Final report: In the first NZ or World Championship Final not to involve a player from Auckland, no. 3 seed Murray Pharaoh from Wellington, last year's NZ runner-up, faced no. 8 seed Chris Hill from Gisborne, this year's World Junior Championship runner-up. Given that Murray had survived the half of the KO draw which contained all of the top four seeds (even if this strange situation had partly arisen because he himself had not won his qualifying group) and had convincingly ended the reigning NZ & double World Champion's two-year unbeaten run in individual tournaments in the SFs, it looked like Chris would need to put Murray under pressure and undermine his confidence early on if he was to mount a serious challenge. Murray, though, was in commanding, even merciless form and won five of the six games (the other was drawn) to storm to his first NZ Championship.

No. 6 seed Cat (who, in a curious twist, finished above Murray in Group C!) won her first three games v no. 1 seed Matt to take a very big lead in the 3/4 play-off but Matt won g4 & g5 to leave himself in with a chance of forcing a tie-break. However, Cat drew a very tense final game to take a very impressive 3rd place, the first female player ever to finish in the top 3 in the NZ.

For QF & SF reports, please go to the bottom of this page.
4th NEW ZEALAND TANTRIX CHAMPIONSHIP 2003 - KNOCKOUT PHASE - RESULTS
For dates of individual games and their results, times, colours and review game details, please go further down this page
Get help with ARRANGING GAMES (time & colour preferences, etc) here Other player details and stats
If the leader after 6 games has < 62.5 TPs, play on until someone is 5 TPs ahead or game 9, whichever occurs earlier - CLICK for FULL DETAILS
Standard no. of games per match 6 6 6 THE
Maximum possible extra tie-break games 3 3 3 TOP
Start date 01-Apr-03 07-Apr-03 13-Apr-03 THREE
Deadline date 07-Apr-03 13-Apr-03 26-Apr-03 PLAYERS
ROUND -------> QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS THE FINAL
SPs Player - click name to email Nat. S Nickn. Nat. TPs S Nickn. Nat. TPs S Nickn. Nat. TPs S Nickn. Nat.
Group winners in gold, runners-up in silver, best two 3rd placed players in bronze
4th NEW ZEALAND
2035 Matt Peek (TGM)
NZL
1 Pekko
73.0 TANTRIX
1797 Stacy Henwood
NZL
4 MonkeyBob
47.0 1 Pekko
47.9 CHAMPIONSHIP 2003
v ROLL OF HONOUR
1866 Murray Pharaoh
NZL
3 Scarab
76.4 3 Scarab
72.1 3 Scarab
89.0
1897 Bevan Chong
NZL
2 Mighty
63.6 v 3 Scarab
Champion
1774 Catherine Moxham
NZL
6 Bastet
wd
1209 Greg Bennett
NZL
u Cynosure
def 6 Bastet
57.0 8 fear
31.0 8 fear
v Runner-up
1692 Seb M [u]
NZL
7 Chimaster
53.0 8 fear
63.0 3RD & 4TH PLACE
1660 Chris Hill
NZL
8 fear
67.0 1 Pekko
53.2 6 Bastet
6 Bastet
66.8 3rd place
SPs Player - click name to email Nat. S Nickn. Nat. TPs S Nickn. Nat. TPs S Nickn. Nat. TPs S Nickn. Nat.
