Thursday, 21 July 2011
Wednesday, 20 July 2011
What an unbelievable couple of Semi-Finals here in Monte Carlo
A fantastic day of backgammon here at the World Championships. In the first semi-final Weaver took on Gullotta. The match went to DMP. Weaver had 2 checkers off and had a nice distribuion against Gullotta's ace-point anchor. Only 65 would blot. Out pops 65. Gullotta hits. His board is hardly perfect so there is hope for Weaver yet but it is not to be. Weaver looks shell shocked but wishes his opponent luck in the next round - ever the gentleman.
Then in the second semi-final Suzuki comes back from 19-10 down to Mochi to level at 20 all. Then he loses 2 points to go 22-20 down. Then he gets it back to DMP. By this time he is down to just 29 seconds on his clock. Mochy is playing a holding game but rolls double 66 that forces him to break contact and move into a bad race.
Suzuki could still lose on time or lose the race. And then the clock breaks! It starts flashing at 1:00 each and then starts counting upwards! Consternation amongst the spectators. Both players agree to roll the race out without a clock.
Mochi cannot find the big numbers he needs and Suzuki rolls his way into the backgammon history books.
It should be a great final tomorrow. My money is on Suzuki but don't write Gullotta off just yet. It's backgammon and anything can happen.
Then in the second semi-final Suzuki comes back from 19-10 down to Mochi to level at 20 all. Then he loses 2 points to go 22-20 down. Then he gets it back to DMP. By this time he is down to just 29 seconds on his clock. Mochy is playing a holding game but rolls double 66 that forces him to break contact and move into a bad race.
Suzuki could still lose on time or lose the race. And then the clock breaks! It starts flashing at 1:00 each and then starts counting upwards! Consternation amongst the spectators. Both players agree to roll the race out without a clock.
Mochi cannot find the big numbers he needs and Suzuki rolls his way into the backgammon history books.
It should be a great final tomorrow. My money is on Suzuki but don't write Gullotta off just yet. It's backgammon and anything can happen.
Knocked out the team tournament
Lost both of my matches.
My record this year so far: Played 6 Lost 5.
It's a good job I am recording all my matches.
Twittering semi-final updates
Miran sensibly suggested that I use twitter rather than this blog to post live semi-final updates...
Please find my Twitter account here:
Twitter Account
Please find my Twitter account here:
Twitter Account
Excellent film of the London Open by Zoe Cunningham
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tt__f5ru-hY
Unfortunately the interviews are a bit noisy. But the opening is great.
Unfortunately the interviews are a bit noisy. But the opening is great.
Tuesday, 19 July 2011
Sorry for the lack of updates today
Play started late at 3:00 p.m. My match didn't finish till a few minutes ago.
I lost again.
Instead of doing a proper post-mortem I am going to the pub with Myke and Lawrence (also out) to drink my body weight in Sancerre.
Tony, John and Rachel are all doing very well in the Second Consolation - more updates as I have them.
Martin is also doing well in the second conso.
The Main semi-finals do not start until tomorrow.
Tomorrow is also the team tournament. I am entered with John and Lawrence. We are called JLS.
I lost again.
Instead of doing a proper post-mortem I am going to the pub with Myke and Lawrence (also out) to drink my body weight in Sancerre.
Tony, John and Rachel are all doing very well in the Second Consolation - more updates as I have them.
Martin is also doing well in the second conso.
The Main semi-finals do not start until tomorrow.
Tomorrow is also the team tournament. I am entered with John and Lawrence. We are called JLS.
Arthur winning his semi-final match
He was kept waiting to play because the Ladies Tournament took priority!!!
But now the match is in progress and he has taken a commanding lead.
Fingers crossed!
But now the match is in progress and he has taken a commanding lead.
Fingers crossed!
Monte Carlo Photos
Monte Carlo Photos, a set on Flickr.
Higher resoultion photos from the blog now added on Flickr
Update
Suzuki looks sure to be gammoned but hits the late shot. He has now picked up the second checker and looks to be a favourite. He holds a 2 cube. His opponent looks dejected.
Monday, 18 July 2011
Watanabe will need a miracle
But how many times have we seen those in backgammon? He has 6 men back and a completely crunched board.
Weaver vs Farevaag - last 8
Score is 10 to 2 to Farevaag.
I am watching the match and will be giving live updates.
Consolation Defeat - Update
I came back to my apartment and entered my Conso match into XG2. I played at a PR of 3.85 and that included a whole load of cubes that I held off deliberately as my opponent was taking everything. My opponent played at a PR of 18.81.
I am reasonably pleased with how I played. I am obviously disapointed by the result.
Here is how it all ended for me. I was losing 8-6 match to 11 points.
I didn't cube this:
As I felt sure my opponent would still be taking in a few turns.
I then rolled 33 and my opponent rolled 54 bringing us to this position.
I felt I had to cube this as it is now a huge pass with my 17 pip race lead.
My opponent takes.
I roll 33, he rolls 63 and, of course I roll the 63 leaving the blot.
So we are in this position:
And my opponent recubes to 4!
Yes he did. He recubed to 4 from here.
Leading 3-away 5-away, holding a 2-cube and with 11 hitting numbers.
I take. He rolls the 3. I recube. He looks surprised and takes. I fan. He covers.
Consolation Number 2 here I come...
I am reasonably pleased with how I played. I am obviously disapointed by the result.
Here is how it all ended for me. I was losing 8-6 match to 11 points.
I didn't cube this:
As I felt sure my opponent would still be taking in a few turns.
I then rolled 33 and my opponent rolled 54 bringing us to this position.
I felt I had to cube this as it is now a huge pass with my 17 pip race lead.
My opponent takes.
I roll 33, he rolls 63 and, of course I roll the 63 leaving the blot.
So we are in this position:
And my opponent recubes to 4!
Yes he did. He recubed to 4 from here.
Leading 3-away 5-away, holding a 2-cube and with 11 hitting numbers.
I take. He rolls the 3. I recube. He looks surprised and takes. I fan. He covers.
Consolation Number 2 here I come...
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