2008 World Backgammon Championships - Final Report

From: Rodman   

I have thoroughly enjoyed the first class coverage from Monte Carlo. This is some of the finest backgammon coverage I have ever seen.

Congrats to Achim and a big thank you to GammonVillage for once again, proving why your #1.

From: johnoh   

Achim,

You write that "In the first 2 games, he (Sequeira) produced at least six or seven illegal moves that I had to correct!" Wow! I don't think I've ever played anyone who made that many illegal moves in a match of any length, let alone in the first 2 games. I wonder what kind of illegal plays these were. Were they the kind where he looks at several different alternative plays and then sets up a slightly different original position to play from or were they the kind where he miscounts the pips/misreads the dice? Also, were the illegal moves usually or always to his advantage?

Most players (myself included) do occasionally move the checkers around to look at various plays but almost never have a problem getting back to the original position. Once in a great while this sort of thing can happen but not several times per match.

I've never played against Mario and was therefore unaware that he does these kinds of things. If/when I do play against him, I'll make sure he plays everything legally.

Too bad you didn't take advantage of his hitting the clock moments before turning the cube. Against someone who constantly makes illegal plays, alters the original position, refuses to have his matches recorded on camera, insists on allowing illegal moves, etc. etc., I certainly would have.

It was nice meeting you in MC last week and congrats on a great tournament even though you fell a little short of winning the WC.

John O'Hagan

@John: It might have been three games, but it was in the very beginning before he took his first break. And not all were in different positions. I once or twice corrected his second attempt to play legally. I remember a 33 at the end of the first game and a difficult to play 44 in the second game where he "tried" 5 4's. At the end of game two there was also a 22 where he fiddled around with a 22.

Again, I still believe this wasn't intentionally. In game two he got a few great numbers and I found myself behind with 7 checkers on the acepoint (fortunately undoubled). I would have been excited, too.

I also made one illegal play in this match which was corrected by him. And a friend told me that the same happened to me in round 2 where I put 2 checkers from the 6- to the 3-point with a 22. These things happen from time to time, but this amount in the beginning of the SF was really distracting.

I don't want to discuss about his behaviour over the board, but my guess regarding his average+ of illegal plays comes from "fiddling" too much, mostly with doubles.

Ciao

Achim

PS. It was also nice to meet you. Next time we should have a beer or two ;-).

Wow..so this is what happens when I don't attend monte carlo =-)

I have to correct me. I made a play (I remember it was a 44 in the outfield after hitting a decisive shot) and he corrected me playing it illegally. I have to admit that I didn't recognize this during the move so I was obviously also under heavy pressure.

Ciao

Achim

Actually it seems to me that you should be happy to play with someone making illegal moves, for the rules allow you to punish him. You will have to pay attention, of course, but if you have trouble with that during the semi-finals of the World Championship... When WILL you be alert?

Normally when you forcefully correct a player who makes illegal plays, to his advantage or not, then he is reluctant to try it again. It looks to me like Mario took you out of your game better than you managed to affect his. With all the spectators and the assistance of the TD on occaision you could have taken control of this match with a no nonsense attitude.

You note that your own carlessness cost you because you made an illegal move of your own. You have to do better than THAT, it seems to me.

I didn't really understand when you said that Mario insisted on "illegal moves standing" during this match. That is ALWAYS the case. One must remain alert and correct illegal plays that favor his opponent, while also having a license to punish him by making them stand when they are to his detriment. IMHO, by not calling the director on the occaisions when he "fiddled with his checkers" so much that he forgot the original position you failed to provide a deterrent to such actions in the future.

It's a shame that it is possible in backgammon for a player to try and take advantage by making illegal moves with slight of hand or bad intent, but if you have played in MC 5 times... There is no excuse for being inattentive.

It sounds like you were dominated psychologically by an opponent who played with the same error rate as you did, and you lost, predictably. Psychology is very important in Backgammon! I bet you will change something about your demeanor over the board next time!

