UKC '08 CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS

[Steve1977]

It should also be mentioned, I had expected Steve E to possible reach a top-3 position, but I had not expected that you would be so close being crowned the best ko2-player in England. Well done!

What can I say? I couldnt avoid the Beard Blood!

[gdh82]

Owing to my 'more senior' status, if I don't post this now, I'm liable to forget. Plus I've been a little absent at home lately with all this organising lark, so I'll run out of excuses to do much more posting (at least for a few days!!!).

Garry C,2,Steve C,6,
Garry C,7,Nick H,0,
Garry C,7,Darren G,2,
My opener was against Camberman who I know hadn't played competitively since Rome 07. Would I benefit from any rustiness, I wondered ? I should be so lucky!!!! Steve quipped that he normally takes several games to get warmed up, but a 4 or 5 goal blitz in a matter of a few first half minutes proved he would be quickly out of the blocks! Really great to see you have such an excellent tourney as well as nearly win the damn thing!!!! And thanks ago for your efforts in producing a Birmingham version of the KO2CV The fixture list meant I'd play none other than Fourfries next! A real character with some cracking 1-liners! Playing after such a long break can't have been easy and I think Nick's first game was against the mighty Jon G, and I sensed Nick was preparing himself for a string of defeats. Hope you're not downhearted as our game, for example, was much closer than the scored suggested. Glad to hear you picked up a win today! Similarly, there wasn't much between me and Stainy but something like three of my first four shots, including a sweet free-kick went in and, happily for me, set me on my way.

Garry C,3,Jon G,3,
Garry C,2,Robert S,4,
Wayne L,3,Garry C,1
James B,2,Garry C,1,
Steve E,6,Garry C,3,
I claimed my first ever point against Jon G who uncharateristically wasn't converting his shots into goals, thanks mostly to my goalkeeper!!! I was playing well too mind and actually lead 1-0, 2-0 and 3-1, and even after it was tied 3-3 came mighty close to a winner! Next up came my most enjoyable defeat of the day (yes, honestly) against Robert. A game where I felt I really gave the title-contender a good run for his money! A good natured game, with us both enthusiastically supporting our own efforts Robert produced a remarkable defensive display including a penalty save during my first half flurry before securing the second half more comfortably to win 4-2. So unbelieveably close to your first UKC title, Rob, I hope you can eventually re-call this match with more pleasure than pain, as you were part of an unforgettable finale. I was well chuffed to see Waynie back in action and with a very laid-back approach too. Maybe he was too tired from his late night before to worry about his game, but he seemed much more at east with himself and whether or not it was due to this, I was impressed with strong 6th place finish! My game against James was certainly a game where the defences on top. Losing 1-2, I thought I mean even claim a point when I won an injury-time top right corner (from where I'd scored my only goal of this game) but just as the balled appeared to reach my hitman, James intercepted with a perfectly time header! Great to see the Beard back in action! I know Stevie well of course and I was genuienly delighted he was having a awesome tourney but I still wanted to beat him! I took the lead but a tight game remained 1-1 at half-time but after the break, Steve revealed the player he his, moving into another gear in his locker, scoring 3 goals within 60 seconds to deservedly take the points. Absolutely fantastic achievement Koolio - well proud of ya mate!

Mark W,3,Garry C,3,
Mandhir S,3,Garry C,2,
Garry C,3,Greg N,3,
Durbs is great fun to play KO2 against, always finding the funny angle on whatever is said or happens during the match. We played a few times in the KOOHL tourney the night before, and uncannily I'm sure we drew a few 3-3 there as well! Against Sid, I really didn't get going in the first half, and Sid by contrast lead from start to finish. No complaints mate and well done on an impressive 7th place. Against Greg, I felt I'd put in a good show, but I was always behind in this game. Thankfully, however, my perservence paid and I snatched a draw with virtually the last kick of the game. Phew! I know Greg was feeling a little downhearted about his day's results but I honestly feel there's no need to be.

