Backgammon in Greece - Tournament #6

Mastorakis Victorious in April's GBgF Tournament in Athens

by Michael Strato - 28 April 2008

MANOS MASTORAKIS

The Greek Backgammon Federation’s sixth monthly was won by Manos Mastorakis in a close 15-point match against George Vadiakas, a two-time World Championship Semi-Finalist. The April tournament saw more newcomers from Greece, Switzerland and Bulgaria.

While Manos Mastorakis is the regular Tournament Director, Michael Manolios and Costas Chiotinis usually co-direct the events so that everyone gets a chance to play.

"As for my win," remarked Mastorakis, "I just have to say that the first and most important step to winning a tournament is to participate. In the five previous monthly events, I was usually knocked out in the first round, but luck was on my side at this one. Some players get disappointed because of a loss or two but if you stop playing you’ll never see the chance to win. I didn't give up and I have finally been rewarded."

The final match was manually recorded, analyzed by Snowie Professional software and can be viewed at this link.

"The final was a close call and I am really happy I had a chance to play against one of the top Greek players, George Vadiakas, who has made to the semi-finals of the main event of the Monte Carlo World Championship, two consecutive years in a row in 2000 and again in 2001," Mastorakis said.

Mano Mastorakis - Greek Backgammon Federation's April 2008 Champion

Here are the full results of the April tournament:

Main Winner: Manos Mastorakis

Main Finalist: Giorgos Vadiakas

Main Semi-Finalists: Charis Ladis and John Theologitis

Consolation Winner: Costas Costopoulos

Consolation Finalist: Theodoros Triantafyllidis

This tournament was held again at Cafe Aias in Athens, on Saturday, April 5 and was attended by 33 players. There were four newcomers bring the total to 75 different players in six events since November 2007. Two of the new players came from Bulgaria, another from Switzerland and the fourth is a fine player from Volos by the name of Manolis Kanakaris.

However, the next monthly tournament of the Greek Backgammon Federation will be a two-day event and will be held the weekend of May 10-11 at a new location, the Bridge Club at 181 Michalakopoulou Street in the centre of Athens.

The Semi-Finals and Final of the Main, as well as the last two or three rounds of the Consolation will be played on the Sunday (the second day). Main matches will be 13-pointers with 15-point matches in the semis and a 17-point final. Consolation matches will be 9-pointers with an 11-point final.

The entry fee will be a bit higher - €150 instead of €100 - but starting time will remain the same - 3 p.m. as always on Saturday and the same on Sunday.

For more information on how to participate, contact Director Manos Mastorakis by phone at 6973990985 or by email at manostop@hotmail.com.

See more Greek Backgammon news below this updated ranking list...

The new updated ranking list after six events:

HELLENIC NATIONAL RANKING LIST

Rank	Player	Points	%	Wins	Matches

1	Giorgos Klitsas	121	70.37	19	27
2	Christos Groutsos	110	62.96	17	27
3	Charis Christidis	109	72.73	16	22
4	Costas Kostopoulos	95	64.00	16	25
5	Filomila Karantzali	92	61.90	13	21
6	Giannis Theologitis	85	45.00	9	20
7	Manos Mastorakis	82	47.37	9	19
8	Costas Chiotinis	81	42.86	9	21
9	Michalis Manolios	77	42.86	9	21
10	Stephanos Bonanos	74	66.67	12	18
11	Takis Sakalis	74	62.50	10	16
12	Charis Ladis	74	58.82	10	17
13	Thanassis Makris	73	47.37	9	19
14	Antonis Vamvakaris	70	60.00	9	15
15	Nikos Mastroperros	59	50.00	7	14
16	Stephanos Katogiannakis	59	46.67	7	15
17	Costas Mitrelis	56	61.54	8	13
18	Giannis Pasialis	54	42.86	6	14
19	Giannis Vallianos	51	38.46	5	13
20	Costas Christou	49	53.85	7	13
21	Theodoros Triantafyllidis	48	72.73	8	11
22	Pavlos Thanopoulos	47	27.27	3	11
23	Alexandros Kolonias	47	27.27	3	11
24	Takis Chatzelis	46	33.33	4	12
25	Stelios Kousis	45	27.27	3	11
26	Andreas Kourouklis	42	40.00	4	10
27	Nikos Sapountzakis	41	75.00	9	12
28	Giorgos Tsiris	41	27.27	3	11
29	Giorgos Sotiriadis	40	66.67	6	9
30	Giorgos Kafetzopoulos	40	60.00	6	10
31	Nikonas Panagakis	35	33.33	3	9
32	Giorgos Vadiakas	34	57.14	4	7
33	Nikos Psaroudakis	34	50.00	4	8
34	Argiris Argitakos	34	25.00	2	8
35	Aris Sarakakis	34	25.00	2	8
36	Takis Kassidopoulos	34	25.00	2	8
37	Costas Efthimiadis	32	57.14	4	7
38	Vagelis Alexandrakis	30	50.00	4	8
39	Philippos Avanidis	29	50.00	3	6
40	Giorgos Stephanopoulos	26	85.71	6	7
41	Theodoros Dimakis	26	80.00	4	5
42	Giannis Doukakis	26	80.00	4	5
43	Petros Aggelopoulos	26	66.67	4	6
44	Vassilis Zisis	24	33.33	2	6
45	Alexandros Politis	22	66.67	4	6
46	Takis Aggelopoulos	22	33.33	2	6
47	Thodoros Meimaris	21	60.00	3	5
48	Neculai Draganuta	19	60.00	3	5
49	Petros Selelis	19	20.00	1	5
50	Stavros Petmezas	19	20.00	1	5
51	Vasilis Mitkidis	19	20.00	1	5
52	Simos Akrivos	16	50.00	2	4
53	Alekos Deliakis	16	50.00	2	4
54	Michael Strato	16	50.00	2	4
55	Constantinos Giannakopoulos	14	50.00	2	4
56	Kostov	14	50.00	2	4
57	Giannis Antourakis	13	33.33	1	3
58	Nikos Dikaros	13	33.33	1	3
59	Constantinos Sarris	13	33.33	1	3
60	Maria Panou	13	33.33	1	3
61	Gabriel Brescan	11	33.33	1	3
62	Nikos Kouroublis	11	33.33	1	3
63	Giorgos Kraniotis	11	33.33	1	3
64	Giannis Matsoukakos	11	33.33	1	3
65	Costas Petropoulos	11	33.33	1	3
66	Andreas Pournaras	11	33.33	1	3
67	Panagiotis Strangas	11	33.33	1	3
68	Michalis Christoforidis	9	33.33	1	3
69	Stamatis Chatzigeorgiou	8	0.00	0	2
70	Christos Dimitropoulos	8	0.00	0	2
71	Iakovos Iakovidis	8	0.00	0	2
72	Nikos Tarapatsopoulos	8	0.00	0	2
73	Sotiris Vionis	8	0.00	0	2
74	Bornand	8	0.00	0	2
75	Manolis Kanakaris	8	0.00	0	2

Tournament Point System
Sign up for the tournament	3
Main match participation	3
Main match win	2
Consolation match participation	2
Consolation match win	1

In other Greek backgammon news, congratulations go out to Alexandros Kolonias for making it to the Semi-Finals of the Consolation at the recent PartoucheGammon Nordic Open and to Alex Deliakis for his success in reaching the top 16 of the Main at the same event.

Alexandros Kolonias at the 2008 Nordic Open, one of the world's biggest events held annually by the Danish Backgammon Federation.

See previous GammonLife articles on the Greek Backgammon Federation’s monthly events at these links: