Main

1

2

3/4

3/4

5/8

5/8

5/8

5/8

Consolation

1

2

3/4

3/4

5/8

5/8

5/8

5/8

The Grammy

1

2

3/4

3/4

5/8

5/8

5/8

5/8

Doubles

1

2

3/4

3/4

Friday Warm-up

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2

3/4

3/4

5/8

5/8

5/8

5/8

Steve Allott
Gary Bratton
Michael Crane
Jysen Qwt
Derek Cooper
Martin Barkwill
Tony Fawcett
Ron Havenhand

The English Open, 18-10 July 2016

Report by Michael Crane

After a very slow start during the weeks previous we finally ended up with an acceptable 32 entries. Just right for the weekend’s format. But, before we get to that let’s start with the last of the Friday Warm-ups and the £300 prize money up for grabs at the UK Finals in November. In the semi-final I was knocked out by Gary Bratton and Jysen Qwt suffered the same fate at the hands of Lincoln BG Club regular, Steve Allot. In the final Steve prevailed to take some very valuable points. For full details and a list of Qualifiers see here.

OK, on we go. The Saturday Swiss 5 x 7 point matches got underway at 1pm and at close of play we had a perfect 16 Main and 16 Consolation fields. One player managed to get through with 5-5, Martin Barkwill. He was also the only player left in the WTA huge rollover of £1080! Sunday was going to be a challenge for him.

Saturday night we diverted ourselves with Doubles. Thanks to Gary Bratton we had a ‘themed team name’ list of entrants. In the semis Droppy McDropface dropped out courtesy of Rosey McRoseface and Mawky McMotface mawked out to Attenborough [protest name]. In the final Rosey McRoseface came out all rosy leaving Attenborough stuck on a sandbank.

Sunday morning the Main got off to a very good start for Martin – he got a bye when Arthur Wright had to drop out. He then got the better of Paul Gilbertson and in the semis; Julian Minwalla prevailed over Paul Barwick and Brian Lever got the better of Martin – and left a nice little WTA Rollover for November!

In the final Julian took an early lead and we join the match at Game 7. Julian is playing as black and the match is to 11-points.

White 3	Black 8
Black to play 33

There are several ways to play this and as Brian said, it's difficult to play it badly - well, unless you've only half a brain. Julian tried out a few and settled on 24/21, 13/10(2). Not a bad choice. He needs to get some outer board cover and the 10-point inhibits white's runner.

XG went with 24/21(2), 6/3(2) preferring to make a home board point; but there's not much in it.

Black to play 33

Brian didn't have much choice with his 43 but Julian, again, has a few choices with his second 33. He fleetingly considered making his bar-point but then went with two home board points, 8/5(2), 6/3(2). White can escape but unless it's 65 he's going to face a few shots.

White to play 33

And another 33! Brian looked at emulating Julian's play but decided to go with 13/10(2), 6/3(2). A good choice. He's blocking black on 6s and shifts two off his heavy 6-point. Playing 8/5(2), 6/3(2) is very wrong ... which Brian knew, of course.

Having lightened his 6-point, Julian puts one more back on. It's good to have a spare, spare.

64: 24/14
Black to play 52

Hitting 13/11* is a given; white must not be allowed to escape. The choice then lies with 13/8 or 10/5. With the latter only 11, 21 or 41 can hit back but Brian correctly decides that it's not worth it and plays: 13/11*, 13/8.

 

32: 25/23, 13/10 41: 11/7, 8/7

Black to play 41

Black makes his bar-point ... and out comes a semi cockshot, 62: 23/15* from Brian. It was Brian's fault, he told Julian, "all I need now is a 62!"

Black to play 43

A couple of choices here ... run, 25/18 or slot, 25/21, 7/4. Julian went with run and XG went with slot. I prefer the slot and the chances it offers for a better home board but there's not much between them and either play is OK.

