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EOSC 2010 Commentary: Round 10

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Go to: Before the Tournament, Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, Round 4, Round 5, Round 6, Round 7, Round 8, Round 9, Round 10, Round 11, Round 12, Round 13, Round 14, Round 15, Round 16, Round 17, Round 18, Round 19, Round 20, Round 21, Round 22, Round 23, Round 24, Round 25, Round 26, Round 27, Round 28, Round 29, Round 30, Round 31, Round 32, After the Tournament.

It's #1 Helen Gipson (Sco) vs. #15 Mihai Pantis (ROM) at board 1 this round, and #2 Nigel Richards (MYS) vs. #8 Sam Kantimathi (USA) at board 2. The leaders are playing deeper in the field because Fontes (accelerated, Portland) pairings are in effect: to avoid a delay between rounds, this round was paired based on standings from two rounds earlier (i.e. final results from yesterday). Someday I'll figure out a cleverer way to do this, but for now Mihai and Sam are certainly enjoying a shot at the top.

Mihai beats Helen 456-342 in a game that featured an unusual 1-point play, so Nigel has a chance to retake the lead. Jojo Delia (MLT) beat Jackie McLeod (Eng) and is at least temporarily ahead of Nigel in second place, 8-2 +309 behind Helen's +501.

Sure enough, Nigel beats Sam 589-211 and now leads on spread with +1689. Sam said although they had used up a disproportionate number of vowels in the bag, Nigel was able to bingo through YA with CGHNST? for 86 points. Sam says he has played more games against Nigel than anyone in the room (20+) and has a positive record against him, but that Nigel was not cowed.

Behind the three 8-2s are Vincent Boyle (Sco) and Terry Kirk (Eng) at 7-3.

Raymond Tate (Sco) had an unexpected win over Cecil Muscat (MLT). After Cecil got off to an early start by opening with QUAILED (104), Ray whittled away at the lead until all he needed to win the game was for Cecil to play a phoney in the endgame. Cecil obliged, Ray prevailed.

In Division B, Dominic Borg (MLT) has taken at least the morning and possibly the day off to work. I remember this from last year's Malta International: the Maltese are well-known for their work ethic, and many players find themselves called back into during a tournament, and everyone just takes it in stride. #1 Jayne MacKenzie (Eng) is playing #6 Catalin Caba (ROM), #2 Charles Micallef (MLT) is playing #13 Bronagh Kenny (IRL).

Jayne and Charles win yet again and are now 9-1 and 8-2 respectively. Mary Doyle (IRL) is alone at 7-3, followed by six players at 6-4.

Teatime.