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2008 NZ Open

2008 NZ Table Championship

The 2008 New Zealand Open was held on 22-23 March, 2008 in Nelson, New Zealand. Organized by the good people at Tantrix HQ, it was the 4th New Zealand Table Championship. It was timed to celebrate Tantrix's 20th anniversary. Eighteen entrants from six different countries took part. The trophy will make the long journey to Germany with winner Susi Rieger.

1. Place:  Susi Rieger (GER)
2. Place:  Jason Oliver (NZ)
3. Place:  Matt Peek (NZ)



Back row: Metallor, Lytnin', FamilyGuy, ElCuchillo, Francois, RexJacobus, Mikem

Middle row: Jungle, DbleAce, Leslie, Lorene, Bdot, Benopi

Front row: Pekko, Bikey, Zorpolotta


The Top and the Bottom

The tournament report for the 2008 NZ Open is a joint effort between the winner (Bikey) and last place finisher (RexJacobus). Bikey's comments will be in a peaceful blue, Rex's will be in an angry red.


PRE-TOURNAMENT
Bikey: For the last 6 weeks I have been playing an private tournament with my husband Klaus (Schwabe). The winner is allowed to play the NZ Open and the loser has to babysit our son. I won and am very happy about this. I'm getting excited now.

RexJacobus: I have not been playing much table recently so in the week before the tournament I’ve tried to fit in a few games. I have won only one of the seven matches I have played. I am not feeling confident.

SATURDAY MORNING
Bikey: Day starts fine with a close and lucky win against my first opponent, Pekko. I feel very relieved to have the game against him already done.

RexJacobus: I like the draw because my first game is against FamilyGuy who is actually a personal friend that I have played many times and I feel that we are fairly evenly matched. He obviously does not feel the same as he pounds me like cheap meat. And I run overtime.

SATURDAY LUNCH
Bikey: Things seem to be working out pretty well. I have won all 5 games and have much confidence for the next ones.

RexJacobus: Lorene and I commiserate over the fact that both of us have lost our first four matches. I feel that Lorene is one of the kindest people I have ever met. I feel that way until she goes and wins her next match leaving me rooted to the bottom of the table. I cross Lorene off my Christmas card list.

SATURDAY EVENING
Bikey: I am in third place, and I could possibly finish within the top five or even top three. I’m getting a little nervous now and decide not to drink too many beers tonight to be in a good mood the next morning.

RexJacobus: The first day is over and I have decided that I hate this game and that the game hates me. At this point I am thinking hemorrhoid surgery would be preferable to another day of this torture. Unfortunately, there is a law in NZ against hemorrhoid surgery on Easter Sunday so I must play on. Bdot, who knows me fairly well, starts moving all sharp objects out of my reach.

There is only lager at the evening BBQ, nothing is going right for me.


SUNDAY MORNING
Bikey: I'm feeling good after a good night’s sleep. Confidently, I start playing.

RexJacobus: I sleep rather poorly and wake up feeling like I need to shave my tongue... I decide that I’m willing to try anything so I shave my tongue, but it doesn’t help and now I can’t get the soapy taste out of my mouth. The tournament restarts and amazingly I’m playing better. I’m still losing but I no longer feel like Zorpolotta and Metallor are pointing and giggling behind my back.

SUNDAY LUNCH
Bikey: Games work well, though also for other players, so results are very close. We all start calculating about who is going to play whom and what possible results may arise.

RexJacobus: I start to scratch my head. I am playing much better today and people are telling me what hard, close matches my games are BUT I AM STILL LOSING!

I get a draw against DbleAce. WooHoo! It is the happiest draw in my life.


POST-TOURNAMENT
Bikey: I can't believe I won. With 15.2 points difference between me and 2nd place Zorpolotta we don't even have to have a play off. But if I had lost my last game and Zorpolotta and Pekko had won their last games I would have gone to third place. I won my last two games with winning margins of 16 and 17, a really nice finish!

I really can't believe I won.


RexJacobus: I think I'll go home and take a long bath.


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Last update: March, 2010