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When I arrived
at Camden Lock at 5.00pm it was so packed with tourists I
wondering if I had got my days mixed up and if it was a Saturday.
But when I stumbled into the Lockside Lounge with the first
suitcase of bg boards I was welcomed with the usual "Mike's here
so it's a backgammon night tonight; how many do you think we'll
have tonight?" so I knew I wasn't quite mad yet.
"You sure about that Mike?" asked Mike.
"Shut-up you Mike" replied Mike "or I'll send you to go get the
other suitcases of boards while Richard and I take it easy."
Blasted Mike shut-up, Richard and I broke our backs and had
everything set up by 6.00pm.
At 6.30pm we got Swiss 1 underway, Swiss 2 kicked off at 6.50pm
and then every time I looked up from my laptop there was another
Knockout face in front of me to register for the Camden Auction.
Karumba, it's gonna be a busy one! 1 player had phoned at 6.50
asking to be registered for Jackpot 1 and would pay no matter what
it went to. Nope, I told him, you gotta be to here to be in it -
we don't do telephone registrations fullstop.
"You're a hard man Mike" said Mike.
"Nope, just a man who sticks to his stated guns" replied Mike.
Jackpot 1 went to £195, Jackpot 2 to £65 and Jackpot 3 to £25.
Swiss 3 was next to kick off and we had 5 players in a Round Robin
of 3 pointers. 7.40pm and we had 53 tournament backgammon active
players with Richard giving a doubling cube lesson to a new Round
Robin player. Tournament player 54 came along a few minutes later.
This left just one player, by his own choice, not bg active.
A little while later a player lost in a Jackpot and sat down to a
head to head session with our thus far inactive player. Strange as
it may sound this is the first time in the 4 years and 11 months
that Bg in Camdens have been running that this has happened; for a
player to come along but for side action only. Before I set these
gigs up my plan was that we should promote tournament play rather
than head to head and chouette play simply because tournament play
makes, I consider, for a better and more stable backgammon
environment. If all money play goes via me, I ensure all monies
are paid before play commences, run events so that players can see
at all times where their money is at, I pay out all dues at end of
tournaments and hey presto, the possibility of A saying B owes me
such and such but hasn't paid are eradicated. So we're a
tournament play set up. I knew sooner or later (though had
expected this to happen ages ago) somebody would come along to
play but not want to play in a tournament.
So yonks ago I wrote in the chouette page of on the Bg in London
website that "Chouette Players are welcome but there is a table
fee of £10 per Player per evening unless you have played in a
Tournament. There should be enough tables for Tournaments and
Chouettes but if the venue gets so full of Backgammoners
Tournament matches take priority. Out and out Sharks and Hustlers
are not overly welcome." And there those words have sat for
nigh on 5 years but I've never had to use them. Until this
evening. I wondered how the player would react to my asking for
his tenner. Actually he was fine about it. In fairness he did
question if it was correct that chouette players should pay double
the figure that tournament players should pay in registration. To
this I replied that this was so because I don't want to overly
encourage side action only evenings. "Ok, fine" he said and handed
over a tenner. Policy enacted. Aside from that I see no reason why
some players should not pay to play while others do pay to play.
"Are you always such a down the line sort of chap Mike?" asked
Mike.
"I like to be" replied Mike to Mike. "I do it for the reason that
I think it helps players know where they stand if I am."
John Hurst came north of the river for the 2nd time in as
many months and in Round 1 of Jackpot 1 despatched Raj Jansari
within a short space of time. How quickly? Even quicker than
Edward Leighton took to complete his 1st Round match (which he
also won.) Engin Ongel progressed to play John Hurst
and Sean Williams beat the Liverpool Open 2010 winner
Nicky Check (played on a clock and film recorded.) Check
checked out of the Lockside Lounge.
In Jackpot 2 Mourad Wahba polished off Philip Swart
in short time and Philip high-tailed it out of the Lockside Lounge
(i.e. did a "Check".) Ramin Foulad beat Michael Ross
who also did "a Check," John Broomfield beat Simon
Gasquione, Danny Cohen beat Geoff Conn leaving
Simon and Geoff to join Michael Flesch in
Mini-Jackpot 1.
