Showing posts with label Global. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Global. Show all posts

Tuesday, 5 August 2025

Welcome home, Doron. You’ve inspired a nation!

Doron Claxton, from Cape Town, has firmly placed South Africa on the entire global backgammon community!

Excitement mounted like never before in anticipation of the Backgammon World Championship final in Monte Carlo, as Doron Claxton, of South Africa, prepared to make further inroads into the history books. Word spread rapidly among friends, family, and the backgammon community as more and more people tuned in to watch the action unfold.

In Cape Town, a watch party turned into a roaring, electric event — shouts of joy and disbelief, loud clapping when Doron found the right play, whoops and hollas when the dice delivered, with kids running wild around the action, the room was enthused with Claxton-fever. And Doron delivered on everyone’s wishes.

The full match can be seen on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zndiQmd15B8

He started strong, outplaying his Finnish opponent, Timo Vaatainen, with poise and confidence. In a thoughtful and relaxed manner, Doron raced ahead to a 4–0 lead. Slapping the doubling cube on the felt with his signature flair, it was suddenly 8–3. Timo called for a five-minute break.

Doron, calm and composed, stepped out of the room and recorded a cheerful and contented video message to his supporters back home. The momentum continued: 10–3, then 12–5, and soon 14–6, with Timo playing a desperate 1-4 backgame and his clock slipping dangerously low.

At that point, a South African victory felt almost inevitable.

But backgammon is a game of sharp turns. One wrong roll, one cruel bounce, and everything can shift. After more than two and a half hours of play, Timo’s backgame found with a hit. Doron, with seven checkers already borne off, faced a critical decision as the cube came back at 4. He “snap”-took it instantly — and entered a race for the win.

Agonisingly, the race was lost. The score shifted to 14–10 instead of what could have been 18–6.

Unshaken, Doron played on. He clawed back another 2 points, moving ahead 16–10, while Timo’s time bank dropped to just two minutes. Then, a twist: Doron played brilliantly but luck turned against him, and Timo claimed four points, bringing the score to 16–14. The players paused for a second break, after three gruelling hours, with Timo’s clock now down to just 46 seconds.

The final stretch was unforgettable. Doron reached 17–14, just two points from glory. Then came the decider: 17–17, the cube on 2, both players deep into the bear-off to decide the champion.

Doron hit one of Timo’s exposed checkers — victory nearly in hand — but Timo rolled one of his few winning numbers. With just six seconds left on his clock, he brought all his checkers home.

The room erupted. Finnish cheers filled Monte Carlo. Doron, drained and stunned, dropped his head in disappointment and slunked out to hugs and consolation from his team. A heroic journey had ended just short of the ultimate prize.

But this is not a story of loss. It is a story of arrival.

Doron Claxton has left his mark — not only on the World Championship — but on the entire global backgammon community. His courageous, impulsive, and human style of play is a breath of fresh air in a world dominated by robotic, memorised patterns and overly calculated lines. Doron’s run captivated thousands. He showed that there is room for flair, instinct, and fearlessness on the biggest stage. The live broadcast of the match drew a record 2,500+ viewers, making it the most-watched backgammon match ever streamed on YouTube!

And back home, the impact of this incredible debut international performance is just beginning.

Doron’s journey has reminded us of what makes backgammon special — its drama, its unpredictability, and its community. More than anything, he’s shown the world that South Africa belongs in the upper echelons of this ancient and beautiful game.

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Thursday, 8 August 2024

National Team Trials - 10 August 2024


National Team Trials (NTT) is to be played on 10 August 2024  from 9H00 to 10H00, to select the teams to officially represent South Africa in various international Championships and test matches. Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) reminds all esports athletes to fully acquaint themselves with the rules on https://esportscommentator.blogspot.com/2024/05/national-team-trials-age-restrictions.html

The following titles shall be played at the 2024 National team Trials to be held on 10 August 2024:

  • Counter-Strike 2
  • DotA 2 - students - 16 to 24
  • FIFA 24
  • Rocket League - 1 v 1
  • Rocket League - 3 v 3
  • Street Fighter 6
  • Tekken 8
  • Valorant

It should be noted that Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) shall be holding such NTT online

However, players can play online with the following proviso's:
  1. Player's in the same team entered from the same province shall play from the same venue, and
  2. Players in the same team from different provinces may play from different provinces, and
  3. Players participating in individual titles (1v1) from the same club and who reside in the same province shall play from the same venue, and
  4. All venues must have a club member in attendance.
MSSA shall select the captain of the highest placed team and/or individual based on:
  1. Confirmation to attend events (test matches and other matches), and,
  2. Clearance from stimulants.
All Registered Players who have qualified at MSSA's Regional, and/or Provincial, and/or National Championships are cordially invited to enter.