Andy E,3,Garry C,6,
Garry C,3,Andy H,1,
John W,2,Garry C,3,
I'd felt before the tourney that I'd have settled for around 10th place but this didn't look on until after winning all three of my final three games. It was good to meet both Andy's. My close match with Andy E got very close at one point following a penalty dive alledgedly! Although this was converted, the final score was justice, I felt! For most of my incrediably tight game with Andy H, I only had a narrow 1-goal lead, with Andy coming extremely close on several occasions. It was only late in the second half did I manage a two goal breather. The tension grew even tighter during my game against Mr FW! Blimey, talk about a wafer thin margin! IIRC only a penalty save from me, securing the narrowest of victories.

Still these last three games pushed me into 8th place, which I'm more than pleased with. Throughout the day, during my matches, I'd be aware of the cheers and jeers from others having fun during their games, and as joint-organiser, that was one of the most pleasing aspects of the day. As host, its hard to focus solely on your own game-play at times, when your mind is also on the wider tournament issues. Nevertheless I had some thoroughly special KO2 moments of my own and shall enjoy looking at this table for a little while longer yet!

[Steve1977]

To better illustrate that final game (ideally you would view this along with watching the final game that was recorded!)




First Strike to Camber...
SteveC 1 - 0 RobS


Swift action... - Jon's hand is on the trophy!
SteveC 1 - 1 RobS


If anyone can, the Camberman Can!...?
SteveC 2 - 1 RobS


Energised by Forest's promotion, Rob brings it back again..(.Jon breathes a huge sigh of relief)
SteveC 2 - 2 RobS


...and is on course to win the fucker!
SteveC 2 - 3 RobS


...with seconds remaining, Steve brings it back level!
SteveC 3 - 3 RobS

[Bounty Bob]

I bet Robert was rather loud by the end of that match!

[Jon G]

what can i say??? hurray!

having finished all my games i went to watch the liverpool game in the foyer, safe in the knowledge that someone would pip me at the post - to be honest the favourite tag hadn't sat well on my shoulders, and i'd dropped too many points to expect to win it. if it wasn't to be steve e (by winning his last game against james b), then it would be rob or camber... cue the drama!

watchin the last game was a great climax (i nearly did when camber equalised with 14 seconds left!!), and a fitting end to a great tournament. i was cheering on whoever was behind, but i never really thought it'd be a draw, and either of those giants of the great game would've been a worthy tournament winner. well, the unstoppable force met the immovable object (i.e. they fucked each other up) & the silverware stayed in birmingham!!!

overall i think this was the hardest uk only tournament i've ever played in, with i would say 5 top players. the benefit of that is that you know the others'll take points off each other, which they obviously did in fairly dramatic circumstances. i doubt any of the 'big name' absentees would've got any more than 34 points.

the evening before the tournament i noticed that the premiership & the championship could well be decided on goal difference, so i decided to try & make sure the 'extra point' was in my favour. i battered nick 16-2, and that did the job nicely!! funny how that basically won me the tournament. anyway, there you go.

on a more general note it was good to see waynie back (cup final could've gone either way) from his sabbatical, and good to see some koa members from before my time (i was hoping to find a quiet 10 minutes to get my joystick fluffed but it never quite worked out). the day had a good feeling of continuity with plenty of old players & plenty of new. good to see beard & muppet nick, as well as the usual koa legends.

thanks again to garry & steve for the tournament. and with the exception of a couple of medals all the silverware stayed in the capital city of kick off 2!!!

ps i think my form might plateau now, but nonetheless i'm gonna try & break into the top 5 - the rankings are an embarrassment to england!

[Robert Swift]

I bet Robert was rather loud by the end of that match!

Not at all. Ask anyone who was there.

[Tripod]

Wow, what a finale! Amazing.