In Jackpot 3 Simon Barget, Graham Read, Gerhard
and Marc Graniter all progressed to Round 2, Stephen
King, Richard Patterson and George Kiourtzidis
all did the now fashionable "Check" and Ali Shimiri joined
a Mini-Jackpot.
It was also noted that Peter Bennet was yet again missing
this evening. Daughter Lucy Bennet (Bg Live in London On
Board Tournaments specialist) has recently got all interested in
Pompey so the Bennet summer family holiday is located there this
summer rather than having included The World Championships in
Monte Carlo (which Peter needs a break from anyway to cure his
previous performances at.) But are they back or buried in Mount
Vesuvius soot?
"You're rambling Mike" said Mike.
"Would I ever? asked Mike and added "I hope the Bennets still
are."
Swiss 1 featured 3 "Bg in Camden Virgins" - friends Darren
Southwell, Jenny Mcginn and Gary Rounce. I'd
suggested that they enter a £5 Swiss where the competition would
not be so steep but they were happy to dive in at the deeper end
and instead chose to enter a £10 Swiss. In Round 1 they all drew
experience Bg in London players (Eric McApline, Simon
Morecroft and Mahmoud Jahanbani) and the "virgins" were
all de-flowered. In Round 2 Darren was de-flowered again
(this time by Gary Brooker) and Jenny played and
beat Gary Rounce to leave Jenny with some of her
dignity but left Gary Rounce re-de-flowered this time by
one of his own. Eric McApline and Annette Sutherland
became our played 2, won 2. In the 3rd Round Jenny nearly
got her £10 entry fee back but didn't because she lost to Gary
Brooker and in the dead-rubber match Gary Rounce played
and beat Darren Southwell. This all inspired our now
Ex-Virgins to do a "Check." Annette beat Eric to win
Swiss 1. I hope the pain for our virgins wasn't too severe and
hope to see yous again - for a £5 Swiss I suggest. Annette
"Checked" and all other players entered Mini-Jackpots.
"Horray for Annette" said Mike.
In days gone by some Tournament Directors used to place husbands
and wives in different sections of a draw so that the chances of
them playing each other were reduced. All very noble, but not
quite right or fair on other players. Here at Bg in London we
prefer a "fair to all policy." The Beckerson know and
respect this, know that they can (and sometimes do) enter
different tournaments if they wish to but this evening elected to
both play in Swiss 2. The draw drew them to play each other in
Round 1. It annoys Monica to lose to Alan and
Monica was, 30 minutes later, annoyed (mostly with herself.)
Mike Williams, Kenroy Brown and Mike Ireland
were the other 1st Round winners. Ersoy Emin and Chris
Snook-Lumb won in Round 2 to save themselves from the
dead-rubber match while Alan Beckerson and Kenroy Brown
became our 2 out of 2 winners. In Round 3 Monica handed
David Garofalo the wooden spoon, Ersoy Emin, Mike
Williams and Alan Beckerson got their entry fee back
for winning 2 out of 3 and Kenroy Brown took 3 out of 3 £50
winners prize. Ersoy and David "Checked" and all
other players entered Mini-Jackpots.
"Horray for Kenroy" said Mike.
Swiss 3 got underway at 7.30ish after the Camden Auctions had been
completed. As such I expected it to take longer than Swisses 1 & 2
but not as long as it actually took to play out. I have a little
routine of re-positioning spot lights onto boards during our
set-up period but the lights in the playing area behind the T.D.
desk are not what they used to be. I'm not sure if this inspired
slow play in this area but that's what we had. One Swiss 3 1st
Round match (5 pointers) took an hour and a half to play. This is
far took long by half and means that other players are standing
around waiting... I really don't want to impose clocks (on maybe
novice / low intermediate players) in Swiss Tournaments because
often they have enough on their plates just playing a 5 pointer in
which cube decisions are often an unknown / unsure factor for
them. It's generally reckoned that 45 minutes should be ample time
in which to play a 5 pointer. Step over that and yes, you're going
to mar other peoples enjoyment of the evening. Meanwhile I'll be
contacting The Lockside Lounge to get the lighting problem sorted.
