Wednesday January 8

The  first night's play for a new year and a new decade got off to a flying start with 16 players attending, despite a few regulars being missing.

First item on the agenda was drawing the jackpot player  with a healthy $53 on offer it would have been a nice start to the year.

David Layman was selected but was thwarted in his quest to scoop the jackpot up on the first night!

Final placings were:

1st Susan Wan 

2^nd Ben Anderson

3^rd Mohammad Nejati

Please join our meet-up group – as Gary stated in his note, it looks much better if a group has at least a dozen members.

Go to www.meetup.com, create profile with interests in board games only, or more if you want , and it should bring up the group – click join – that's all it takes, and it's free!

I have been a member of meetup for many years and have made quite a few friends whilst attending many social occasions for activities as “mundane” as coffee, dinners and movies, plus a few more “exotic” pastimes – indoor parachuting was probably the most random!! Only downside is, the more groups you join, the more emails you have to trawl through – you soon learn to cull!

Mohammed Nejati looking refresed after the break.

TD Gary Stavrou and Breck McCormack look happy to be back in front of a board.

Ned Marootians presents another happy smiling face.

Grayham Rundle and Susan Wan portray a study in concentration.

Wednesday December 11

The turn-up for the final night of play for 2019 was a record 19 players and the play was spirited for the cash and kudos on offer!!

It was also a bitter sweet night with the announcement of the passing of one of the founding members of Sydney Backgammoners, Eva Bitel, who passed away on Tuesday December 10 following  complications from a car accident in late October.

Eva and her late husband Ivor have been an integral part of the Australian backgammon scene for over 40 years and they both worked tirelessly to advance the game and encourage growth in the backgammon community Australia wide. 

She will be sadly missed by not only the backgammon family, the Medical fraternity that she had been an active member of, the Bridge community, but also the many others from all walks of life who came in contact with this wonderful warm, caring, intelligent, fierce and funny lady.

Our lives will be richer for knowing her .

The first item of the night was to draw the jackpot player, and Terry Christodoulou was chosen, but failed to collect.

Next came the “decorating”of the the three top-of-the-ladder players with “target” signs so that all of the other players were in absolutely  no doubt about the identity of the players we had to take down in order to protect the end-of-year cash for a bigger purse next year.

With Arthur Ramer, Gary Stavrou and Jim Bean duly decorated play commenced.

Final placings were:

1st Ned Marootians

2nd Mohammad Nejati

3rd Arthur Ramer

Arthur Ramer collected the Bonanza Prize of $303, being the dollar equivalent of his points score.

Jim Bean and Gary Stavrou, not being placed on the night, failed to win a cash prize.

Remember that our club is on holidays and will resume on January 8th

with a brand new monthly prize... stay tuned.

The game between  Angelo Voulgaris and John Symon gets a thumbs up from Terry Christodolou with Hamish Moore watching from the sidelines.

In the foreground Susan Wan and Ben Anderson play a fun match whilst Zhiman Rahmati and Giancarlo Yannoulis compete in the background.

A target-wearing Gary Stavrou is challenged by Marie Chandler.

Wednesday December 4

On the penultimate night of play for the year we again had an enthusiastic group of 18 players competing for the spoils of the night, AND, for some 

of the players, this was the last opportunity to secure a place in the top three ladder positions and a chance to compete for the big prize of the year.

By evening's end, Arthur Ramer, Gary Stavrou and Jim Bean are the top three on the ladder, with David Layman waiting in the wings should any of them be unable to attend.

Ned Marootians was drawn as the jackpot player for the night but left empty handed on this occasion.

Final placings were:

1^{st p}lace  David Layman

2^nd place Mohammad Nejati

3^rd place Grayham Rundle

See you all next week for what promises to be a very exciting night, and, just to add to the festivities, there will be tea, coffee and cake provided by Sydney Backgammoners, all from your $2 nightly contribution.

Raffael Chattah and Ben Anderson tussle  happily in the foreground whilst Gary Stavrou and Arthur Ramer complete a more serious battle in background.

Two happy little vegemites- Giancarlo Yannoulis and David Layman having a jolly game.

A cosy little cluster of 14 of the 18 players from tonight!

Wednesday November 27

For the 2^nd week in a row we had eighteen players attend to compete for the spoils of the night.

John Symon was selected as the jackpot player and on this occasion all the stars aligned for him as he took not only the top spot of the night, albeit sharing the kudos with Kee Yio Wan who finished with the same number of points, and scooped up the jackpot purse as well

Final placings were:

Equal first place

John Symon

Kee Yio Wan

Third place

Grayham Rundle

See you all next week!

John Symon (R) makes a start on his comeback from 1-6 down to take first place

Angelo Voulgaris and Mahnaz Rostami do battle in the background while Giancarlo Yannoulis and Hamish McKenzie tussle in the foreground.

Carol Wakelin and Grayham Rundle in an early match.

 Gary Stavrou and Kee Yio Wan present a study in intense concentration.

Wednesday November 20

A record eighteen players gathered to compete tonight, with Marie Chandler, introduced by Grayham Rundle, our newest competitor.

Hopefully we will see her again – welcome Marie!

Gary Stavrou was drawn as the jackpot contender but was shuffled out of the top spot  on this occasion by a very in-form John Symon.

Final placings were:

1^st John Symon

2^nd Breck McCormack

3^rd Susan Wan

The ABF AGM is on this Saturday  prior to the Australian Open, all financial members welcome.

Ben Anderson versus Kee Yeo Wan with supporters Susan Wan and Rafael Chattah looking on.

Grayham Rundle and new player Marie Chandler in a fiendly match.

Jackpot hopeful Gary Stavrou battles Giancarlo Yannoulis.

Wednesday November 13

Only  fourteen contestants tonight – a few of our stalwarts were missing in action for various reasons.

Jackpot player was Rafael Chattah but tonight was not his night so the pot is in place for next week.

Final placings were:

1^st Angelo Voulgaris 

2^nd place was a three -way tie between  Gary Stavrou, Zhiman Rahmati and Grayham Rundle – that's a first!!

Rafael Chattah and Arthur Ramer in a tense tusssle.

Gary Stavrou and Mahnaz study the state of play

A couple of happy chappies - Grayham Rundle and Breck McCormack

Wednesday October 30

Sixteen seems to be our magic number – think this the third week in a row we have had this number.

Mohammad Nejati was picked as the jackpot player, which again seems to be a regular occurrence, and this time he won!!

Well done Mohammad!!

The final placings were: 

1^st Mohammad Nejati

2^nd Mahnaz Rostami

3^rd Arthur Ramer

Must be the last match to finish - Susan Wan and Giancarlo Yannoulis have a large number of spectators.

A couple of happy players - Carol Wakelin and Grayham Rundle in a match that came down to the last roll at 6-6

In the foreground John Symon is getting scuttled by Mahnaz Rostami and in the background Grayham Rundle and Angelo Voulgaris battle on