[Steve1977]

Steve E,8,John W,1,
Jon G,6,Steve E,5,
Robert S,2,Steve E,4,
Steve E,4,Wayne L,4,
Steve E,5,Mandhir S,2,
Darren G,2,Steve E,8,
Greg N,1,Steve E,3,
Nick H,2,Steve E,5,
Steve E,6,Garry C,3,
Steve E,3,Andy E,1,
Steve E,6,Mark W,4,
Steve C,3,Steve E,3,
Andy H,1,Steve E,2,
Steve E,3,James B,4,

What an unbelievable weekend. Im still on a high from it! For a while it seemed like this UK Champs wasnt going to be up there with the others but due to the late influx of players, the KOA once again made a memorable event possible! Without any of the people attending, none of this highs nor the lows, the laughter and the excitement would simply not have happened.
Upon getting to the Hotel first thing the room was open and a shedload of people were walking into the Conference room - Knowing that our previous venue had been double booked I was a little worried! The guy at reception removed them and then there was no tables!
We got the laptop communicating with the projector but the screen was black on the laptop - so huge thanks to Greg for making it viewable on there as well. i would imagine that without this it would have caused a few headaches! Also, huge thanks to BountyBob for his fixture software. I was saying to Gaz that once everyone was in there it was up to all of us to make it work (basically my way of deflecting any blame ) and without the worry of the laptop breaking...and even if it did, Marks superb program would have saved anyway meant I could concentrate on enjoying the tourney. Also, I think I gave Gaz my share of organisers syndrome
Unsure where my good performance came from, but its like I was saying about Noodles the other week...you play the good players enough times and you'l eventually get up there. I re-iterate again...Noodles should be shit hot after Italy.
First game for me was on my own equipment (always nice when using a familiar screen ) against John W. It was a game in perfect synch with most of my games during the tournament where the initial goal (or goals!) were hard to come by and consequently the more the game went on, the more I was worried.
I was winning 2-1 with half time on the horizon and then John W missed a guilt edged chance...he simply had to knock it into the empty net but his new joystick showed it maybe needed a few more games to get into the groove first. After that the final scoreline wasnt vindictive of how close the game was. Unlucky John.
Next up for me was JonG and I wasnt too confident, but having played a close friendly game I was saying to myself that I want to play people like JonG plenty of times so I can eventually equal his skill level (regular wednesday tournies Jon?? hehe). At 3-1 down I wasnt too downhearted because I just loaded up a mindframe that iv been losing by greater margins in jff's and came back plus id be kicking up the field. With it 5-5, the keeper fluffed one of Jons diagonals and he scored it into the empty net. I didnt even have time to try my Kick Off routine - stunning game though with no complaints, little did I know that these two extra points for him, so early in the tournament would be pivotal (i guess we could say that about most games though)
Like a cat out of water I took the bullit by the horns and my next game was against Rob! At least I think it was...I distinctly remember Gaz having an epic encounter with Kobra man and so to balance out of the games I would have to take something from Rob.
When we played in Feburary I was berefit of confidence and tried to wing the game. With the final score 3-2 I thought that maybe if I had more belief I may have done better? Possibly. It was nice that I had gone from a banana skin to an oil slick! To be honest, this gave me more of a confidence boost that I was deemed a threat! Rob did lots of attacking and my keeper was on good form. With the cushion of a few goals to my advantage I managed to enjoy parts of the game and not be nervous as crap
I remarked that I was dreading playing Waynie because I know I was lucky to beat him in Rome, and once again took advantage of his low morale to win at the London International in February but this time id' be facing a Waynie that wasnt hamstringed with a frustration. Instead this would be a free flowing Waynie who wouldnt be over reliant over any part of his game - Instead it was me who was reliant on my routine to get me a 4-4 draw! Cracking game to a player who I dont like playing...I just love playing because dating back to our first games at Sids stadium they have always been memorable!
Some of the games I am having trouble remembering I have to say, just looking at the results Im suprised I managed that win against Sid because he had a cracking tournament and as Waynie will do - he's getting better and better with the Greek stick. As with himself, Gaz and SimonK...on any given game we can all beat each other. Its just a little luck that a player needs to take the ascendancy.
Before my game with Gaz, Waynie said that to prove that KOBRA stick together, Gaz would have to let me win But we might support each other when playing other players, when we square up to each other no love is lost and we battle battle and battle!! When Gaz took the lead I had to do that (in that order as well) to claim a win...if you saw the results you might think Gaz let me win due to an own goal but given that Gaz always had one eye on the timetable and every other issue as well in organising, I took advantage of moments where his concentration may have broken. Its impossible to say which way these games will go.
Had a great game with MarkW as well where Houlier joined his team in a last minute transfer amidst xmas celebrations the night before...so first thing Sunday morning I signed Roland Koeman
Nick was very unlucky in our game I have to say, he was bottom and on a low edge so the last thing you want is a dodgy goal keeper which is exactly what he got. But scoring two goals when confidence is low is a great positive - besides, he hadnt gone to McDonalds at this moment so he was in dire need of sustunance!
Greg is a great player but something wasnt clicking right in this tournament. Fresh on the heels of winning Koohl 10 it just didnt work for him this tourney - I'v had this happen too and its difficult to describe. In the previous UK Champs I was a little disappointed with my finish. (but those disapointments are quickly discarded because its special...very special to be part of these events and Id happily finish bottom just to be part of it). Hope to see you around my house a lot more bud for Pizza, avoiding the cats and classic tournies!
My game with Steve Camber will be a game I'll remember for a long time! By the end of the tournament I was in a state of disbelief as to how well I was doing but I was indeed flagging a little. I was very hungry but I started to get a little supersticious and so decided id eat after I played all my games. In the game with Steve I never actually took the lead but with it 3-2, I managed a great goal from the byline and let out a great 'yesssssssssssssssss!!!' when it went in. A loss with Jon, A draw with Steve and a win over Rob - I was very happy with these results, but could I avoid the Beard?
Before that I had a tricky encounter with I think AndyH where it was squeaky bum time for a while with it being 1-0...then when I made it 2-0 I could rest easy..until he made it 2-1!!! Fucking hell, this game took ages to finish and I really thought I was going to lose it but I held out thankfully. What happened next illustrated just how close this league was taking place...