To have qualified, a Registered Player shall have:
  • Have finished in the top three places, or top 20% (whichever is greater), in a Provincial or National Championship, and/or
  • Have won a Regional Championship, and/or
  • Have won a Derby event, and or
  • Have represented South Africa in an international championship in 2023.
The conditions for entry are as follows:

The Documents required are as follows:
  • Copy of South African Passport.
  • Signed Senior or Junior Contract (Please note a parent or guardian will need to sign if the player is under 18 years of age).
  • Copy of an Unabridged Birth Certificate for players under the age of 18
While National Team Trials shall begin at 10H00 and end at 19H00, Registered Players shall be online at 9H00. MSSA officials will be on duty all day to assist with any queries you might have.

Additional reading:

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Sunday, 4 August 2024

Results: 5th FREE STATE Online Championships held on 3 August 2024.

Jordan Jasson of PR0NHS (Northview High School) dominated the Rocket League (1 v 1) esports title at the 2024 Free State Online Championships on 13 August 2024.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA) held its 2024 Free State Online Championships on 13 August 2024.The provincial championship enabled participants to qualify for MSSA's National Team Trials (NTT) which will be used to select South Africa's National Protea Teams for titles played that are not included in International Esports Federation (IESF) and Global Esports Federation (GEF) events.

There were only two (2) provinces represented, and 20 players qualified for Senior Provincial Colours.

The titles to be played at MSSA's National Team Trials (NTT) on10 August 2024:

  • Counter-Strike 2
  • DotA 2 - students - 16 to 24
  • FIFA 24
  • Rocket League - 1 v 1
  • Rocket League - 3 v 3
  • Street Fighter 6
  • Tekken 8
  • Valorant
The event was umpired by Armand van der Colf.

The winners of the 2024 Free State Online Championships are:

TitleName of player/teamClubProvincial Colours awarded
Clash Royale - PremierKatlego KabayiNWU
Clash Royale - High SchoolMarcu van WykHoërskool Klerksdorp
eFootball - PremierShoib HassanDawnview High SchoolGauteng Provincial Colours
eFootball - Premier - FemaleMikara NokrajDawnview High SchoolGauteng Provincial Colours
eFootball - High School - MaleThabiso SeabelaDawnview High School
FIFA 24 - PremierRearabetswe MoloiNWUNorth West Provincial Colours
FIFA 24 - Under 24
DotA - Premier
CCL Knights
Arav HarrielalCrawford College LonehillGauteng Provincial Colours
Howie Chen (c)Crawford College LonehillGauteng Provincial Colours
Ryan CaoCrawford College LonehillGauteng Provincial Colours
Srivar PremjeethCrawford College LonehillGauteng Provincial Colours
Aryan PillayCrawford College LonehillGauteng Provincial Colours
Mobile Legends - Premier
Dawnviewers
Thabiso SeabelaDawnview High SchoolGauteng Provincial Colours
Relebogile NkadimengDawnview High SchoolGauteng Provincial Colours
Onye OkekeDawnview High SchoolGauteng Provincial Colours
Gerald KhumaloDawnview High SchoolGauteng Provincial Colours
Khanimambo MabasaDawnview High SchoolGauteng Provincial Colours
Rocket League - Premier - 1 v 1Jordan JassonPR0NHSGauteng Provincial Colours
Rocket League - U24 - 1 v 1Koketso MoleteNWU
Rocket League - High School - 1 v 1Thamsanqa KubhekaPR0NHS
Tekken 8Reneilwe MaphasaTukseSportsGauteng Provincial Colours
Valorant - Premier
TUKS Valorant
Kyle HalvorsenTukseSportsGauteng Provincial Colours
Alejandro Luca SArtini-KrugerTukseSportsGauteng Provincial Colours
Thomas Langdon Moncur BarnesTukseSportsGauteng Provincial Colours
Jaden Conner swartsTukseSportsGauteng Provincial Colours
William Carlton OgawaTukseSportsGauteng Provincial Colours
Sportsmanship AwardStorm MatsepePR0NHS

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