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2007 champ Alex Bove (left), wedding-bound
Sean McCulluch, and Caesar Lehrer battle in a semi, finishing
in reverse order. |
Cabbie Jeff Mullet (right) scored
only 49 points in this semi but it advanced him over Sceadeau
D'Tela's 40 and Matt Calkins' 45. |
Hooray for Tie Breakers!
GOA is one of those euros, in my opinion, that is a
little harder to learn and master. It has much more depth and
texture than say Alhambra -- another of my favorites.
So it suffers from attendance vs other euros -- again in my opinion.
We play it a lot in Columbus which you would think would make
Columbus to Goa the equivalent of Age of Steam
to Quebec. Not so, we've yet to win it. I've enjoyed running
this event but Alex Bove will be taking over next year.
On to this year's results.
We had nine winners advance to the semi-finals yielding three
boards with the winner of each and the best second place as a
percentage of the winner's score advance to the Final.
In semi-final #1 it was the clash of the titans between Alex
Bove and Raphael Lehrer with Cabbie Sean McCulloch (who had to
leave the WBC early for a WEDDING!!!!) . In the end it was no
contest as the reigning Caesar steamrolled the board with 53
points to Sean's 49 and Alex's 41. Sean's second was not good
enough to advance. Just as well ... more time to shine his shoes.
In semi #2 fellow Cabbie Jeff Mullet scored a semi-final low
of 49 points for a semi winner to defeat Matt Calkins (45) and
Sceadeau D'Tela (40). Matt's second place was also not good enough
to advance.
In semi-final #3 your author managed 51 points to defeat Chris
Moffa (49) and Scott Mercotte (35). Chris joined me in the Final
as well due to the closeness of the score.
The Final was a close affair. When we sat down we were well
aware that any one of us could win. Jeff and I both tried the
spice/cards strategy with me drawing well and Jeff drawing poorly.
I jumped out to an early lead with Raphael who was doing well
also. Chris was quietly keeping up and Jeff was reduced to looking
for ways to screw with me. Yes, for those who have never played
in a game with two Cabbies, we do not try to help each other.
In fact ,this was Jeff's team event and he's on my team! Didn't
matter I was trying to kick his butt. Back to the game.
It was end game time and I knew it would come down to my expedition
points. I had a pair and drew three cards. If I could triple
up I thought the game was mine. I didn't, but I did get another
pair. It all depended on how Raphael and Chris did. I had 50
points -- a very good score. Teammate Jeff Mullet had 40. Raphael
said 47 so it was up to Chris. After counting he looks at me
and says "50". A tie!!!! We went to the tie breaker
and Chris wins with 32 cash to my 17.
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Cabbie Bruce Reiff (center) scored
51 to edge Chris Moffa (right) with 49 and Scott Marcotte with
35. Moffa also advanced as highest runner-up. |
In the Final, the three semi winners
all took a back-seat to the runner-up as Chris Moffa won on a
tie-breaker and denied the Cabbies for a fifth straight year. |
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Bruce Reiff 2nd Year]
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