Part II: Top Ten WSOB Moments

This time we share the top five WSOB moments from reporter Will Cockerell.

5 Rzymann-Mathiesen, WSOB Round Two, Nordic Open Final.
This fantastic match captivated the huge crowd. The purist Mathiesen, well known for his coaching abilities, against the wild and wily Rzymann, who never knows when he's beaten. Rzymann had two major problems in the match: being constantly behind, and screaming for a comfort break. However, he had used up both the breaks he'd been allocated so had to quite literally sweat it out. A remarkably inspiring comeback saw Rzymann go 16-14, but Mathiesen had him locked in a seemingly hopeless deuce point game in Crawford. Rzymann hit a last gasp shot, and the race was a nerve-shredder. It came down to Mathiesen needing a double off his last throw. Great theatre as he prowled the studio floor, taking run-ups and flinging his dice all over the stage – anywhere but the board. Finally, miraculously both dice found their target, but Mathiesen couldn't find the double.

4 Hurst-Plenz, WSOB Round One, the UK Masters Final.
A magnificent match full of some spectacular moments, even better than the brilliant Hurst-Westerman semi. Both matches often involved Hurst rolling jokers sent straight from the angels, or almost maniacal cube action by said party. The final DMP game remains with all who saw it. Breathless punch and counter-punching, with Hurst squeaking home when all seemed lost. Hurst's cube action all throughout the UK Masters was the key to his success, and he is deserves the plaudits for his fearless approach.

3 Falafel-Bredahl WSOB Quarter-Final.
Backgammon's equivalent of Federer-Nadal. The world's number one versus Bredahl who sailed to both the Nordic and Riviera Consolation Finals – a remarkable achievement, which makes Bredahl arguably the world's hottest tournament player right now. The two gladiators cancelled each other out, and arrived deep into the DMP game with the identical positions of both trying to bearing in against the 4-point off the ten point. Incredible tension as Falafel it was who left the shot, Bredahl uncharacteristically missed and we were into a nip and tuck race after Bredahl's 44. Falafel won by a whisker. Scintillating drama, with 40,000 euros at stake. And mind you, Bredahl's match with Tardieu in the previous round wasn't bad either!

2 Hurst 8-cube to Krancheva, Quarter-final, UK Masters.
For me, the most exciting single moment of the whole year. To remind you, Krancheva had already cubed Hurst to 4 earlier, correct by just 0.003, and now here, with the match score 4-2 to Hurst, he cubes to 8 with two on his 6 point, and then one, one, one, one. Krancheva has three on her six-point and then gap, one, one, one. And Hurst IS ALSO correct by 0.003 to cube!! But what guts to lay the match on the line like that – pure instinct, he thought for less than five seconds. The cube is doubly brilliant, not just for its wafer-thin correctness, but for Hurst reading his opponent expertly. He felt there just a small chance Krancheva would incorrectly pass. Which…after some considerable anguish…and much reflection… SHE DID!! It's a triple blunder and gave up around 10% in match-winning chances. Backgammon is not a game for the faint-hearted, and here we saw huge courage – and a very faint heart.

1 Falafel vs Korper, WSOB Championship round of 16 (R1)
A true David and Goliath contest. If ever a match captured the spirit and thrilling nature of backgammon this was it. The number one Giant versus, quite literally, the million-to-one outsider. This is what Dutchman Aron Korper would have had to do to win the WSOB, by winning TWENTY matches in a row. Korper was just what you'd expect someone who had never played a live event and paid just 4 euros to win a 10,000 euro seat to be like: nervous, perspiring, wide-eyed, star-struck, slightly over-awed, but with a polished, tight, no-frills game that the harsh world of internet backgammon will often produce. Falafel dominated the first two games, but slipped-up badly in game two by being too afraid to cube when up in the race. Finally, he cashed, and Korper grimly claimed Crawford. The DMP game will live long in the memory: the crowd in the players 'Green Room' baying for Korper's blood, whilst at the same time cheering vociferously for the underdog to put out arguably the biggest threat. The atmosphere was electric as Korper ran into real time trouble… and was desperately trying to time a complicated 2,4 back game. But he was staying afloat; Falafel was going to leave shots here! THERE'S the DOUBLE SHOT! But Korper couldn't find the hit. Another shot! Missed again, and Falafel was home, but only just. What a battle.

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