Wednesday March 29th 2023

 Two dozen players turned up tonight including newcomer, Nick Macoun.

Tonight was introduced to the club an optional $10 Side Pool. It was eagerly supported by more than half (13) of the players.

Matt Bridges was the drawn jackpot but failed to convert.

The Giantslayer match was held between Ladder Leader David Reitzin and challenger Gary Stavrou. Gary managed to pry 77 points from David's ladder score and add it to his own.

The placings were:

1st David Reitzin and Gary Stavrou tied

3rd Ned Marootians

4th Sean Ghodsi

Side Pool was shared by David Reitzin and Gary Stavrou, tied.

Jim Bean is wondering "how on earth is Carol Wakelin going to play that 6-2"?

John Symon forced to roll left-handed after a skiing accident tore his right shoulder tendon...ouch

Hammon Mans is so happy to be up one point on Sean Ghodsi

Amir Tehrani and Peter Voulgaris

Gary Stavrou feels confident with his 5-point board

Newcomer Nick Macoun in deep concentration 

Vazgen Panosian, a member of our 5.5-strong Armenian contingent

FINAL	TOT
R3 RANKING	PTS
Gary Stavrou+	314
David Reitzin+	314
Ned Marootians+	312
Sean Ghodsi+	209
Adam Makda+	209
Jim Bean+	208
Hammon Mans+	203
Carol Wakelin	203
Amir Tehrani	201
Jeremy Whitelaw+	200
Aram Amirghan+	199
John Symon+	197
Rafael Chattah	101
Mohammad Nejati	99
Malcolm Stradwick	98
Peter Voulgaris	98
Ed Hall	96
Matt Bridges+	95
Andre Marootians	95
Jenny Saunders+	95
Angelo Voulgaris	93
Aslin Sagnaklar+	-7
Vazgen Panosian	-13
Nick Macoun	-19

Wednesday March 22nd 2023

 It finally happened.

Ben Anderson scooped the jackpot of $180 and, of course, top prize money for the night. He was beside himself with joy; a happy chappie indeed. Well done, Ben.

Sean Ghodsi's unbelievable run of 15 consecutive match wins was brought to a sudden stop as Sean succumbed to Jim Bean in the 1st round.

Tournament Director Gary announced that as of next week there will be an optional Side Pool of $10 which will be split 70%-30% between the top two participating players.

Tonight's place-getters were:

1st Ben Anderson

2nd Dilhun Akpinar

3rd Adam Makda

4th Mackenzie Little and Aslin Sagnaklar (tied).

Angelo Voulgaris is the only known backgammon player who doesn't look at his dice when rolling

Matt Bridges is normally level-headed

The dark cloud of backgammon (we've all felt it) descends upon Amir Tehrani

Ben Anderson on his way to being tonight's winner

Aram Amirghan thinks his dice could make one's hair stand on end

Dilhun Akpinar demonstrates his trigger-finger rolling method

Jenny Saunders is full of hope and expectation as the dice spins

What's behind Aslin Sagnaklar's cheeky grin as she plays Dennis Mercovich

Jim Bean may not be the man who shot Liberty Valance but he was the man who denied Sean Ghodsi his 16th consecutive match win.

FINAL	TOT
R3 RANKING	PTS
Ben Anderson	314
Dilhun Akpinar	311
Adam Makda	209
Mackenzie Little	207
Aslin Sagnaklar	207
Mohammad Nejati	203
Koosha Hedjripour	203
Jim Bean	202
Aram Amirghan	201
Matt Bridges	201
Pejman Golshahi	198
Dennis Mercovich	100
Angelo Voulgaris	98
Andrew Mowbray	97
Amir Tehrani	96
Sean Ghodsi	95
Rafael Chattah	93
Gary Stavrou	91
Andre Marootians	91
Vazgen Panosian	90
Jenny Saunders	-7

Wednesday March 15th 2023

 Two dozen of the finest turned up to tonight's tournament.

Rafael Chattah was the drawn jackpot but failed to claim the prize.

Sean Ghodsi's unbelievable streak continues having now won 15 consecutive matches. With equal opponents and equal luck there is about one chance in 32,000 of this happening. Time to buy a lottery ticket, Sean.

Although winning all the three matches of the night doesn't guarantee the win for the night, in this case, for Sean, it did as he pipped Malcolm Stradwick by just one point who, in turn, pipped Jenny Saunders also by one point.

