5th January 2010

52 Entries, 7 Tournaments, 41 Players, £1018 Prize Fund,
Mourad Whaba wins Jackpot.
 

I was out with The Biddle the previous day looking at a new venue in Chelsea. We ended up playing numerous matches, all for pints and drank far too much. When we left the pub it was freezing cold. Had I not had an event on this evening I would have been sorely tempted to stay at home and maybe just play online. But the show must go on, maybe a few players would turn up.

41 did. At it was colder this evening than last. And snow warnings belting out of the BBC. They were right; the snow came tumbling down at 7.00pm.

But by that time we had 16 players bg active already; a £5 Swiss and a £10 Swiss. Only 8 for the "Camden Auction" minimum £25 Jackpot. All were happy at £50 and 5 players went into the Optional Pool of also £50. 4 kicked of a £10 Jackpot and another 8 played a 2nd Swiss £10er. Later we would have another £10 8 player Jackpot and a £10 4 player Mini-Jackpot.

Now about these Swiss Tournaments... another 3 of them this evening with more than 50% of the players opting to play in them over Knockouts. Why? Simple - they are better value for money. You're guaranteed 3 matches, you're entry fee is not over the top and if you win 2 out of 3 you get you're entry fee back. It's an evening package deal. A cheap night out doing what you want to be doing. For me the stars of the evening were Heloise & Jo; both first time live bg tournaments players and they both won 2 out of 3. There's something fantastic in seeing players literally jumping with joy at their first events.

Back in the Knockouts Mourad won yet, yes yet, again. But he hadn't entered the Optional Pool. Could have done better. Costos Brunos reappeared after months of absence and bought a friend, Sotiris Kountos, of his with him - Sotiris won a £10 Knockout, Gary Brooker took the other. Biddle took the Mini-Jackpot.
 

With 41 players turning up on a freezing and snowie evening there is certainly more scope for increasing the regularity of Bg in Camden - so we're now going twice a month. Our 2nd evening of the month will include a workshop session and well as Knockouts and Swiss Tournaments. See yous on Tuesday 19th Jan.
 

Mike Main