David Collins, Milo Fell, Peter Durrans and
Mike Wood won in Swiss 3 Round 1. In Round 2 Molho
(over on his annual London trip from Italy) and Zoe Cunningham
(Ladies World Champion 2010) set themselves up for possibly
winning their tenners back while Milo Fell and Mike Wood
became our 2 out of 2 winners. In Round 3 Sue Keeble
(shortly to re-locate to Abu Dhabi - rumour has it, started by
whom I do not know, that she will be setting up a house of
pleasure, but vehemently denied by Sue) allowed another Bg in
London "virgin" Denval Minner to leave with a virtual
wooden spoon, Mohlo, David Collins and Milo Fell
ended on 2 out of 3 (and hence all got their entry fees back)
which left Mike Wood on his 2nd visit to g in Camden, as
Swiss 3 winner. The less said about the performance of the Ladies
World Champion in this event the better! Mohlo entered a
Mini-Jackpot while, probably given the end time of Swiss 3, all
others did a "Check" or stayed on to socialise.
"Horray for Mike Wood" said Mike.
"Is that the lot?" asked Mike.
"Nope, we've the Round Robin to report on as well as the Semis &
Finals of the 3 Jackpots and at least the winners of the
Mini-Jackpots to mention" replied an on the ball knowing where
everybody is at Mike.
"That's a lot of backgammon matches" exclaimed Mike.
"Yup, that's the idea of the evenings - pack in as much play as
players want" stated Mike "Now shut-up (again) and let me get on
with it."
"Ok" mumbled the other Mike.
The Round Robin: 6 players, all play all in 3 pointer matches,
optional pool of £5 a head, top player takes 70% of it, 2nd best
takes 30% (if both entered optional pool) was the plan. Claire
O'Toole, Brian Benjamin, Donna Sherred, Paul
Gorman, Fintan O'Boyle and Bg in London "virgin"
Dilyana Kroutilikova. I fully expect Round Robins to be more
social affairs that other tournaments so matches are 3 rather than
5 pointers. As such 30 minutes per match should be sufficient, at
the outside 45 minutes for a couple of matches is feasible if
others are played quickly. But, 2 players who shall remain
nameless (for at least this report,) 1 hour 30 minutes for a 3
pointer is, sorry, unacceptably slow play. I understand and
respect the fact that you have not seen each other for a month and
that you're interested enough in each others lives to be able to
listen to each other for so long, but there's a time and place for
everything and learning what Aunt Annie did did from 1927 - 2010
(or whatever the conversation was about) during a backgammon
tournament is neither the right time or place for that
conversation please. Merci.
Our next minor catastrophe was that Donna lost a contact
lens in the loo... while in the loos that is, not down a loo.
Where had it gone? Into her eye. Youch! Apparently not. Glad I
don't wear them. Her boyfriend Mike Williams kindly joined
her in the ladies loo to dig it out (the contact lens that is.) He
got 2/3rd of it out leaving the remainder of it somewhere within
her eye socket. Youch again! No not so, it would dissolve of its
own accord I was told. Flipping heck! Then Donna needed a
drink to calm her and a cigarette to help that. Tick, tock, time
ticking by, play not happening, I didn't want to crack the whip
but olde father time waits for no man, woman or missing bits of
contact lenses.
Dilyana was thrilled to be with us. She'd met Bg in London
player and Easybus driver Catalin Bucur on an Easybus who
had told her about us. Gutsy girl that she is she came along to
see what we get up to over a backgammon board. Dilyana
wasn't too sure of the doubling cube so Richard Biddle
(subtlety denied, by whom I of course have no idea, the chance to
play this evening due to the high population of players to attend
to) gave Dilyana a quick doubling cube lesson before she
played. Despite what I'm sure his sparring mate Sean Williams
will tell you Richard must have given her a good lesson
because Dilyana won 3 of her first 4 matches.