ROUND -------> QUARTER-FINALS SEMI-FINALS THE FINAL
Standard no. of games per match 6 6 6 THE
Maximum possible extra tie-break games 3 3 3 TOP
Start date 1-Apr-03 7-Apr-03 13-Apr-03 THREE
Deadline date 7-Apr-03 13-Apr-03 26-Apr-03 PLAYERS
If the leader after 6 games has < 62.5 TPs, play on until someone is 5 TPs ahead or game 9, whichever occurs earlier - CLICK for FULL DETAILS
TPs in red = includes tie/brk game TPs in green = less than standard no. of games [u] = we know surname but u18 player asks not to show it
SPs = Elo seeding pts; Nat. = nationality; S = seeding no., u=unseeded; all scores in TPs;  wd = default win;  ww = oppo. w/drew; wb = bye
Results from Qualifying Grps: Group A Group B Group C <--- Group Phase Results
Get help with ARRANGING GAMES (time & colour preferences, etc) here Other player details and stats
For dates of individual games and their results, times, colours and review game details, please go further down this page
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4th NEW ZEALAND TANTRIX CHAMPIONSHIP 2003 - KNOCKOUT PHASE - INDIVIDUAL GAME SCORES
Key: TP = Tournament points this game or for the match as a whole; C = colour, or game wins on last line ; n = game not played
Winner TPs T1/T2 = times taken in whole minutes rounded down - lose 1 TP per whole minute over 14
Please note the new 'decisive victory' rule, shown in red under the total scores line for each match not yet completed
4th NEW ZEALAND TANTRIX CHAMPIONSHIP 2003 - QUARTER (1/4) FINALS
6 games per match : 62.5 TPs to win, but see notes in red below - Deadline Monday 7 April
Date: Player 1: C: TP: Game score: TP: C: Player 2: T1: T2: Review game:
04-Apr-03 Pekko   (14.7) 20 - 16 (05.3)   MonkeyBob 12 7 M!Pekko-MonkeyBob-2003-04-05-0425
04-Apr-03 Pekko   (14.3) 20 - 17 (05.7)   MonkeyBob 9 8 M!MonkeyBob-Pekko-2003-04-05-0355
04-Apr-03 Pekko   (05.0) 14 - 19 (15.0)   MonkeyBob 12 7 M!MonkeyBob-Pekko-2003-04-05-0518
04-Apr-03 Pekko   (14.3) 21 - 18 (05.7)   MonkeyBob 9 8 M!MonkeyBob-Pekko-2003-04-05-0456
04-Apr-03 Pekko   (10.0) 19 - 19 (10.0)   MonkeyBob 13 9 M!Pekko-MonkeyBob-2003-04-05-0520
04-Apr-03 Pekko   (14.7) 15 - 11 (05.3)   MonkeyBob 8 7 M!MonkeyBob-Pekko-2003-04-05-0551
Match QF1 Pekko 4 (73.0) 109 - 100 (47.0) 1 MonkeyBob 63 46 Total playing time = 1 hrs 49 mins 
03-Apr-03 Scarab   (16.6) 28 - 16 (03.4)   Mighty 9 5 M!Scarab-Mighty-2003-04-04-0958
03-Apr-03 Scarab   (05.3) 20 - 24 (14.7)   Mighty 7 11 M!Mighty-Scarab-2003-04-04-1017
03-Apr-03 Scarab   (05.7) 20 - 23 (14.3)   Mighty 7 10 M!Scarab-Mighty-2003-04-04-1036
03-Apr-03 Scarab   (15.5) 28 - 21 (04.5)   Mighty 10 7 Mighty-Scarab-2003-04-04-1100
03-Apr-03 Scarab   (13.3) 23 - 22 (06.7)   Mighty 9 11 Mighty-Scarab-2003-04-04-1121
03-Apr-03 Scarab   (05.0) 15 - 20 (15.0)   Mighty 13 9 Mighty-Scarab-2003-04-04-1142
06-Apr-03 Scarab   (15.0) 24 T 19 (05.0)   Mighty 11 9 M!Mighty-Scarab-2003-04-06-1301
Match QF2 Scarab 4 (76.4) 158 - 145 (63.6) 3 Mighty 55 53 Total playing time = 1 hrs 48 mins 
Match QF3 Bastet wd - def Cynosure Bastet won by default
06-Apr-03 Chimaster   (15.0) 26 - 21 (05.0)   fear 5 7 ChiMaster-fear-2003-04-07-0722
