DOMINO kings John Tuzzio and Michael Jakeman knocked spots off the opposition to clinch the British straight pairs open championships at the third Mind Sports Olympiad at the Olympia Conference Centre, London.

The duo, who are both aged 52, work at Kraft Jacob Suchard in the town, and received their medals in a glittering, Olympic-style ceremony after beating off the challenge of eight other competitors to land the title. They also shared the first prize of £1,000.

Mr Tuzzio, from Conway Drive, who every Monday plays for General Foods' B team in the Banbury Hat Stand League and each Thursday in the Bourton Drains League, was delighted with the win.

"I have never ever won anything like this before. My colleague has won a couple of team tournaments. It is the third or fourth time a Banbury team has won it. It was played on a round robin basis where we had to play everyone else," he said.

"There was a nice presentation up on the stage. It was very similar to the Olympic ceremony. We enjoy the game, it's fascinating. We are having a bit of success at the General Foods Club. You only have to look at both the league tables. We are top in each. "I have been playing dominoes for about 34 years. The first place I played was at the St John's club in town when I was about 18."

Mr Tuzzio revealed that one of his friends was originally going to enter this year's championships but couldn't make it and gave him the forms.

"We were disappointed that only ten pairs entered. We expected quite a big turnout."