I checked up on the progress of the tournament at 9.00pm and,
well, there were lots of blank spaces where there should be
reports of matches so things didn't look good. Richard checked the
progress of the tournament at about 9.45pm and enacted the rule
stated on the tournament page that says "If matches are played
very slowly the T.D. reserves the right to shorten matches."
And quite rightly so too Richard. One of the reasons we have had
the use of The Lockside Lounge for nigh on 5 years now is that we
do not as a general thing have play still going on after 11.00pm.
Even so 1 player then declared that he had to leave without
playing his last two matches and that he would concede those
matches to his opponents. Ah, that's a problem. Noble and the
correct point of view from his perspective but not entirely fair
on those players not within this conundrum. Reasonable pace of
play in earlier matches would have solved this problem. The Round
Robin was not yet done.
"All those words and you haven't told us who won it yet" said
Mike.
"Patience is a virtue, virtue is a grace, grace is a little girl
who never washed her face" retorted Mike.
In the Semi-Finals of Jackpots 1, 2 and 3 Edward Leighton
beat Sean Williams, John Hurst beat Engin Ongil,
John Broomfield beat Ramin Foulad, Danny Cohen
beat Mourad Wahba, Simon Barget beat Graham Read
and Marc Graniter beat Gerhard. Engin did a "Check",
Ramin stayed on to socialise and the remainder played in
Mini-Jackpots.
The evening featured 6 Mini-Jackpots; 2 of £25 entry, of which one
was a 7 pointer the other a 5 pointer, 2 of £10 entry (both 5
pointers) and 2 SpeedGammons of £10 entry, 5 pointers 10 seconds
per move, 2 minutes time bank. These Mini-Jackpots are excellent
for those knocked out of Jackpots or completed in Swisses. This
evening Mini-Jackpots featured 19 players, 9 of whom had started
as Jackpot players, 10 of whom had started as Swiss players. 6
players played SpeedGammon for their first time.
In Jackpot 1 John Hurst proved that coming north of the
river makes for a happy hunting ground. Danny Cohen is a
North London boy, likes it that way and won Jackpot 2. Meanwhile
I'm not sure where Marc Graniter lives but he enjoyed
Jackpot 3 by being declared the winner of that.
"Horray for them!" said Mike.
In the Mini-Jackpots Simon Gasquoine and Sean Williams
won the £25ers, Gary Brooker and Mike Williams won
the £10ers, Gerhard and Marc Graniter SpeedGammons.
"And another horray for them too!" said Mike.
And so onto the Round Robin: Who would come 1st and who would come
2nd or if we were to have a 3 way tie all came down to the last
match to be played. Donna to play Brian. Brian
couldn't win any cash but if he beat Donna this would leave
Fintan and Dilyana on equal high points or if
Donna beat Brian we'd have a 3 way tie. The drum roll
sounded, the spectators gathered around, Donna squinted
like an octopus and battle by backgammon commenced. Ohhs and Aggs
emitted from the populace as tentacles and hands moved checkers
around the board. Laughter abounded round. Everybody focused (1 as
best she could.) It was tense but relaxed at the same time. There
can not be such a thing as a draw in a game of backgammon; one
player must always win and thus the other is always bound to lose.
Brian won the win, Donna was left in inky waters
floundering like a halibut.
So this left Fintan and Dilyana both on 4 out of 5
each. Dilyana presumed that she and Fintan would now have to play
a play-off. But not so for there is a rule, posted on the Round
Robin tournament chart page, to cover such an eventuality: "In
the event of a draw positions will be decided by head to heads or
if that does not give a clear winner by another mini-round-robin
of 1 pointers between the drawn players." So the question
became who had won between Fintan and Dilyana?
Records were checked as that drum roll resounded. It was then
announced that, the lady who, as a child moved checkers for her
ailing father when she was just 7 years old and, later in life,
played backgammon against herself in London Parks because she had
nobody to play with, had not only now found others to play with,
but that she was also the winner of The Round Robin Tournament at
Backgammon in Camden, London, England on Tuesday 3rd August 2010.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Dilyana Kroutilikova.
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