Wednesday April 24

A very respectable 14 players arrived to play in the post-Easter tournament.

Carol Wakelin was drawn as the jackpot player and, although she sailed through her first three matches, her plan came undone in a final game with Arthur Ramer.

The jackpot is now up to $74

Arthur Ramer again claimed first spot, with Ben Anderson claiming 2^nd place for the 2nd time in since he joined us two weeks ago.

David Reitzin took the 3rd prize.

Next week is the start of our 3 week club championship –two x 9 point matches per night !!

Apart from the money prize, the award for this tournament is another beautiful crystal cube, so competition will be intense.

Mohammad Nejati has Mahnaz Rostami fenced in

A tough battle between Eva Bitel and Ben Anderson has some interested observers

A congratulatory handshake for Ben Anderson  from Grayham Rundle at the end of a hard match

Linda Purves has some work to do against Rafael Chattah

John Symon and Eva Bitel enjoy a chat between matches

Wednesday April 10

Thanks to two new additions, we were thirteen tonight !!

Welcome to Joe Camilleri and Rafael Chattah.

 Joe was drawn as the jackpot  player but  was unable to scoop the pool on his first night.

The final results were :

Arthur Ramer 1^st, Eva Bitel 2^nd and David Layman third.

On the Events page you will find flyers for both the NSW Open in June and the Queensland Backgammon tournament in August. Hopefully at least some of our players can support one or both of these and encourage the growth of a healthy, vibrant backgammon scene.

New member Joe Camilleri (R) has a practice roll with John Symon

Rafael Chattah and Mahnaz Rostami in an early match

One of our newest memebers, Mahnaz Rostami, has TD Gary Stavrou scratching his head

A contemplative Eve Bitel battles a perplexed John Symon while newbie Joe Camilleri and old hand Jim Bean watch with interest

Sunday April 7

THE INAUGURAL SYDNEY OPEN BACKGAMMON TOURNAMENT 

This tournament is a new addition to the backgammon calendar and was run by Gary Stavrou, Tournament Director of the Sydney Backgammoners group, which meets every Wednesday night at North Ryde RSL. Please see our website www.sydneybackgammoners.blogspot.com

The amended double Swiss format had been devised by Gary to ensure that all players played a minimum of six 7-point matches, and a loss in the first three rounds (the Qualification Flight) did not preclude any player from winning the day.

Apart from giving players a "second chance" the purpose of the three Qualification Rounds is to divide the field into two halves.

The top rankers enter the Main Flight and the rest of the field enter the Second Flight. Both flights are run concurrently and each consists of three 7-point matches. This system can be run very accurately due to the great computer system that we use that scores every won or lost point. In fact the scores of the winner and runner-up were just one point apart. 

Twenty-four players, lots of the regulars plus some we have not seen for a very long time, collected at 9.30am at the Canada Bay Club in Five Dock. Thanks to the club for providing us with such a lovely venue. 

After the first two rounds we broke for lunch, with the final match of the Qualification Flight being played after the break.

One of the characteristics of our tournaments is that we don't use clocks but set a generous time limit of 90 minutes for each 7-point match. We feel this is necessary with Swiss tournaments as the next round can't start until all pairs finish playing.

Gary agrees that, in the past, the over-time rules were too strict. Now there is a very small penalty involved for unfinished matches.

But this penalty never had to applied on the day as no match went over time, which considering the number of matches played, is just amazing.

The final results were:

Main Flight :

1^stPaul Barnett - $600 and crystal doubling cube award

 2^ndArthur Ramer $300

Consolation prize of $60 to the one-match winner with the highest score to David Reitzin

3^rdprize went to the Second  Flight  winner, Pat Halpin, who received $180.

Eva Bitel pocketed the $60 Second Flight consolation.

Thanks to Gary, and Katheryn for running the day so smoothly, and thanks to all who participated in what will, hopefully become an annual event.

A happy Eva Bitel collects her prize from Gary Stavrou

Grayham Rundle and David Reitzin tucked themselves in the corner where they couldn't miss the projected match scores

Pat Halpin, 2nd flight winner, receives his prize from Gary Stavrou

Martin Sagradian, supported by wife Ola, plays Jamshid Demehri while Mohammad Nejati watches on

Main flight winner Paul Barnett recieving the much coveted crystal cube from Gary Stavrou along with his prize money

Lots of serious thinking in this match between Arthur Ramer and John Symon

David Reitzin receives his consolation prize from Gary Stavrou

Eva Bitel and Steve Clarry in an early match

Arthur Ramer collecting 2nd prize from Gary Stavrou

Andre Marootians and Len Norman catch up over an early game

George Avrimedes and Edmund Catanatsu and  in a red and green battle

Wednesday April 3

A tidy ten players fronted up to play tonight – getting in a final practice before the big game on Sunday.

The jackpot player was again Gary – but he missed out this week – jackpot stands at $32 for next week.

Mohammad Nejati was picked as this months giantslayer and will attempt to wrest 172 points from Arthur Ramer over the coming month.

The final placings were:

Giancarlo Yannoulis in top spot, Arthur Ramer runner up and the third place purse of $15 was split between Eva Bitel and Carol Wakelin.  

Don't forget that daylight saving finishes this weekend – turn your clocks BACK 1 hour  when you go to bed on Saturday.

Two very deep thinkers- Arthur Ramer and Mohammad Nejati-  contemplate the state of play.

Looks pretty even to me - Gary Stavrou and John Symon in an early tussle.

Eva Bitel and Grayham Rundle in an early match.

Wednesday March 23

Once again we had an even dozen players, happy rollers competing for  the night's spoils!

Eva Bitel was again drawn as the jackpot player but could not secure it – it is now $22 for next week.

The final results were:

Arthur Ramer 1^st, Jim Bean 2^nd and Mohammad Nejati 3^rd

Don't forget that Sunday April 7^th is the inaugural Sydney open – hope to see you all here next Wednesday for some last minute match practice before the big games begin!! 

Mahnaz studies the state of play between Eva and John - a good way to learn

Before the battle begins - Grayham and David

Thats a very tall tower, Giancarlo.....