Trax Archives
1998: World Championship
Challenge Match
The 3 zone system of qualifier tournaments was used again this year, with Dan Pless qualifying automatically as the loser of the previous challenge match. The winning candidate was Mel Nicholson, of the USA. The games were played live over the table at Mel's house in San Leandro, California, with the moves being relayed to spectators via the internet.
Donald Bailey won the match 6-0 to retain his title.
Bailey vs Nicholson (27 turns)
@0/ A0/ A3/ B3+ C2+ C0\ D3+ @4/ A5/ E1/
E0/ @3+ D2\ @5+ @5/ @6\ B4+ @5+ C3\ D1+
B7+ A7/ @3\ A2+ A7+ @7\ B8\
Nicholson vs Bailey (15 turns)
@0/ A0/ A3/ B3/ A4/ @1+ @4\ C5+ A1+ @1\
D6/ B3+ F4+ @2/ Resign
Bailey vs Nicholson (27 turns)
@0+ @1+ @1\ A0\ B0\ C4/ B5\ @3\ E4/ @3\
B4/ D0+ E7+ E2+ C1\ G4/ @4/ A5/ @5/ A6/
@6/ C7\ E6+ G7+ E7+ E1+ C8+
Nicholson vs Bailey (42 turns)
@0/ A0/ A0/ A0/ B2+ @1+ A0\ @5/ A6/ @6/
F3/ G3/ H2\ D0\ @6+ B3+ @3+ B2\ E1+ @3\
B2\ B1\ A1\ A4+ F0/ F0/ J7+ L6\ M6\ J4+
N6\ M5/ K8+ F9+ C10\ K9\ L9\ L10\ M10\ J9+
K11+ H9+
Bailey vs Nicholson (24 turns)
@0+ B1/ @1/ B0/ B3+ @2/ B1+ @1+ B0\ @2/
@2/ @2/ G5/ B1\ C0+ D0\ D0\ D8+ G9/ A4\
@5/ G4/ G3/ RESIGN
Nicholson vs Bailey (23 turns)
@0/ @1/ @1/ @1/ B0/ @2+ @2/ @2/ D0+ G2+
B2\ B4+ D4+ C5/ C6+ E0\ E0\ C2+ G3+ C0\
B3\ A3\ RESIGN