Caricom and Limpy Lotto eliminate Mix Up

..Adventure makes great comeback

THE NATIONAL Gymnasium on Mandela Avenue was buzzing with activity all day yesterday and into last night, as talk went around of Mix-Up being eliminated from the F&H Printing Establishment $1M countrywide dominoes tournament, thanks to the efforts of Caricom and Limpy Lotto.At the same time, Adventure made a valiant comeback to take their game from National Insurance Scheme (NIS) and one of the top teams who were favoured to advance in this tournament which has at stake a top prize of $500,000, trophy and medals.
Mix-Up started promisingly against Caricom and Limpy Lotto that placed third in last year’s competition, which was won by TNT, but a late surge from Limpy Lotto, coupled with brilliant domino tactics from Caricom who was content on giving Limpy Lotto games after they had secured the top spot in the group.
This saw the demise of one of the tournament favourites, as Caricom chalked up 87 games, Limpy Lotto 67 and Mix-Up 62, to send Mix-Up packing and set tongues wagging.
Also making an early exit was Thunder, who on the opening night last Friday, won for themselves the Best Dressed Team at the march past, but found themselves in no man’s land against Adventure and NIS.
Just like Limpy Lotto, the Adventure team that comprised Saif Baksh, Floyd Hurdle, Karanand Dass, Abdool Sattaur and brothers Walter and Edward Savory, started slowly by marking 7 games to Thunder’s 12 and NIS’ 16.
However, they stormed back in the next five sittings to chalk up 15, 11, 15, 16 and 15 for a total of 79 games, while NIS got 12, 13, 11, 9 and 13 (total 74), and Thunder 13, 10, 14, 16 and 8 for a total of 73 games. With two teams going through to the next round, Thunder was left to observe things from the sidelines.
Also in victors lane were B^ whose 86 games handed them victory over Blue Flame and Regal with 77 and 67 respectively, Scrambler 66 over Ravi 6 (57) and Universal Group 51, C7 with 73 over Delta Force 59 and Unruly Bunch 57 and Providence Sports Club 63 from Assassin 54 and Phantom 49.
R&R had lots of reasons to smile as well, having chalked up 77 games to top their group matchup against Specialist 52 and Lions with 42, even as Police who scored 80 games arrested both West Side (77) and F&H on 76, with F&F being the lone prisoner, while Vidya’s 64 games was enough to steer them past Guyana Police Force All Female lineup on 63 and All Season in the cellar with 62.
Wins were also recorded by TNT over Ansa McAl and Playboys, with Playboys being eliminated, Republic Bank and Double Deuce over Turning Point, B$ and Dream Team from Mayor and City Council and Gangster, and Snake from the wiles of Upscale Warriors, with the scores for these matches unavailable.
Up to press time, several teams including the victorious ones mentioned above, were doing battle for a place in today’s quarterfinals, semi- finals and the finals respectively, with matches set to commence at 12:00hrs sharp.
Apart from the first place prize, the runner up will pocket $250,000, trophy and medals and the third placed finisher will cart off $100,000, trophy and medals.
The fourth, fifth and sixth placed finishers will pocket $60,000, $35,000 and $25,000 respectively, while those teams who have made it thus far in the tournament and came out empty handed, will pocket $10,000 each.
In addition, the player who shares the first Double Love in the playoffs will receive $5,000, Best Female Player, $5,000, First Love (Finals) $3,000, Best Performing Team from far reaching areas $25,000 and Best Performing Corporation Team $15,000.

(By Calvin Roberts)