The deciding games were going to be on the big screen but due to the implications, which games would be on the fucker??? It was impossible to determine. So I took the bullit by the horns and thought fuck it, lets play this game! As it turned out, both my game with James and Steve vs Rob had implications but we couldnt both play on there plus due to Rob and Steve both with a chance of winning it depending on who won, it was fair that their game was on the screen.
For my game with James, I knew it would be more difficult that the cup encounter we played - In that game he could have easily been 3-0 up in the opening stages but due to his rustyness, the little nuances that are critical in Kick Off were slightly awry, but as the tournament wore on he was getting back up to the old James that we knew from UK '06. Either before or after, it really meant a lot when I heard Rob say that I was not only an oil slick but I was a contender! Within this battle I was in esteemed company...Kick Off players who are legends, the people who were there from the beginning. Iv always looked upon the early days with envious eyes but with the 'classic' players returning, it really felt like a tournament from old or my perception of it at least. hehe
When playing James it was great that we had an audience although this makes me nervous as fuck - plus was it me or did it suddenly get very cold?? It may have been the reaper to claw my hands away from a possible UK Champs. Indeed when I was losing 2-0 I thought it was going to be a whitewash and was thankful that my embrassment wasnt up there on the big screen for all to see. But then I made it 2-2!! come on!! Then...nothing...

I have absolutely no recollection as to what happened next. A vast array of nothingness is slightly punctuated by James 'Yes!! Come on Me!!" Which i thought was great - to see me pushing such a great player was very special.

