Tuesday 12 December 2023

Wednesday December 6th 2023

 We welcomed two new players tonight, Simon Morad and Nourish Monaghan which brought the total players to 23.

Next week will be our last club meeting of the year. The top four players in our ladder, David, Gary, Jim and Aram will battle it out for the Club Champion title and crystal cube.

FINAL TOT
R3 RANKINGPTS
David Reitzin312
Gary Stavrou308
Steve Clarry307
Breck McCormack210
Vazgen Panosian208
Ben Anderson208
Carol Wakelin208
Sean Ghodsi207
Adam Makda203
Mackenzie Little201
James Lyons199
Jenny Saunders195
Mahnaz Rostami98
Simon Morad98
Rafael Chattah97
Aram Amirghan97
Peter Voulgaris94
Angelo Voulgaris94
Jim Bean93
Andrew Mowbray92
Nourigh Minasghan90
Nick Macoun-9
Michael Raptis-10



Ben looking to see if there are dice-controlling magnets under the table top Steve's protestations


Mackenzie's tongue reminds me of a cute puppy I once had


"You've got to be kidding me" is Steve's reaction to his opponent's roll


What happy little crappies we are at Sydney Backgammoners


Vazgen Panosian


Sunday 3 December 2023

Wednesday November 29th 2023

 Tonight we had 20 players including four newcomers.

We welcomed Jano Toussomian, Michael raptors, Ryan Brown and Amanda Pooley.

Nick Macoun drew the jackpot but fell short of the prize.

We thank Andrew Mowbray for donating nine books to our backgammon library. The backgammon gods rewarded Andrew's generosity with a winning place tonight.

FINAL TOT
R3 RANKINGPTS
Andrew Mowbray312
David Reitzin312
Rafael Chattah309
Mohammad Nejati209
Jim Bean208
Peter Voulgaris207
Vazgen Panosian205
Ryan Brown204
Michael Raptis200
Jenny Saunders102
Breck McCormack100
Angelo Voulgaris97
Steve Clarry95
Aram Amirghan94
Mackenzie Little94
John Symon88
Gary Stavrou-11
Nick Macoun-15



Newcomer Ryan Brown playing with, and beating, Gary in Round 2

Breck and Andrew attract a bunch of onlookers




Sunday 26 November 2023

Wednesday November 22nd 2023

 17 players tonight.

Mahnaz was the unsuccessful jackpot.

FINAL TOT
R3 RANKINGPTS
Ben Anderson315
Aram Amirghan312
Jim Bean206
Matt Bridges204
Mahnaz Rostami204
Peter Voulgaris203
Jenny Saunders203
David Reitzin197
Adam Makda102
Breck McCormack100
Carol Wakelin97
Rafael Chattah93
Gary Stavrou92
John Symon86
Vazgen Panosian-5
Nick Macoun-12

Friday 17 November 2023

Wednesday November 15th 2023

18 players tonight.

Gary was the drawn jackpot and went on to claim the prize. Cheers and expressions of adulation reverberated throughout the club.

R3 RANKINGPTS
Gary Stavrou311
Adam Makda304
Andrew Mowbray206
Sean Ghodsi206
Mohammad Nejati205
David Reitzin203
Angelo Voulgaris203
Rafael Chattah202
Carol Wakelin201
Amir Tehrani103
James Lyons102
Vazgen Panosian99
Mahnaz Rostami97
Peter Voulgaris96
Mackenzie Little96
Jim Bean89
Jenny Saunders-10
Nick Macoun-13


Even at a stretch Jenny could not beat Vazgen


"Congratulations" or "commiserations". Hard to tell the difference with Andrew and Rafael


Mackenzie celebrates her lead oner Nick


Mohammad is happy as a pig in **** and a very subdued David


Adam is bemused as Peter points to the heavens for guidance


One of our strongest players, Jim Bean




Thursday 9 November 2023

Wednesday November 8th 2023

 21 players tonight.

Rafael Chattah was the jackpot but failed to collect.

Two of Sydney Backgammoners lady players, Jenny Saunders and Mahnaz Rostami, came 1st and 2nd respectively in the Queen of the Board tournament. Well done, ladies, you did us proud.

Gary explained that although going by time is the default position, there are advantages to using clocks. Time does not run out for the match, therefore the winner gets the full 100 match points rather than the 97 if the match times out.

FINAL TOT
R3 RANKINGPTS
Mohammad Nejati310
David Reitzin310
Gary Stavrou309
Aslin Sagnaklar207
Vazgen Panosian206
Sean Ghodsi206
Angelo Voulgaris204
Dennis Mercovich203
Steve Clarry202
Rafael Chattah196
Malcolm Stradwick101
Matt Bridges100
Jenny Saunders99
Aram Amirghan98
Amir Tehrani97
Breck McCormack96
Adam Makda93
Nick Macoun91
Peter Voulgaris90
Jim Bean88
Mahnaz Rostami-9


Vazgen reacting to a difficult cube decision


Nick and, eventual top scorer, Mohammad


"Get me out of here" says Amir as Dennis seems pleased with the situation


Angelo and Aslin


David quashing Rafael's chances at the jackpot


Queen of the Board, Jenny Saunders, still not able to wipe the smile from her face


"You've no idea what I just rolled", says Sean
"You've no idea what he just rolled", says Aram


Friday 3 November 2023

Wednesday November 1st 2023

 18 players met tonight.

Rafael Chattah was the drawn jackpot but missed out.

David Reitzin was declared October's Player of the Month. Matt Bridges was the chosen Giantslayer to relieve David of 438 ladder points.

Our club library got underway tonight and our books are already keenly sought.

FINAL TOT
R3 RANKINGPTS
Vazgen Panosian315
Matt Bridges310
Peter Voulgaris208
David Reitzin205
Malcolm Stradwick205
Koosha Hedjripour204
Angelo Voulgaris202
Gary Stavrou202
Jim Bean200
Mohammad Nejati105
Dennis Mercovich99
Nick Macoun98
Sean Ghodsi97
Mahnaz Rostami93
Rafael Chattah92
Amir Tehrani90
Jenny Saunders-11
Carol Wakelin-14

Sunday 29 October 2023

Wednesday October 25th

 19 players tonight.

Carol Wakelin was the drawn jackpot but failed to score.

Gary announced that part of the accumulated funds would go to creating a library of backgammon books for the continuing education of participating members. David Reitzin has agreed to be the librarian for the first year and has already ordered a batch of books to get the library rolling.

FINAL TOT
R3 RANKINGPTS
Gary Stavrou312
Aram Amirghan308
David Reitzin207
Koosha Hedjripour206
Jim Bean205
Sean Ghodsi205
Matt Bridges203
Mahnaz Rostami202
Mohammad Nejati201
Peter Voulgaris101
Nick Macoun100
Angelo Voulgaris97
Vazgen Panosian97
Carol Wakelin96
Ben Anderson96
Dennis Mercovich94
Amir Tehrani90
Adam Makda90
Rafael Chattah-10



Aram looks like a naughty boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar, while Ben rolls with serious intent


David and Rafael


Sean and Mahnaz


Nick and Dennis


Hard to tell what the temperature is with Angelo in a puffer jacket and Koosha in a T-shirt


Rafael and Mohammad, colour-coordinated with his board


David uncharacteristically being beaten by Gary who (excuse my shameless immodesty)
went on to win the night