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2008

Paul Money
Derek Matheson
Brendan Burgess
John Broomfield
Brendan Burgess
Michael Crane
Julian Fetterlein
Michael Brereton
Dod Davies
Peter Bennet
Jim Johnson
John Clark
Nigel Briddon

Arthur Musgrove

David Startin

Rachel Rhodes

Tom Duggan

Julian Fetterlein

The Main (42) was a draw of two halves. In the last eight, in the bottom half of the draw we had Julian Fetterlein vs Tony Lee, and Peter Bennet vs Rachel Rhodes! In the top half Paul Learmount faced Uldis Lapikens, and then Tom Duggan (defending champion: and was defeated 11-0!) to face Julian in the final. Despite what's said about John Clark being "arguably the best player in Britain" (or something like that), I would nominate Julian for that title - he is a formidable opponent and has now attained the highest ever Biba ranking @ 2051. In his semi-final against Rachel he led 10-3 and Rachel took it to DMP before he prevailed.

It's a brave man (or woman) that will take a 2-cube from Julian Fetterlein when trailing 4-away, 8-away, and with a checker on the bar! Let me introduce you to a brave man: Paul Learmount! Paul, playing as white is offered a 2-cube in this position during the final.

Black 7 White 3
Black cubes

This is a double, pass . . . but no one told Paul! He took, and then for a long time he didn't do much else. Julian rolled 'The Girls' (55) and played 20/5* 16/11, Paul replied with 31, 25/22 25/24.

Black to play 43 A nice pointing roll for black, 7/3* 6/3. Paul dances with 43.	Black to play 43 Unable to cover his 5-point blot, Julian hits on the 1-point, 5/1* and brings down a builder, 13/10. Paul rolls 54 and re-enters, 25/20.

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Black to play 61 What a superb roll from black, pointing on the 5-point blot, 11/5* 6/5. Another dancing roll from Paul, 43.	Black to play 41 Julian brings the 10-point checker in with 10/5 to give him 4s next time for the close-out. Paul obliges with 54, dancing yet again.

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Black to play 42 Never mind the 2, the 4 is played 5/1 and the prime is complete. Nine rolls later and Paul re-enters behind Julian's bearoff ...	White to play 55 ... and Julian rolls out for the gammon and the match, and for his second Sandy Osborne win, his first being eleven years ago, in 1977.

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Main Paul & Julian	Consolation David & Brian

In the Consolation (38) Brian Lever (2nd Round entrant) battled it out with Arthur Musgrove (1st Round entrant) in the semi final, the prize being a match with David Nathan who despatched Uldis Lapikens in the prog semi final. David proved his mettle by beating Brian and thus winning his 11th Biba 1st place trophy, just one behind Brain.

Lewis Young proved beyond doubt that his dad, Neil Young, is a great teacher, for it was Lewis (taught by his dad)that sat down in the final of the Last Chance (32) to face Lee Wood. Neil obviously knows a thing or two for Lewis emerged the victor to win his first ever Biba element. Neil didn't fair so well, he was knocked out by Arthur Musgrove in the 1st Round - but Arthur then fell to Lewis. Justice!

Last Chance Lee & Lewis	Sandwich John & Ed

So many players had gone home by the time the 3-pointer, Sandwich (16) started that its entry was a full sixteen short of ideal. Mind you, that didn't bother John Reddington, he ploughed through the field, beating Ed Turner in the final.

Although Jeff Barber was the night's winner, the battle in the Friday 500 (18) between Myke Wignall and Nicky Check is just one point apart. After squandering a good lead, Nicky is now trailing by 1 point and the £100 first prize. Perhaps he'll do it next month . . . or not! Creeping up into the Top 16 we have Marcus Wrinch, John Hedge, Brian Lever, Paul Watts and Paul Barwick, so it's all going to happen next month.

The same goes for the Poker (12). This saw another change at the top, and this time Tony Fawcett goes into 1st place knocking Paul Gilbertson into 2nd. Myke Wignall is threatening to knock them both off next month . . . and so is Vicky Pemberton! It'll make for an exciting 'final' in November.

Despite my best efforts to drag players away from the poker and chouettes and head-to-heads, I could only muster a measly number of players into the Team (4) - and I was one of those four! John Broomfield (making a welcome return to Biba), came out the sole victor, after he beat John Hedge in the final.

Finally

On the whole the weekend went wellish. There was a dispute that I was called to that proved impossible to adjudicate satisfactorily; so I have sought the advice of my peers and I will report their replies in the November issue of Bibafax. I apologise to members who were not able to log onto the web, but Barceló in their wisdom have decided to rescind my free wi-fi access, even though my contract with them allows it. Be assured I am working on its reinstatement; but it is possible I might fail - thus will end my 'live' updates!