The Top Bidders for Set 2022-10

A slightly easier set this month perhaps, with an average score of 44.87, up from 41.1 last month. We also smashed the previous record for entries, set in May 2022, adding more than 50% to that record, with over 3,000 BBO members entering this month’s competition. Leading the way, we have a three-way tie for the win this month, with a score of 78/80 points:

Vincent Lui (Cheapcheap) from Hong Kong,

Ken Penton (Panorama) from Canada and,

Mehmet Ertinas (Ertinas) from Turkey

Vincent, originally from Hong Kong and currently a student in Munich, Germany, may be our youngest ever winner. He is 27 and started learning to play 11 years ago. He describes himself as “a casual player who likes playing with robots in my leisure time”.

Ken says, “I played fairly competitively in the 70's and early 80's, playing in the Canadian team finals and representing our district in the GNT finals in Nashville. However, I slowed to a crawl with family and career and now just play occasionally, but I do like these bidding contests just to see how I compare.” Fairly well, it would seem, Ken!

Also on the October 'Roll of Honour':

With a score of 77/80:

Filippo Cavallari (Filebb) from Italy,

Kursat Ozsahin (Vbman) from Turkey and,

Haiping Yan (Haiping) from the United States

You need to score 67/80 or more to make the October leader-board, and honourable mentions go to all of those who managed that:

The 2022 Annual Competition Leaders (after 10 months)

You need a running total of 495 (an average of 55 or more) to make the annual competition leader-board with nine months played, which means that about 80 players make the list. Slightly lower scores from those at the top of the annual leader-board this month, Patrick and Ian leading those in the top 20 with 74/80.

Francois maintains his excellent form with 72/80, and retains his lead at the top. However, the chasing pack narrowed the gap as players began dropping their weakest scores. Ian and Alexander just edge Dave down into fourth place. With almost all of the chasers having dropped their scores in the 40s or 50s now, the weakest counting scores amongst the leaders are all very similar, around 65-67. Pete is the exception, with a 50 still to be dropped, so watch out for his late run.

After ten months we still have four players averaging 70/80 or higher. Congratulations to everyone near the top of the annual race for their amazing consistency over the year. The outcome of last year’s annual competition went right to the wire, and it is looking like the same will be true for the 2022 competition. All three of last year's medalists are in the top eight at the moment, and it is looking likely that the scores over the final two months will determine who makes it onto this year’s podium.