@Coolrey: In Denmark (that's where I usually play when I've time) you can agree - and maybe insist (but mostly need not to do so) - on playing "legal moves."

In this case a referee or the match recorder can point on an illegal move even if the opponent doesn't recognize it. In MC a referee does only interfer if a player asks for it right at the moment when the illegal play happened.

If someone thinks that always being alert of possible illegal moves is a neccessary skill in big tournaments then we can also discuss whether referees at soccer worldchampionships are still neccessary.

Ciao

Achim

congrats Achim , very nice job. salut

fatima simonsen aka EU_IT_YQUEM

Achim, I apologize to you if my comments sounded harsh or critical. Agreeing to play legal moves is cool, I guess, but when you went to MC... Or almost any other tournament around the world, there are rules in place in the event an opponent makes an illegal play, and no provision for agreeing not to allow them!

Those rules are vulnerable to individual interpretation, and those looking for an advantage may view them thusly:

What if I make an illegal move EVERY play to my advantage? I gain if my opponent does not correct me. Therefore I should do this as often as possible until such time as I am prevented from doing so.

I don't know if you were assigned a "referee" in your semi- final match, but I reached the final 8 a few years ago and never had one. Once you noticed that there were problems you should have secured one and or registered a complaint.

It kind of looks like you did not want to cause a scene, and wanted the match to be decided by the backgammon alone. From the tone of your article, your more experienced opponent did not feel the need to play nice. This obviously upset you and affected your game, and you sought solace in the fact that the spectators were sympathetic to your cause.

Apparently your gf was barred from recording this match by your opponent. A sure sign that your more experienced adversary was out to take control of the match psychologically from the outset. At that point you need to consider the contest a WAR, and fight fire with fire.

With the money and prestige on the line, I am sure you were taking it seriously but perhaps you were taken aback when the match conditions were not as "gentlemanly" as they had been in your former match with previous World Champ Royset.

It is unfortunate that you had a nightmare in the semi- finals of the World Championship... But by not speaking up you doomed other players to the same fate. Someone else will have to speak up next time because you never did.

Doing so after the fact will cause your opponent to be scrutinized carefully now, and if you think he took offense when you questioned his motives during the match then how do you think he will react now?

Espceially since the ONLY time a monitor was summoned he ruled AGAIST YOU... For failing to play legally. What if Mario writes an article that you were the guy making illegal plays now?

Failing to be assertive by calling a director to verify and expose his tendency for making illegal plays reinforced the notion that he would not suffer any consequences or punishment as a result of them. Since there is no evidence, except what some spectators may say, then the whole argument becomes your word against his. I can't imagine that he agrees with what you!

I don't know either one of you two very well, but I do know that Mario has been around as long as I have... About 30 years. I don't remember anyone challenging his integrity before. One has to be careful about what they write, as you seem to realize when you say:

...I cannot say it was on purpose, but it is quite annoying and distracting when you always have to watch your opponents moves...

However your article gives the general impression that you believe it to have been deliberate.

For the good of backgammon it was your responsibility to summon a referee:

...Since he insisted on playing with "accepting illegal moves" before the match started, it wouldn't have helped to call a referee during the match...

BECAUSE he insisted on accepting illegal moves!

You look like a young man to me and you have had remarkable success in having reached the semi-finals of the World Championship twice. I surmise that you must be a great player, and a fine gentleman. However, when there is money and prestige on the line you cannot expect everyone else to conduct themselves in the same fashion and you must be prepared to deal with psychological "interference".

I can tell you from experience that a more assertive approach would have served you well in this match. I am sure that it was a great lesson for you, and I am very sorry but I think you will have nightmares about it for a long time. You may never reach the semifinals again, but if you do... I think you will be more prepared. Not everyone plays nice when the pressure is on!

Congratulations on your fine result and good luck in the future. I'll play "legal moves" with you in Vegas, if you come!

RF