Biba World Championship. 6-8 July 2012

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Report by Michael Crane

Due to two tournaments taking place on the same weekend the turnout was lower than it might have been. Divisive scheduling is not good for backgammon; it restricts choice and robs players of the opportunity to play both events; this is why I post Biba tournaments at least five months prior to the year start so that TDs can arrange events without too much clashing. Scheduling events at the same weekend is NOT coincidental!

That said, it was a good weekend’s backgammon – well, not so good for past champion, Chris Ternel and defending champion, Peter Bennet. Chris lost his first match against Myke Wignall, and Peter (faring a lot better) went out to Eric McAlpine in the semi-final.

Myke went no further being beaten by Mick Vacarey in the second round; Mick then went through George Miltiadou to face Paul Plumptre in the semi; a fixture that saw Paul triumphant. And so it was Paul and Eric, head-to-head.

The match started well for Eric and he soon led 3-0 to 11. Paul pulled back a win, Eric took it to 4-1. It was during this game that we get to this position (Eric is playing as black):

White 1 - Black 4
White on roll

Paul took a long time deciding whether to cube or not. He did a lot of counting and calculating - two and half minutes went by on the clock before he decided to roll and not cube. XG rated this Double/Take, but only marginally so.

He rolled 43: 13/10*, 6/2; the correct play. Eric responded with 32: 25/22, 8/6 and then Paul cubed, almost without much thought.
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White cubes

Eric mulled it over for a less than a minute and dropped; a decision that XG agreed with.

In the next game Eric ships across a 2-cube that costs him dearly.

White 2 Black 4
Black cubes

It's not often that cubing from the bar is correct and this is no exception. Eric is 23 pips behind in the race and there's a lot play left in this position. XG rates this No Double/Take; and Paul had an easy take.

Later in the game Eric is faced with two choices: Point and leave a 63 hit off the bar or play safe 13/7, 10/5.
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Black to play 65

After a lot of toing and froing and moving checkers back and forth he elected to play safe . . . and blundered! He has to hit here to stop white anchoring on his 4-point; which is precisely what happens when Paul rolls 52: 23/21, 8/3.

Two rolls later for white and out pops 66 and off he goes, favourite to win the race and the two points - but between here and the end there's a recube . . . .
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White recubes to 4

XG tells us this is a drop; White is on roll, he has better distribution and an eight point pip lead. Black has too many checkers at the top of his home board to take . . . but he does.

Mind you, it becomes close at the end.

Paul grabs the four points with a cracking 66!

The score moves to 4-6, 8-6, 9-6, 10-6. Paul saves the Crawford: 10-7, 10-9 and finally DMP.

Most of this final game went Paul's way and he looked very likely to win the point and the title; however, he wavered here:
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Double Match Point
White to play 21

There doesn't look much in it but but there's a mile of difference in the next roll. XG goes for 5/4, 5/3 after which seven rolls leave black a shot. Paul plays 3/0 after which he leaves nine shots. Just two difference.

But, of Paul's nine rolls six of them leave a double-shot whereas XG leaves no double-shots. It takes some doing but eventually white ends up with two blots being hit and as a result of that he lost the match and the title.

It was a good final and it went to the wire; congratulations to Eric and commiserations to Paul. NB: This match is available from Biba via email in the usual formats, JF, Snowie, XG or text.

Main: Paul and Eric	Main: Peter and Mick

In the Progressive Consolation Mardi Ohannessian beat off Marcus Wrinch and David Nathan beat off George Miltiadou in the semi-finals. In the final David beat off Mardi to come out the winner.

Consolation: Mardi and David	Last Chance: Myke and Richard

In the Last Chance Richard Biddle fought his way to the final where he got the better of Myke Wignall. In the 3-pointer, World's End, Eric Westbrook reprised his 2010 performance when he beat Mick Vacarey in the final to take home his second, World's End trophy . . . and the Globe for another year!

As you all know by now the weekend started off with the Friday 500, and it's getting to be almost a benefit event for Mardi! This time he came 2nd to Crispin Duke but he still has a great lead in the listing. On Saturday night the Poker was won by Marcus Wrinch with Crispin Duke 2nd and Mick Vacarey 3rd.

Also on Saturday we held an 8-player £100 seat qualifier for the Backgammon Millions . . . and I beat Peter Bennet in the final. Bunny girls, here I come!

I'd like to thank all those that turned out and despite the low turnout there was still £400 in the pot for the winner. Thanks to Deana and Sharen for helping out and to Myke for running the poker. Don't forget there's a Rollover of £120 at the SAC Trophy next month so book early to be sure of getting the accommodation you require.