Saturday, 27 January 2024

Wednesday January 24th 2024

 21 players turned up tonight.

We welcomed a new player, Dave Nab.

Sean Ghodsi was the drawn jackpot but was knocked out in the first round by last year's Wooden Spooner, Nick Macoun. That's what makes backgammon both exciting and frustrating in equal measure.

FINAL TOT
R3 RANKINGPTS
David Reitzin315
Jim Bean313
Malcolm Stradwick309
Gary Stavrou208
Andrew Mowbray206
Sean Ghodsi205
Rafael Chattah204
Aram Amirghan203
Mackenzie Little201
Pejman Golshahi201
Robbie Baudish199
Carol Wakelin100
John Symon99
Vazgen Panosian98
Nick Macoun98
James Lyons97
Jenny Saunders93
Michael Raptis88
Adam Makda88
Dave Nab-12
Dilhun Akpinar-16

Wednesday, 24 January 2024

Wednesday January 17th 2024

 Two dozen players locked horns tonight.

Mackenzie Little was the drawn jackpot but her dreams were quashed by Andrew Scarf.

FINAL TOT
R3 RANKINGPTS
Aram Amirghan310
Matt Bridges310
Sean Ghodsi307
Adam Makda211
Dennis Mercovich208
Carol Wakelin207
John Symon206
David Reitzin203
Mackenzie Little203
James Lyons201
Vazgen Panosian201
Ed Hall201
Gary Stavrou101
Jeremy Whitelaw101
Nick Macoun99
Angelo Voulgaris99
Malcolm Stradwick97
Ryan Brown94
Breck McCormack94
Andrew Scarf92
Rafael Chattah89
Andrew Mowbray-8
Michael Raptis-12
Peter Voulgaris-14



Gary has Aram in a nail-biting situation

Ed Hall is happy with his roll

Malcolm Stradwick; relaxed but alert

Andrew and Dennis

Matt Bridges plays on his imaginary keyboard between rolls.

We may never know the cause of Mackenzie's embarassment

"It wasn't me" claims Carol

Vazgen and David

Sean and James, who might have had a glass too many

Peter Voulgaris and Andrew Scarf


Monday, 15 January 2024

Wednesday January 10th 2024

 Our first meeting of the year attracted a healthy 23 players including two most welcome newbies, John Camplin andRobbie Baudish.

Dennis Mercovich was the drawn jackpot but was unlucky to meet our most consistently strong player, David Reitzin, in the first round.

FINAL TOT
R3 RANKINGPTS
David Reitzin314
Andrew Mowbray314
Sean Ghodsi305
Jenny Saunders208
Aram Amirghan206
Aslin Sagnaklar204
Mahnaz Rostami204
Matt Bridges203
Gary Stavrou200
Vazgen Panosian199
Robbie Baudish199
Pejman Golshahi199
Jim Bean100
Peter Voulgaris99
Carol Wakelin97
Angelo Voulgaris95
Dennis Mercovich95
Adam Makda94
Rafael Chattah94
Mackenzie Little91
James Lyons89
Michael Raptis-7
John Camplin-11

When two Greeks meet (Michael Raptis and Peter Voulgaris) they can't agree whether to greet you with the finger or with the thumb.

Aram and Jim in the foreground, Matt and Carol behind

A very serious Mahnaz

"Don't get me out of focus again" Adam says to the photographer

Originally (or is it initially?) known as PJ

James keeps looking at the score in disbelief 

David and Aslin in the foreground, Dennis and newbie Robbie behind





Monday, 8 January 2024

Wednesday December 13th

Tonight, being the last meeting of the year, saw the challenge for 2023 Club Champion. The four highest placed in our ladder, David Reitzin, Gary Stavrou, Jim Bean and Aram Amirghan battled fiercely for the top spot which Aram eventually claimed.

David Reitzin was the Ladder Leader for the year.

By contrast, the Wooden Spooner for the year was Nick Macoun.
Nick apparently wears this honour with great pride as he provided his own Wooden Spoon Prize.

21 players entered the regular tournament and those results are shown in the table below.

FINAL TOT
R3 RANKINGPTS
John Symon314
Ryan Brown311
Vazgen Panosian311
James Lyons209
Adam Makda208
Angelo Voulgaris203
Sean Ghodsi203
Jenny Saunders200
Pejman Golshahi199
Mahnaz Rostami198
Amir Tehrani197
Mozhgan Miveh101
Ben Anderson99
Mackenzie Little98
Negin Hedayatian98
Rafael Chattah96
Nick Macoun90
Simon Morad89
Andrew Mowbray88
Michael Raptis-9
Mohammad Nejati-9


Gary Stavrou holding court, but no one seems to be listening

Nick Macoun, Wooden Spooner for 2023.
Can he repeat this feat in 2024?

Jim Bean, having lost his tilt at the club championship, consoling himself with cake. 

Mahnaz seems to have hypnotised Ryan. Is this the secret of her success?

Colour-coordinated PJ expresses his approval 

James and Mohammad

What is Mackenzie embarrassed at?
I'll let you muse on the possibilities

No wonder Sean is upbeat and Andrew is wistful, considering the score.

A happy John Symon won the tournament tonight


The four contenders for the club championship: Jim, Gary, Aram and David

2023 Club Champion Aram Amirghan

Adam Makda praying to the backgammon gods for inspiration