White cube action

The race is close with just 5 points in Brian's favour. Positionally he is quite poor although he is bearing down on the black rear checkers. He has good chances of hitting the blot on his bar-point but with a two-point board it's not going to stay on the bar for long.

XG: No double/Take ... and Julian takes. Brian rolls 53: 10/5, 8/5 as he decides 15/7* too risky.

	21: 6/5, 6/4
White to play 62

This time Brian can hit safely: 13/7*, 7/5 ... he now has a better board.

	33: Dances
White to play 63

Bor or safe? Brian played safe: 15/6 (much influenced by Julian's home board, no doubt) whereas XG played 13/7, 10/7. Although the blot on his 10-point can be hit by 6s there are only six rolls that hit; or to make it look more attractive, 30 rolls miss! Brian's play was the sole error of the game.

White to play 42

It can be difficult bearing in when blocked on 6s and this roll now offers Brian a chance to bring his last two checkers a bit closer in. Or, should he play 5/1*, 3/1 and deal with the annoying blot on his 1-point? He goes with the hit. The 'closer' play isn't too bad but that pesky blot has to be dealt with now or it could be really pesky later.

65: Dances

White to play 51

A lot of choices here, most of which leave a blot on the 10-point when playing 10/5. Of course there is the very safe play of 8/3, 6/5 ... so why did Brian ignore it and leave an indirect shot off the bar by playing 10/9, 10/5? It leaves just 52 and 54 to hit but it gives Brian 100% safe roll next roll. Also, being hit isn't too bad, not with Julian's board in its present state.  However; the 'safe': 8/3, 6/5 is a blunder.

One of the plays Brian considered with his 51 was 10/5, 6/5 ... which, had Julian hit with his 64 would have gone very badly for him for Brian then rolled 52 which would have seen two of Julian's blots hit!

From hereon it's "as you'd expect" until ...

Black to play 52

Julian gets in two crossovers: 21/16, 14/12. If he was racing around to save the gammon this'd probably be a good play, but this isn't a (very) gammonish position and it's too soon to run. He doesn't run fast enough and Brian wins the two points.

The match progresses with Julian in the lead: 5-8, 5-9, 6-9; and it’s here that the match concludes – in spectacular fashion.

Game 10
White 6	Black 9
White to play 51

Whichever way he plays he can’t avoid 66 or 55. He plays 7/2, 6/5.

66: Dances

White to play 55

This is where Brian loses the match! He plays 55: 6/1, 5/0(3). This gives Julian two extra shots (51) to hit and get back into the match. He ought to have played 6/1(2), 5/0(2). Backgammon championships can be won or lost with such a narrow advantage. Julian rolled 66, a spectacular Joker. From here he bore off to win leaving Brian to take off five checkers with one roll. To paraphrase The Cracker, “it’s almost impossible’.

So, a new player becomes the English Open Champion. Well done, Julian and very, very hard luck to Brian.

This match will soon appear in Games.

Main: Brian and Julian

Starting at the same time as the Main, the semi-progressive Consolation saw Peter Snape and Dorothy Lee battle it out in the non-progressive side for a place in the final. Her opponent was Tim Cross who triumphed over CJ Uttley in the progessive. It was a tight final which saw Dorothy emerge victorious.

Consolation: Tim and Dorothy	Grammy: Rachel with me and the tee-shirt
Click the tee-shirt to read about Grahame

The last element of the weekend was The Grammy; an element to the memory of Grahame who died this day, 10 July 2007. As is customary I wore ‘the’ tee-shirt as homage to much missed friend and backgammon player. In the semis Rachel Rhodes saw off Graham Read and Jysen Qwt saw off Don Irving. In the final Rachel carried on seeing-off players to take the coveted Grammy trophy.

And so, it all ended. It was a great weekend in an excellent hotel. I’d like to thank Deana Fawcett for being a sterling Assistant TD and Sharen Crane for feeding me Tunnock’s Caramel Wafers. Winking smile

See you all (well, 48 of you, hopefully) for the UK Finals and the £1080 WTA Rollover.