THE
2002 HILTON INTERNATIONAL SPRING BACKGAMMON TOURNAMENT
This
event was played out on SUNDAY 10th NOVEMBER. We received
19 entries on the day and the draw was conducted by ALEX
ATHANS who was not participating. The number of entries
effectively meant the last 1/2 of the draw was like a last
chance and the number of points matches were played to reflected
this. Therefore first round matches in the main draw
were to 9 points while in the last chance they
were 5 points. This meant the overall tournament was not
unduly held up-and which was the case.
Interesting
facts during the day were as follows. PAUL LEWIS drew PETER
NOEL in the first round. JOHN O'GRADY was knocked out in
the first round and bought back twice, to no avail. The
same sequence of events applies to DON SCHULZ. Perhaps the
hard luck story of the day [apart from how well our opponents
were throwing and how lousy we were] was PERICLES DEDES
who was knocked out by NICK BEGAKIS in the first round,
only to buy back and meet NICK BEGAKIS in the second round
and be knocked out by him again.
Newcomer
JOHAN ERIKSSON, a dangerous player as some have found
to their dismay was knocked out in the first round by
PAUL LEWIS but bought back and made it to the final 4,
finally being beaten in a very close match by NICK BEGAKIS
[13-12]. PAUL LEWIS also made it to the final 4 knocking
out PETER GEELEN to play in the finals with NICK BEGAKIS.
The
day went NICK's way as the score card shows. Well done
Nick.
