2009 South Australian Spring Backgammon Tournament

November 15 2009, Hilton Hotel, Adelaide. Congratulations to Chris Benham!

Terry Efthimiou[R] congratulates Chris Benham

CHRIS BENHAM defeated TERRY EFTHIMIOU to win the 2009 Spring Backgammon Tournament yesterday, Sunday 15th November.

We have attached some photos and the final score sheets.

SPRING BACKGAMMON TOURNAMENT
UNLIMITED RE-ENTRY CONSOLATION TOURNAMENT
WON BY JOHN O'GRADY

These were 5 point matches and a field of 16 contested the event - well it was not quite a field of 16 but 5 players who entered multiple times. Siegried Pohlenz - 1, John McLean - 2, Nick Begakis - 2, John O'Grady - 3, Jack Clark - 4, Shane McNally - 4.
Interesting that Nick Begakis was the first and the last entrant. The final 4 were Nick Begakis, John McLean, Siegfried Pohlenz and John O'Grady. Both John's knocked out their opponents so we had the definite outcome that a John would win. The score sheet is instructive. John McLean must have thought that winning 4 points [gammon with the cube on 2] in the first game would ensure victory. But John O'Grady won the Crawford game and then a gammon [with cube on two just to even it out] to score 5-4.

Congratulations to JOHN O'GRADY.

SPRING BACKGAMMON TOURNAMENT

It is worth noting we had 5 byes. Those that made it to the final 4 main flight without loss were TERRY EFTHIMIOU, JOHN O'GRADY, SIEGFRIED POHLENZ & CHRIS BENHAM. Terry knocked out John and Siegfried was knocked out by Chris. Terry then played Chris with Terry winning as Nil Loss Group Winner. In the One Loss Group final, Chris Benham knocked out Angelo Ali. Angelo then won the Two Loss Group and had to play, yes, you guessed it, Chris Benham [again]. Chris was victorious again and then had to play, yes, you guessed it, Terry Efthimiou, again. And as they say, the rest is history with Chris defeating Terry in an exciting final. Given the type of event this was [triple elimination] and that Terry had progressed to the final unbeaten, Chris needed to win all 3, 9 point matches against Terry in the final.

The first set was pretty even except the last game twisted and turned, as did the cube, and Chris emerged a winner following an 8 point game 9(11)/4.

The second set was completely lop sided with Terry not making it onto the score board, Chris winning 9/0. And the final match saw Chris streak ahead to 7/0 to 9. Terry evened the score at 7 all. In the last game Chris cubed Terry who accepted [and the writer was witness to this game] which turned many, many times but Chris came through to win the game, the set and the tournament.

Well done Chris [again!].

Chris has won 2 out of the 3 majors in SA - expect him to win the hat trick in 2010. So the 2009 Spring Backgammon Tournament was almost a match between 3 players who played each other at least twice and eventually the rankings were -

1: CHRIS BENHAM - 2: TERRY EFTHIMIOU - 3: ANGELO ALI.

* Click on photo for full size image...

Terry Efthimiou [R] congratulates Chris Benham	2009 Spring Tournament scoresheets	Final - Chris Benham [L] and Terry Efthimiou
Angelo Ali [R] and Siegfried Pohlenz share a pensive moment	Don Schulz's Medal	John McLean in action
Nick Papadopoulos [L] checking out another form guide while Peter Geelen concentrates on hisi next move	Peter Geelen [L] and Angelo Ali in deep thought	Siegfried Pohlenz [L] and John O'Grady checking the play
Siegfried Pohlenz [R] and Terry Efthimiou check out play in amongst the shrubbery	Terry Efthimiou [centre] checks out the state of play between John O'Grday [L] and Shane McNally	Terry looking relaxed at the start
	Theo Georgiou [L] seemingly looks for help elsewhere while Chris Benham contemplates