falafel will be
getting a complex at this rate! However I (somebody I admit given
to red herrings) digress. For Peter was not even with us this
evening – away, as I expected most to be this month, on holiday.
Raj Jansari made an appearance at
Biba this weekend. It’ll be of
little surprise to Bg in London readers that he won the
Main. Of
late (that’s since January 2008 when the Bg in London website was
launched) Raj has, though his skill on the board, forced me to
publish his picture rather too many times than I think is good for
the perception of others that “anybody can win something.” Indeed
on the last Bg in The City report I chose not to use the photo of
the winner (Raj) in preference for an “unknown” who did good –
Andy G. In his defence Raj claims that he only wins when the prize
fund pool is low and yes I’ve looked into this and it’s a stance
that does have merit. But it remains that he seems to always
win!
Raj entered T1. He lost in Round 1. It was first match reported
and this was done in super quick time. James Grenier did the
demolition job. Folks, Raj IS downable! Was it a one off? Time
will tell. Did James fluke it though? I didn’t see the match so
can’t comment on that but given that James went on to beat not
only John Broomfield but also the Master Tournament Player Nicky Check
it seems highly unlikely. So Ladies and Gentlemen you hands
together please for James Grenier who joins the illustrious list
of Bg in London T1 Winners.
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What I was thrilled with this evening was the range of play that
was going on. 2 ½ big money play Jackpots, 3 £10er Jackpots, 2
Swiss, a TTT, 3 small money Mini-Jackpots, casual games, teaching
games, head to heads springing up, “Win Two, Win a Board” games
(not won) and a chouette. This was in truth all made possible
because of the host of players there.
We were a little bit short of boards which resulted in a few early
matches having to wait a few minutes for a vacant board. But I was
pleased to note that this inspired people to cooperate with each
other more so than usual which can only be a good thing. The
backgammon buzz in the bar was just brilliant.
And so to our winners: T1 James Grenier, T2 Malcolm Roberson, MJ1
Dave Moon, T3 Alan Beckerson (over Monica Beckerson), T4 Diana
Sulimirski, T5 Ray Fard, Swiss 1 Matthew North, Swiss 2 Shovan,
TTT203 Jane Redfern, MJ2 Gary Brooker, MJ3 Mike Ireland and MJ4
Andy G.
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