06-Apr-03 Chimaster   (14.7) 19 - 15 (05.3)   fear 7 5 ChiMaster-fear-2003-04-07-0748
08-Apr-03 Chimaster   (13.3) 22 - 21 (06.7)   fear 4 9 fear-ChiMaster-2003-04-09-0637
08-Apr-03 Chimaster   (04.5) 18 - 25 (15.5)   fear 4 8 ChiMaster-fear-2003-04-09-0650
08-Apr-03 Chimaster   (02.3) 10 - 28 (17.7)   fear 6 6 fear-ChiMaster-2003-04-09-0714
08-Apr-03 Chimaster   (03.2) 15 - 28 (16.8)   fear 6 13 fear-Chimaster-2003-04-09-0757
Match QF4 Chimaster 3 (53.0) 110 - 138 (67.0) 3 fear 32 48 Total playing time = 1 hrs 20 mins 
4th NEW ZEALAND TANTRIX CHAMPIONSHIP 2003 - SEMI (1/2) FINALS
6 games per match : 62.5 TPs to win, but see notes in red below - Deadline Sunday 13 April
Date: Player 1: C: TP: Game score: TP: C: Player 2: T1: T2: Review game:
14-Apr-03 Pekko   (13.3) 20 - 19 (06.7)   Scarab 9 7 Pekko-Scarab-2003-04-15-0925
14-Apr-03 Pekko   (03.2) 21 - 34 (16.8)   Scarab 14 11 Scarab-Pekko-2003-04-15-1006
14-Apr-03 Pekko   (10.0) 14 - 14 (10.0)   Scarab 13 13 Pekko-Scarab-2003-04-15-0927
17-Apr-03 Pekko   (10.0) 18 - 18 (10.0)   Scarab 13 14 Pekko-Scarab-2003-04-18-0757
17-Apr-03 Pekko   (05.3) 14 - 18 (14.7)   Scarab 10 11 Pekko-Scarab-2003-04-18-0835
17-Apr-03 Pekko   (06.1) 17 - 19 (13.9)   Scarab 11 7 Pekko-Scarab-2003-04-18-0905
Match SF1 Pekko 1 (47.9) 104 - 122 (72.1) 3 Scarab 70 63 Total playing time = 2 hrs 13 mins 
14-Apr-03 Bastet   (06.1) 15 - 17 (13.9)   fear 8 9 M!bastet-fear-2003-04-14-2123 
14-Apr-03 Bastet   (15.8) 24 - 16 (04.2)   fear 7 11 M!fear-Bastet-2003-04-14-2145 
14-Apr-03 Bastet   (06.1) 16 - 18 (13.9)   fear 6 11 M!Bastet-fear-2003-04-14-2215
14-Apr-03 Bastet   (14.3) 22 - 19 (05.7)   fear 8 6 M!fear-Bastet-2003-04-14-2243
14-Apr-03 Bastet   (04.7) 16 - 22 (15.3)   fear 7 8 M!fear-Bastet-2003-04-14-2312
14-Apr-03 Bastet   (10.0) 19 - 19 (10.0)   fear 10 7 M!fear-bastet-2003-04-15-0808
Match SF2 Bastet 2 (57.0) 112 - 111 (63.0) 3 fear 46 52 Total playing time = 1 hr 38 mins 
4th NEW ZEALAND TANTRIX CHAMPIONSHIP 2003 - 3rd/4th PLACE MATCH
6 games per match : 62.5 TPs to win, but see notes in red below - Deadline Saturday 26 April
Date: Player 1: C: TP: Game score: TP: C: Player 2: T1: T2: Review game:
25-Apr-03 Pekko   (04.7) 13 - 19 (15.3)   Bastet 14 13 M!Bastet-Pekko-2003-04-26-0813
25-Apr-03 Pekko   (04.0) 11 - 20 (16.0)   Bastet 10 14 M!Pekko-Bastet-2003-04-26-0957
27-Apr-03 Pekko   (02.3) 16 - 34 (17.7)   Bastet 8 12 M!Bastet-Pekko-2003-04-28-0203
27-Apr-03 Pekko   (16.2) 24 - 14 (03.8)   Bastet 12 14 M!Pekko-Bastet-2003-04-28-0418
27-Apr-03 Pekko   (16.0) 23 - 14 (04.0)   Bastet 10 12 M!Pekko-Bastet-2003-04-28-0325
27-Apr-03 Pekko   (10.0) 19 - 19 (10.0)   Bastet 14 14 M!Bastet-Pekko-2003-04-28-0457
Match TF1 Pekko 2 (53.2) 106 - 120 (66.8) 3 Bastet 68 79 Total playing time = 2 hrs 27 mins 
4th NEW ZEALAND TANTRIX CHAMPIONSHIP 2003 - THE FINAL
6 games per match : 62.5 TPs to win, but see notes in red below - Deadline Saturday 19 April
Date: Player 1: C: TP: Game score: TP: C: Player 2: T1: T2: Review game:
19-Apr-03 Scarab   (15.0) 26 - 21 (05.0)   fear 6 8 M!fear-Scarab-2003-04-20-0859
19-Apr-03 Scarab   (18.0) 36 - 16 (02.0)   fear 12 7 M!Scarab-fear-2003-04-20-0920
