This year's final was held in the Starbucks in Darling St, Balmain. The venue proved satisfactory, with the wildly fluctuating heating and perpetual Muzak made up for by the ready availability of food (and more-or-less drinkable coffee) all day, and the accommodating nature of the staff, who kindly let us stay for about ten hours. (We kicked off at 8.30am and finished after 6).
Throughout the day it was great to see quite a few NSW players dropping by, with the occasional vaguely interested member of the public. Some friendly games were played, and a group of about ten of us headed out to dinner after the match was over. Joanne Craig stole the show mid-afternoon in a friendly game against Audrey Newman. She played FREEZING for 311 points en route to a game score of 667. Needless to say, no such heroics were on display in the final itself, although the amazing endgame in game 3 saw me lose to Bob by 35 after he played out with a triple-triple of LITHITES (amazingly, THELITIS would also have fitted). I will post this endgame to the list for analysis if I get a chance - it is very unusual in that it appears my best play WAS in fact to leave the triple triple open (and actually open another one), even with a blank unseen.
Several games were annotated (thanks to Joan and Hanne for this). I only have hard copies at the moment but if you're REALLY keen to see them let me know and I will eventually get around to putting them on my computer and through Maven. I make no promises about whether you'll learn anything.
Details of games and bingos from the final below, if anyone out there is desperately seeking closure on matchplay reports. Roll on the 2005 event, which I hope will be even more hotly contested than this year's.
Game 1: CM wins 432-295 (CM: REPENTED, DIRIGES, AIGLETS)
Game 2: BJ wins 463-315 (BJ: TWISCAR, INJURES, GUSSIED; CM: ANAEROBE)
Game 3: BJ wins 504-469 (BJ: BLEEDING, LITHITES; CM: STEANED, ANTIARS,
RECOUPLE)
Game 4: CM wins 446-405 (CM: YOUNGER, EARDROP, RABIDEST; BJ: ENTRIES)
Game 5: CM wins 424-309 (CM: DEBATES, VARMINTS)
Game 6: CM wins 422-414 (CM: STENTOR, GESTATE; BJ: TWINKLES, TIRESOME) [annotation already sent]
Game 7: BJ wins 489-372 (BJ: RENAGUE, JEALOUS, GITANOS; CM: YATTERS,
DINKIER)
Game 8: CM wins 500-400 (CM: TRIBUNE, DIASPORE, EBONIST; BJ: ACONITE)
Game 9: CM wins 500-392 (CM: GANGRENE, SIZEABLE; BJ: TRAILED, ENDORSEE)
Game 10: BJ wins 529-405 (BJ: HEARING, SUSPIRED, TOADIES, OVERFAR; CM: REUNITE, INULASES)
Game 11: BJ wins 393-356 (BJ: INERTIAE, UREDINE; CM: STRAFES)
Game 12: CM wins 414-298 (CM: ESPARTOS, TENAILS)
Game 13: BJ wins 461-312 (BJ: URALITE, BLINKERS, VILLEINS; CM: TEDIEST)
Game 14: CM wins 377-322 (CM: INHAULER, NEREIDS; BJ: BEANIES)
Final result: Chris May 8, Bob Jackman 6.