Despite record crowds, a carnival atmosphere, and near perfect playing conditions, the enduring memory for those present and the estimated 2.5 billion worldwide television audience will be the sight of French number one Didier Diddenté shedding tears all over his famous blue and white hooped team jersey after his surprise loss to Pakistan's Paul Scott, a rank outsider, competing at his first World Championship. Scott reeled off 3 straight rubbers (105-78, 111-96, 102-15) to leave Diddenté's hopes of adding the world title to his European and North American ones in tatters.
It later transpired, however, that Scott had failed to attain the necessary qualifying mark of 25 points at a single shake at any point during the qualifying period - the 3 months preceding the championships. French coach Monsieur Lafayette said at an impassioned press conference, "Le chat est dans l'armoire". Scott maintained his innocence, claiming he was not aware of any qualifying mark, "I'm just here on holiday. I wanted to see the statues", he said.
The Pitcairn Islands' Derek Moon, who so proudly carried his nation's pitiful flag in the opening ceremony, was similarly unimpressed by the antics of his 6'8" American opponent Brad Kowzlowski, who is renowned amongst Boggle aficionados for his eccentric behaviour. Kowzlowski entered the arena in a Merkava Mk III battle tank and refused to leave the turret during play. Theirs was a closer game, and though Moon ran out a narrow 3-2 (56-100, 102-95, 87-102, 110-7, 103-74) winner, his coach Derek Moot lodged an appeal with the board, on his charge's behalf. "Armour plated vehicles have no place at a Boggle match, whether it's a Sunday morning pub game or the World Championships." He went on to further accuse Kowzlowski of masturbating during the 5th rubber: "The yank lank had a wank in the tank", he said.
A spokeswoman for FIBA said she would deal with the complaints in due course. "I'd like to see any man combine administrating a worldwide sporting organisation with the demands of raising a young family", she said when we caught up with her in Roosters nightclub at 4am this morning.
Before the controversy erupted however, spectators enjoyed a fantastic day's Boggle. The top two seeds, Hossan Minky of Egypt, and the flamboyant Dave Krun of Venezuela enjoyed comfortable, straight rubber victories in front of a capacity 78,000 crowd at the purpose-built Parkerdome, and can thus now relax in the knowledge that they will play all their matches at this magnificent arena. The game of the day was undoubtedly the Transvestite Mixed Doubles first round match that saw Antarctica's golden couple; Theodore and Barbara "The Beard" Bo Bunkum overcome the colourful debutants from Luxembourg, Peter Piper and Margarita Tweedledee. In a thrilling finish, the "Icemen" came from fully 20 points behind on the final shake, Barbara conjuring up the word "logarithm" to win by a single point after an epic 7 minute encounter.
Today's highlights include an intriguing battle on table No. 2 between the 6th and 7th seeds from Honduras, brothers Felix and Caspar Gomez, and an exhibition match featuring 1973 finalists, the Isle of Wight's Arthur Shit and his nemesis in that fine 9 rubber epic, the last British winner of this tournament, Pablo Aguilera from Haverfordwest. What we wouldn't give for an all British final this time round.
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