Day 5 - Saturday.
Everything continues
MAIN CONSOLATION
Lots of matches today, Swan Vestas has less! It's the last day before the finals (excepting The Last Chance's, they start tomorrow at 13:00.)
I thought today I would look at one of the lady players taking part and chose Martha Ghio playing Dag Ekmark in the Consolation last 16.
Ghio was trailing 0-6 when she started to pull back, she went to 2-6, and I recorded this game. In it, as you will see via the viewer, or from the JellyFish .gam file download, that she has a momentary lack of concentration and gives Ekmark the opportunity to double her out. I think the fact that a waiter had just brought a cup of coffee to the table might have been the reason.
After losing the last game Ghio began to come back and from 2-7 down she went 3-7, then 4-7, then 6-7; where I once again recorded the game. You can see it via the viewer or download the JellyFish .gam file.
Within this game two interesting positions emerged.
Position #1:
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Ghio (black) on roll. Double?
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With a lead of only 27 pips and with the game a long way to go, this isn't a double; therefore, it is a take. Ghio doubled in this position and Ekmark took. Now he holds a very powerful 4 cube to bludgeon Ghio into submission later should the opportunity arise.
A few rolls further the next position occurred;
Position #2:
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Ghio, (black) on play 21?
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In this position, although the race is level (127/126) Ghio is out of it, she's about 30% and therefore bold play is called for here else she'll never have a chance. Their are two problems here, Problem A: The blot on her 5-point. If Ekmark anchors there then she'll be in trouble; Problem 2: The chance that Ekmark can either point on her again or even hit loose. So, she must deny him these chances. The best play by far with this strategy in mind is 25/23 6/5*. Even if she gets hit off the 5-point, she might anchor on his 2-point and would then be likely to save the gammon. What did Ghio play? Check out the viewer to see or the JellyFish .gam file!
Regardless of the outcome of that game, Ekmark went on to win the match and continued into the last 8 where he beat Muradyan; he then faced Nantanzon who emerged the victor. Also in the Consolation, Winslow beat Juskovic and met Liebe-Hardkort in the last 8 with Liebe-Hardkort being the winner. In tomorrow's final, Liebe-Hardkort will meet Nantanzon.
MAIN
As you know my tip for the top was Chris Ternel (with an all Denmark final between him and Christensen) but I'm sorry to have to inform all you Danes out there that this will not be the case :-(Ternel had a fantastic game against Nantanzon in which he came from well behind to clinch a place in the semis where he met fellow Dane, Bolge who had just beaten Shadallah. Of course, it's not all bad news for the Danes, for although Ternel lost to Bolge, Bolge is Danish too (though to be pedantic, Ternel is actually English but has lived for many years in Denmark and is to all intents and purposes, as Danish as the pastries!).
So, what about Christensen? Well he, like Ternel and Bolge made the semis by beating Kahyaoglu then he lost to Ongel who had just despatched Reinhault.
I must apologise for stating that Ternel, Bolge and Christensen were from Sweden yesterday . . . . my mistake; they all look the same to me!
So, tomorrow's Main final is between Bolge and Ongel. So, there's still hope of a Danish Champion.
INTERMEDIATE:
MAIN
As mentioned yesterday, the final is between Behnke and Kamalian.
CONSOLATION
Stacey Clark - one of the two lady players, beat Franken and will meet Jakov in the final; Jakov beating Forsund in the previous round.
BEGINNERS:
MAIN
In the final - announced yesterday, Tukhareli emerged victorious over Harutunian.
CONSOLATION
Mamporia beat Durmus and will meet Werner who beat Hakki, in the final.
DOUBLES TOURNAMENT #1
Yavus & Haim made it to the final after beating Egger & Davis. And Alpay & Nazim made it by beating Leo & Bizzaro. Alpay & Nazim continued their winning streak despatching Yavus & Haim in the final.
Well, that's about it for tonight (morning, actually) but just before I go I've noticed something strange about myself. I keep talking in questions. Not in English, mind, but in Turkish. Let me explain. I've been going out for meals since I arrived here; two reasons: One, the hotel food is expensive with a capital X, and although I'm on expenses, no food is worth that much money not even someone else's money, so I eat out. The other reason is I love real Turkish food and I trawl the back streets to find it.
You know the sort of place, no tablecloths, napkins or Muzak; a burly, hairy, sweaty chef forever mopping his brow on his apron then wiping down the tables with it, a bouncer on the door throwing people in; that sort of place. The sort of place where a pale, fair-haired, blue-eyed Englishman stands out like a pimple on the end of your nose - there for all to see. But, armed with my trusty phrase book and my smattering of Turkish I launch (and lunch) my way into the language.
But, no matter what I say in Turkish, whether it's good evening or hello or a beer please, it always comes out questioningly, Good evening? Hello? A beer please? I strive to pronounce it correctly and in doing so I just end up seeking confirmation that my pronunciation is correct - which, by the puzzled looks I invite suggests that more often than not it's not! But I keep trying.
Oh, and before you bring it up, I know I said I wouldn't go out again because of the shoeshine boys, but I have a concocted a cunning plan; I simply go barefoot!!!
- Michael Crane
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