But apart from that nothing...honestly. I thought I had clawed it back to 3-3. After being 3-2 down (or maybe 3-0 down?) I dont know. It's as if I got abducted by Aliens or something or maybe the real SteveE came back after an imposter won all of my other games lol. So I can only go on by what others have said...but, if I had held out for a 3-2 win. IF IF IF IF IF...I would have been the UK Champion. Now for me, that is simply fucking incredible. I cannot describe this! Im struggling to think of some superlatives to describe how good it was to finish 4th..but not only to finish 4th but to be in with a shout and with it going to the last game! (even though after my last game I was out of it).
When I lost it was great to hear James say I was a good player.

Although I didnt win a medal I wasnt too fussed because it was just great to be part of this epic title challenge. But more than that, it was great to have fun with everyone who attended.

So so unlucky Steve and Rob...you guys played a fantastic game on the big screen and you would have both been worthy winners. SteveC didnt even lost a game! It was just that final game that did it for you. If only one of those draws had been a win and like in all games...I bet this could so easily have been the case. Rob? You were my tip for the title and you nearly did it..clawing your way back not once..but twice and then taking the lead with not long on the clock. Wow, although you didnt win it you should be very proud of being part of such an enigmatic final game.

I could sense that Jon thought he had blew it...but many a strange things happened on this memorable day and as with all final days, what seemed 100% possible before the tournamnent, then seemed impossible by the end! In the final game I was willing whoever was losing to claw back to a draw and even after Steve brought it back to a draw he nearly scored an own goal! The drama! But from the jaws of defeat, the trophy had a very worthy winner and it stayed in Birmingham as well!

Well done to everyone Gaz for the way we have worked fantastically well as a team in the run up to the tournament and then making sure we had time for cup games and also the draws which really added to the atmosphere as well as making sure everything was working well, Rob for doing the double tables which was a great idea (didnt think it would be possible given the size of the room) and his knowledge for what works on the day as well and getting more players, SteveC for the projector help, Greg for getting the laptop viewable, BountyBob for the Fixture Handler and Spyros for getting Greek Sticks for myself and Waynie...some of that Greek charm certainly helped my performance

In short, well done to everyone within the KOA!!!

After three...all hail the KOA...all hail the KOA!! (only me then! )

[gdh82]

The 'Game of three champions' was a final like no other.

What a brilliant way of putting it - 100% agree.

In my book, Jon, Rob and Steve all came away from this tourney with immense UK honours, as does Steve E, effectively the runner-up !

Hope the video footage recorded okay as I can't wait to re-watch the unforgettable finale, Steve C v Robert S!!!

[Semtex]

AWESOME!
Congratulations Jon. And well done to Steve and Rob. Sounds like a fantastic weekend. Best ever tourney ending? probably. And way to go Steve E. so close to winning the whole thing! amazing.

[Torchiador]

To better illustrate that final game (ideally you would view this along with watching the final game that was recorded!)




First Strike to Camber...
SteveC 1 - 0 RobS


Swift action... - Jon's hand is on the trophy!
SteveC 1 - 1 RobS


If anyone can, the Camberman Can!...?
SteveC 2 - 1 RobS


Energised by Forest's promotion, Rob brings it back again..(.Jon breathes a huge sigh of relief)
SteveC 2 - 2 RobS


...and is on course to win the fucker!
SteveC 2 - 3 RobS


...with seconds remaining, Steve brings it back level!
SteveC 3 - 3 RobS

OMG!!!!!!!!!! Now I can understand why Robert, didn't reply to my SMS this morning!!!! what a incredible final for this great tournament!
Compliments to Jon! he keeps his leadership on UK soil again! but a great compliment to Steve and Robert too! great performance by both of them and, of course, the thriller of the Century has been written during their game! Compliments again!
I see the big performance of Steve E, he is working hard, I hope to see him in some extra UK tournament as the next World Cup!

[Panayotis7]

congrats jon for your victory!

also congrats to the two runners-up! man, it would have been great to have watched that last game live!

[gdh82]

it would have been great to have watched that last game live!

No other word but this match was legendary! Imho the UKC'08 will go down in KOA history as an absolute classic.