The 2007 Hungarian Open was held on 8-9 September 2007 in Budapest, Hungary. It was the third Hungarian Table Championship and the sixth Open in 2007. Thirty entrants from five different countries took part this year. The entrants included the inventor of Tantrix, Mike McManaway, and the reigning world champion, Matt Peek. Both travelled from New Zealand to attend, but neither could better Attila Mikulan who was the tournament champion.

1. Place:  Attila Mikulan (HUN)
2. Place:  Michal Abaffy (SVK)
3. Place:  Tamas Gombkoto (HUN)

Full Results

Q: First of all, Matt, thank you for your time.

A: No problem

Q: Let's get right to it. You are the world champ, why didn't you win?

A: I won my first three matches in the final group and I was in the middle of what we, in Tantrix, refer to technically as an 'arse-whooping' over SiRPi when he somehow drew some lucky tiles and scored a very big loop. I'll call it luck even though he'll say he had it planned. Then, the following match against Tamas when he narrowly won probably tipped me out of contention. But to be honest, Attila played fantastically well all weekend and thoroughly deserved his win.

Q: So you and your archnemesis TommG played head to head?

A: Yeah, he won the match 26-23 after the game came down to the order the last few tiles were drawn from the bag. Our matches are generally quite close and just quietly I think it's about time he won one again.

Q: Was the trip worth it?

A: Definitely. I've known most of the Hungarian players who were at the tournament for up to 10 years from online play and so to meet them was definitely worthwhile. Meeting everyone is why I went really.

Q: If you could've changed anything what would it be?

A: I'd prefer if more overseas players, especially from Europe, could've made the tournament.

Q: Would you do it again?

A: Having been to an HO already I might attend a different European Open first.

Q: Which one?

A: Probably the British Open, given historically it has been the biggest in terms of size, meaning more players to meet, although I notice other Opens are becoming increasingly popular. For instance, I think the German Open would be well worth attending given I didn't make it to Germany on my trip.

Q: Did you see much of Budapest?

A: Maria's (egmaria) whirlwind tour now means I know Budapest and Hungarian history from 1000-2007AD like the back of my hand.

Q: Did Debs, the lovely woman in your life, enjoy the trip?

A: She had to stay home to take her accounting exams. Thanks for dropping me in it.

Q: Are Hungarian women good looking?

A: What sort of interview is this!? Of course Hungarian women are good looking.

Q: Are they better looking when your girlfriend is in New Zealand?

A: Stop trying to drop me in it again!

Q: Changing subject, what impressed you the most?

A: I was impressed by how friendly people were, and blown away by what good hosts they were and what fantastic English most Hungarians speak.

Q: What was your favorite moment of the tournament?

A: I enjoyed Mike (mikem) being knocked out into the consolation group.

Q: Why are the Hungarians so good? Do they feed their kids anything different?

A: A strict diet of beer and only the best sausages from a very young age. It's now part of my strict training regime for the WTC.

Q: Did anyone act really foolishly at the dinner?

A: SiRPi and Alfie, but then again that was to be expected!

Q: What new fact did you learn about Hungary that you didn't know before?

A: Without wanting to recite Maria's thesis: Buda is hilly, Pest is flat.

Q: Should everyone at the 2007 HO return the favor and come to the 2008 NZOpen?

A: I thought that was expected? New Zealand and particularly Nelson are beautiful places so this could be part of a great holiday.