irst in the ST(EF)ANdings, second in a RAU

Stefan Rau (left in photo) completed a successful defence of his title to win the MISO 11 Late Bird, his second in a row. 

The tall man from New York flew to an early Late Bird victory, which he sealed at the penultimate round of the two-day event in which he dropped four out of sixteen games.  

Finishing behind Rau were two men who had already placed in MISO 11. The Englishman Bob Violett was runner-up, following third place for him in the Early Bird almost a week earlier. Behind Violett came Goutham Jayaraman, of India, the runner-up in the Main Event. 

The UK-based man from Malta Cecil Muscat took home his second prize in MISO 11, after winning the only ratings prize in the A Division. 

Another man heading back home with both hands full was Paul Richards, who claimed the B Division Late Bird title with one game to spare. Trailing the Australian was the Maltese lady Josephine Mayo, who won her third prize in as many MISO 11 tourneys. Yet another confirmation was Sumbul Siddiqui, who after winning 1st Rating Prize in the Main Event, went one better with third place in the B Division of the Late Bird. 

The two Ratings Prize winner were also the biggest net gainers of international ratings points. 

Completing the prize-table was Anne Goldstein, who with her ratings prize in the B Division was the only prize-winner not to have previously won a prize in the course of the six days of MISO 11. A first among many seconds!

The last of the MISO 11 events ended with a sweet taste when Anna Borg, of Malta, took home a bottle of authentic Canadian maple syrup, kindly donated by Tournament and Technical Director John Chew, after being judged to have evoked the unique character of Malta and the MISO the most strongly with her word LACIEST.  

(Update)

7th placed Canadian Randall Thomas is the best gainer of international rating points, followed by the young and promising Siddiqui. Late Bird Champion Stefan Rau inches closer to a place in the top hundred on the International Player Ratings List. 

On the domestic front, Cecil Muscat and Josephine Mayo, who performed exceptionally well in all three MISO 11 tourneys, move up to second and eighth respetively on the National Player Rating List.

(penned & published by Nicky Vella Laurenti, photo by John Chew)