19-Apr-03 Scarab   (15.5) 26 - 19 (04.5)   fear 7 7 Scarab-fear-2003-04-20-0943
19-Apr-03 Scarab   (10.0) 24 - 24 (10.0)   fear 6 10 M!Scarab-fear-2003-04-20-1009
19-Apr-03 Scarab   (14.7) 24 - 20 (05.3)   fear 4 4 U!Scarab-fear-2003-04-20-1031
19-Apr-03 Scarab   (15.8) 27 - 19 (04.2)   fear 6 13 M!fear-Scarab-2003-04-20-1044
Match FI1 Scarab 5 (89.0) 163 - 119 (31.0) 0 fear 41 49 Total playing time = 1 hrs 30 mins 
Other player details and stats
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QF report: Reigning Champion Matt carried on his seemingly relentless march towards another Final with a convincing QF win v Stacy, though the no. 4 seed will have been pleased to at least have brought the no. 1 seed's 12-game unbeaten run in this tournament to an end by winning g3. Matt's SF will be a rematch of last year's Final v no. 3 seed Murray, who survived a late comeback by no. 2 seed Bevan to win their match in a first-ever tie-break game.

No. 8 seed Chris, 12, looked to be down and out when no. 7 seed Seb, 13, raced to a 3-game lead. Could the WJTC runner-up recover and perhaps force a tie-break? Well, it turned out he could do a lot better than that - in a stunning comeback, he won the three remaining games by big margins to take the match in six! Chris will play no. 6 seed Catherine Moxham in the SF, after unseeded Greg was defaulted in their match. After defaulting his last 2 games in the group phase, Greg had specifically had to promise that he would make an effort if we agreed to let him continue in the tournament, making his behaviour since then all the more shocking, especially since if he had withdrawn at the time, Eleanor would have got a QF place which has now been wasted. Those who have had to put up with him will be pleased to learn that he now faces an indefinite ban from future tournaments. Having said that, we also hope of course that there has not been a sudden crisis in his life that has led to this apparent disappearance off the face of the earth.

SF report: World Junior runner-up Chris held a narrow lead over no. 6 seed Cat after 5 games were played in their first session, the no. 8 seed winning games 1, 3 & 5. Later the same day, Group B winner Chris got exactly what he needed (a draw) in the final game to go through by just 63.0-57.0 TPs to his second Final of the year!

In a rematch of last year's Final, no. 3 seed Murray gained a momentous victory over no. 1 seed Matt to prove that the reigning champion is not invincible after all. Although he is without much doubt the best Tantrix player ever seen, many of us (including, I believe, Matt himself) had suspected that he must lose a match sometime, but he had not lost even a 2-game match in an individual tournament since May/June 2001 when he lost to Murray (again!) and Robin Brown in quick succession and went out of the NZ in the group phase. Since then he has won two World Championships & one NZ Championship and captained NZL A to the World Team Championship. So, it is even more amazing then that after losing g1 to Matt, Murray did not let him win any of the five remaining games, winning three of them himself and drawing two!