BNN Breaking News: Chip Checkers Reporting
It started out as a back-and-forth brawl between the two top competitors of the IBC (International Backgammon Circuit) with the cube flying around like there was no gravity in the arena.
Molly accepted the first two cubes in the first two games, winning the first and losing the second, making it 2-2 after two. But Molly's big moment in the tourney was game #3, and threes were her number. JohnnyU took a Mac cube and she was on her way to a 2-pointer when her dice heated up and Urogdy stalled like an Italian sports car on an LA freeway. On the final roll, Mac cast Dub 3s to record a Gammon and her first 4pt win in the modern era.
Her celebration was short lived, when in the next game, it was Molly who took a cube and suffered a 4 point Gammon. With the match tied at 6-6, it appeared that JohnnyU was breathing again.
The pair spilt the next 4 games... JU MM MM JU. Now knotted at 8, they moved into the 2nd half. MacIntosh made her move pushing the score in her favor to 12-10. Molly accepted a cube in the next game, and JU rolled smoothly for the win, tying the match at 12. He never looked back. In the next crucial game, Urogdy brought in The Ghost in a dead heat. This time Pepper-The Ghost worked his magic, rolling hot and after nailing the SHOW SHOES (6-6)... Molly had no choice but to decline the cube. It was Pepper's only appearance of the match. On the next game Urogdy took at good lead and was willing to race for the tourney. Molly declined, played at Crawford but ran out of gas.
Team JohnnyU looked relieved after the Tuesday night fight. Smiles overtook the worried frowns throughout stands and in the clubhouse.
"There were moments where we thought that we were in jeopardy of losing two straight… when we dropped the gammon and fell 6-2, and when we were down 12-10 late. Fortunately, the well-rested Ghost came through and we were able to carry the momentum with some heat in the final two games. 5 straight points for the win. We needed it. Back on track! The JohnnyU train is set to roll this Spring." -JohnnyU
Molly seemed a bit dejected and clearly exhausted after the battle.
"I feel asleep during one game and I think it affected my dice. We had Sleepy Dice late. Usually I rely on JohnnyUs coffee to keep me awake, but he was mysteriously quiet.. probably cause I was kicking his ass. But his strategy must have worked. He outlasted us tonight.... we just couldn’t finish the domination that we started."
When asked about the Ghost, Molly saw it as an opportunity to try and create new controversy in Urogdy's orbit,
"First we were told he was on the DL and then we were told that they were saving him, which I found odd. And then he comes in and smokes us. Something smells a fishy in the Urogdy camp and its sure ain't Sushi... how do I know, because sushi doesn’t smell like fish... now I'm not saying that the Ghost stinks... but there is something foul going on."
BNN's Betty Bearoff spoke to Pepper (The Ghost) after the match,
"Felt good, really well rested, been saving up my dice karma for the right moment... then bam! I was given my shot and pulled those box cars! My goal is to win in as few rolls as possible. Hate to have to sprint”.
Hot Hanna reported directly from JohnnyUs locker room after the contest:
"The JohnnyU- MollyMac rivalry has taken on new meaning in 2021 as Mac continues to improve her status by spending the Winter months playing in seedy back rooms, where the coffee is served strong and where some of the finest dice are cast by the world's most experienced players. One sign of her bolder play came in last night's match. Molly aggressively blotted the 5 point on her inner table to go for the jugular, even with JohnnyU having 5 closed on his inner board. The move paid off, as JohnnyU danced in jail and Molly sealed the gap.
There was a lot of pressure on JohnnyU to win after Mac victory Sunday night. There was a no nonsense feeling in the JohnnyU dugout throughout the match and seemed to become more tense as both players entered the third trifectoid. I had a one on one with JohnnyU after the match... but that’s a whole difference story.... Back to you Betty!"
Sources inside both camps tell BNN that a new match may be played on Friday night, as the series heats up. Rumors of rookie sensation, Jennie Jaggs making an appearance have been floating around the backgammon society
BOX NEWS- Wire : Justin Rolls Reports
COFFEE COFFEE COFFEE- In any language or just plain English, where was the Java that Mac needed to fire up those neurons? Sleeping with a shot at winning back-to-back tourneys? Was it just me or did the world witness a cognitive breakdown in MacWorld HQ? They say it was exhaustion, but is there a hidden brain aneurysm or something else happening upstairs?
Tune in this weekend for a BOX News Feature... looking into the secret world of MollyMac. You’ll see two sides of the rising backgammon star. Her practical friends see a normal responsible working mom with a passion for the dice but her radical friends tell a darker side. "The Secret World of MollyMac" airs exclusively on BOX. You won't want to miss it.