Final results are:

1st Sean Ghodsi

2nd Malcolm Stradwick

3rd Jenny Saunders

4th Dennis Mercovich

Andrew Mowbray

The clash of Armenians. Vazgen Panosian vs Andre Marootians (the victor)

Matt Bridges and Angelo Voulgaris

Matching beards and matching scores. Penman Golshahi and Ed Hall

Much fascination as Sean Ghodsi (R) wins his 14th consecutive match playing Dennis Mercovich

FINAL	TOT
R3 RANKING	PTS
Sean Ghodsi	310
Malcolm Stradwick	309
Jenny Saunders	308
Dennis Mercovich	207
Aslin Sagnaklar	206
Antonio Andolfo	206
Matt Bridges	205
Jeremy Whitelaw	205
Andrew Mowbray	203
Ed Hall	201
Rafael Chattah	201
Angelo Voulgaris	197
Adam Makda	101
Andre Marootians	99
Dilhun Akpinar	98
Jim Bean	97
Mackenzie Little	96
Pejman Golshahi	94
David Reitzin	94
Koosha Hedjripour	94
Mohammad Nejati	93
Aram Amirghan	-6
Amir Tehrani	-9
Vazgen Panosian	-12

Wednesday March 8th 2023

 A healthy turnout of 20 players fronted tonight in spite of a couple being isolated due to Covid. Beware, it's still around and nobody is immune.

Pejman Golshahi drew the jackpot but failed to convert.

A special mention to the remarkable performance of Sean Ghodsi who has won his last 9 consecutive matches. With similarly good players there is about a 1 in 500 chance of that happening.  Even Novak Djokovic has to win only 7 matches to take the Australian Open.

1st place tonight went to relative newcomer Vasgen Panosian.

2nd was the aforementioned Sean Ghodsi.

3rd place was tied between David Reitzin and Pejmam Golshahi.

Seems like Antonio Andolfo is heading for a gammon win. Is it his HYDROPOWER?

"Grandfather" of the club, Malcolm Stradwick.

Ed Hall and Dilhun Akpinar draw a crowd

Sean Ghodsi can't believe he's won his 9th consecutive match.

FINAL	TOT
R3 RANKING	PTS
Vasgen Panosian	312
Sean Ghodsi	311
David Reitzin	209
Pejman Golshahi	209
Malcolm Stradwick	202
Jeremy Whitelaw	202
Aram Amirghan	202
Ed Hall	200
Adam Makda	200
Antonio Andolfo	200
Jim Bean	105
Dilhun Akpinar	103
Angelo Voulgaris	99
Koosha Hedjripour	98
Rafael Chattah	97
Jenny Saunders	95
Aslin Sagnaklar	95
Andre Marootians	88
Ben Anderson	-9
Mohammad Nejati	-18

Wednesday March 1st 2023

We had 23 entrants tonight and welcomed two new faces, Valentin Belea, and Eric De Bouter who is visiting from Holland and, while in Sydney, ferreted out some backgammon action.

Adam Makda was announced  Player of the Month for February which gratified his competitive spirit much more than his free entry to tonight's tournament.

Gary Stavrou was drawn as this month's Giantslayer. He will take on the current Ladder Leader, David Reitzin, and attempt to wrest 77 points from him.

Rafael Chattah was the jackpot player tonight but failed to score.

The prizewinners were:

1st Gary Stavrou and Sean Ghodsi (shared)

3rd David Reitzin

4th Adam Makda

Relative newcomer Vasgen Panosian

Mohammad Nejati's deep concentration (and possibly a bit of luck) enabled him to triumph from this dire score

The score looks good for Breck McCormack but somehow he managed to lose

Angelo Voulgaris demonstrating his technique as a past champion maracas player
to a bemused David Reitzin

Gary Stavrou enjoying his time away from Tournament Director duties

Antonio Andolfo and eventual co-winner Sean Ghodsi

Our young Mastermind Koosha Hedjripou has four men languishing in Carol Wakelin's home board

Carol Wakelin in mid-flight

Jenny Saunders well ahead in the bear-off while her opponent is stacked on the 6-point

Happy players; Amir Tehrani and newcomer Valentin Belea

FINAL	TOT
R3 RANKING	PTS
Gary Stavrou	312
Sean Ghodsi	312
David Reitzin	311
Adam Makda	213
Dilhun Akpinar	211
Carol Wakelin	207
Antonio Andolfo	206
Breck McCormack	204
Aram Amirghan	201
Eric De Bouter	200
Valentin Belea	197
Rafael Chattah	196
Koosha Hedjripour	99
Aslin Sagnaklar	98
Angelo Voulgaris	98
Jenny Saunders	97
Malcolm Stradwick	96
Panosian Vazgen	96
Andre Marootians	94
Mohammad Nejati	91
Bruno Cardenas	88
Amir Tehrani	-9
Jim Bean	-18