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Cabbies Jeff Mullet (left) and
Sean McCulloch (right) usher the Lancaster Room into its first
WBC tournament. |
Bruce has a fan in daughter
Nicole at the Final but apparently the hand signals didn't work
as dad finished last. |
Collecting by another name ...
When our illustrious GM, George "Bud" Sauer couldn't
attend this year's WBC due to the pregnancy of his assistant
soccer coach (no it's not Bud's) I was pressed into duty. But
since I've played in this event every year since it's been around
(1993) and ran it for several years in the 90s I was not too
concerned.
The Tuesday evening mulligan round is always the traditional
first games of WBC for us Cabbies. A nice easy to manage 20 players
showed up with regular Arthur Field scoring $9540 to take his
board. Jim Garvey, another regular, brought his young daughter
this year. He won his table over another youngster, 12 year old
Michael Wojtaszczyk who was second. Jim's daughter Patty wasn't
so lucky finishing 3rd at the table where I won through lucky
play. Kevin Wotjazczyk, a former champ, dominated the CABS board
(literally) and Steve Shambda. In the final game Kate Taillon
kicked more Cabbie butt while droppng Ken Gutermuth and Sean
McCulloch. In a game where you start with $2000, Sean ended with
$2020. Nice game Sean!!!! These five players earned a trip to
the semis. The rest would have to try tomorrow.
24 people, including 13 repeaters, posted for the regular
SE round on Wednesday. Natey Boy Hoam showed to redeem himself,
and shockingly enough, he did. Jason Levine's second place score
from this table got him through to the semis as well. John Schoose,
17-year old son of three-plaque winner Bert, amassed the high
score of the tournament - $9620. Ken Gutermuth avoided "2
and through" status and Patty Garvey's second place was
good enough to advance her as well. Steve Shambeda made good
on his second chance opportunity advancing with a second place
to Tom Browne. Andy Joy beat Jon Lockwood and they both advanced.
It wouldn't be their last game together. In the last game to
finish, Sean McCulloch also redeemed his prior performance and
avoided the ignomy of being the only Cabbie to fall and finished
second behind Brian Schott.
Normally, at this point, the random draw for semi-final seating
puts me in the same game with Arthur and Ken, but this time we
all made separate boards and visions of meeting in the Final
crossed more than a few minds. But, twas not to be. In the first
semi, Andy "jump for" Joy won handily and Arthur was
out. In semi #2 John Schoose used Tapastry, Queen Anne and Glassware
to advance. At semi #3 Jon Lockwood kicked Gutermuth and the
CABbies to the curb. In final #4 I somehow managed a win with
only $5920 in the lowest winning score of the tournament.
So the Final was set. John made an early move and got some
cash but also got burnt by a "bank refuses to pay"
which Jon gobbled up. Andy managed a quick purchase of miniatures.
And then Jon took over. He sold a couple of items for 100% and
the special value deck bought his jewelry. Suddenly he had over
$5000 in cash and a set of tapestry. By Turn 5 it was over in
the quickest Auction Final since I won in four turns in
1993. My performance here? I made Sean look good and ended with
what I started with - $2000. Congrats to longtime Auction
player Jon Lockwood who improved 26 places to fourth on the laurels
list with his win!
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