Peoria Backgammon Club

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2008 Illinois State Challenge Cup

Sunday, February 10
Playoff's Sports Bar
Carol Stream

photos

The Peoria Backgammon club won the 2008 Illinois Challenge Cup
with a playoff victory over the host Pub Club.  The two teams were tied
after five rounds of individual play at 18-12 which forced overtime.

Three doubles matches were played to decide the winner and Peoria
would clinch the Cup when Ramez and EZ won their match 5-2.

    1/2  Faddoul Khoury / Fouad Malouf
beat Tim Mabee / Val Zimnicki 

3/4 Ramez Abi-Akar / Ed Zell 
beat Don Marek / Dick Nelson

5/6  Cookie Frazin / Joe Swedo
beat Mark Schwerman / Jim Zinkhon

In the second to last match of the day, Don Marek of the Pub Club
was playing Ramez Abi-Akar from Peoria in a crucial match.  If Ramez
won, it would have given the cup to Peoria with 19 wins.  Don won it though
to give the Pub Club it's 18th win and a tie for first.  In the mean time,
Joe Swedo was playing his final match against John Jennings and a win
would give the cup to the Pub Club.  JJ forced the playoff though when he
won the match, much to the delight of the Peoria club players.

The win by Peoria, it's 4th all time but first since 2001, stopped a streak
of 4 straight Challenge Cup wins by the Bar Point Club of Chicago.  Their
number one ranked player, David Rockwell, presented the trophy to Ed Zell
a bit reluctantly, but said he looked forward to winning it back next year. 

Only one player finished with a 5-0 mark to sweep both side pools.
Ed Zell was one happy camper to go undefeated and win the Cup.

Congratulations to the four Peoria club members who got their name on the
cup for the first time:  Faddoul Khoury, Ramez Abi-Akar, Mark Schwerman,
 and Jim Zinkhon 2.  Ed Zell and Fouad Malouf both won for the second time.


click for the all time Cup Stats




Ramez is rolling as Peoria clinches the cup and Ed gives Fouad a big victory hug



Linda Rockwell records results and helps players find their next opponent




Ed, Faddoul, Mark, Fouad, Jim, and Ramez win the 28th annual Illinois Challenge Cup



Click here for additional photos

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