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The World Series of Backgammon
UK Masters Satellite at The Doggett's Coat and Badge.
Report by Mike Main
A SEAT IN THE WSOB UK MASTERS WAS GUARANTEED.
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This was the second Satellite for the WSOB UK Masters Tournament run by
Mike Main of Backpacker Backgammon. This time, unlike the first, there was
a guaranteed seat in the grand event up for grabs. So this time the entry
fee was set at a fixed figure of £38 if there were 9-16 players or £75 if
there were 1-8 players. I expected a full 16 players, possibly more. This
was mostly on the basis that there was another backgammon event happening
not a million miles away (downstairs) on the very day this event took
place.
As it was we had at 5.45 pm (the close of registration time) 13 players.
We had been 12 players with 20 seconds to go but one player just got there
in time. The 3 players who got byes sat around while the others did
battle. The first pairing was Sean Williams versus Zoe Cunningham -
boyfriend versus girlfriend. Ah well, such things can happen and do
happen. Both being strong players this did I'm sure please the other
contestants. Zoe was the finalist in the Lockside Lounge Satellite on 30th
October and hence back to see if she could go all the way this time. She
got off to a good start and Sean got off to a bad start. That's to say
that that's as far as Sean got but, hay, he's used to it - Zoe
consistently has done better than Sean in Tournaments though it is Sean
who loves the game more. Chris Bray, who had given a backgammon seminar
and won a League / Knockout Tournament earlier that day, had also entered
this WSOB Satellite. But it proved to be a bridge too far as he was
knocked out by a fresh player - Matthew Franklin. Nicky Check, who had won
a 64 player Singles Knockout the previous day, won his Satellite first
round and and second round. Lee Gorton, our nearly too late arrival, was
as per usual not at all worried about the prize for the winner and laughed
and joked all though his matches. If this was a tactic it worked for he
soon found himself in the Semi-Finals. Meanwhile Ms. Zoe carried on in her
usual unperturbed fashion and she too became a Semi-Finalist where she met
Lee. On the other side of the room Nicky won his third and was hence a
Finalist. Not a long time later Zoe and Lee were shaking hands and Lee
wished Zoe the best of luck in the Final.
Could Zoe do it at her second attempt? Could Nicky continue his winning
weekend? The match was of course watched by a number of players. The usual
deadly hush was present and only added to the tension of the event. In
answer to the questions raised the answers are no and yes. It was Nicky
who won. Congratulation to the North London Man.
Nicky Check - Winner of Doggett's Coat and Badge WSOB UK Masters
Satellite.
And commiserations to Zoe; losing two Satellite finals in the space of 10
days would be enough to put most people off a game but not Zoe; I gather
the Lady will enter the WSOB UK Masters anyway.
The big event itself starts on Thursday 14th November.
For full details please click on this banner:
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It is mostly likely going to be the largest
ever Backgammon Tournament held in this country. For a committed
backgammon addict to miss it will be a crime.
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