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RANDOM RAMBLINGS FROM THE JUNGLE
The commentary on the Australian Open is courtesy of the champion Junlge Payne, whose recollections seem a bit fuzzy. Take it away, Jungle.
Ten games a day for two days, they collapse into a blur of tiles
and trouble whenever I try to think about them. What remains clear?
• The good humour and relaxed, friendly attitude of the players and our hosts David and Janelle.
• The tasty food, breakfast and lunches supplied and the great dining
out in Windsor, including what is claimed to be Australia's first pub
to still be doing business, the Macquarie Arms.
• The lovely architecture of Sydney and old town Windsor.
• Oh yes, I won the tournament and status as honourary Australian
'mate', at least until the next tournament
I bet, too, I stirred up a strong desire among the Aussies to come
over here for the 2008 New Zealand Open in late March. Bring 'em on!
• My 'secrets' of winning? Not too hard to list:
- My training team: familyguy (Scottie Smith), elcuchillo (Simon
Pannell) and DbleAce (Dave Burns); thanks guys! Playing Table once
or twice a week for the past year has really improved my game.
- Mental staying power adequate to play tournament-level table for
seven hours a day.
- Massive quantities of caffeine.
- As much luck as everyone else.
• Best game of the tournament? The second day's draw put me against Kasty (who had been leading in first place to my second practically the
entire tournament) in the final round, with TPs so close (Brad in
first with 242 TPs, me with 232.2) that the one game was truly the
decider. My final tournament margin was only 2.2 TPs.
• Congrats to
Brad and Mike for their placings, too, see you in Nelson!
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