Winter Masters: Nici & Harry tied after Game 2

Monday, 12 January 2026

After the first two games of the 2026 Winter Masters, each taking 2:22 hours of play exactly, Nici and Harry are both one win away from clinching the first title of the 2026 Season.

In a highly dramatic game at Monday Night MÄDNess, Harry fought bravely against his collaborating opponents and even missed a championship point before Nici converted her second match point on a “1”.

Defending title holder Sissy and her froggy daughter collaborated heavily from the start but eventually quit doing so in the late stages, thus allowing Harry to push for the win in the endgame.

At first, Sissy was favoured by die and seemed on her way to get the win. She was the only player to maintain a tactically favourable order of pawns saved and got to save 3-&-3 when Nici had saved 2-&-1.

Harry was actually the first to save a pawn but only got to save his second pawn (1-&-1) after 1:44 hours of play when Nici had improved to 3-&-2 and Sissy was still stuck at 3-&-3. Sissy had numerous chances to go 4-&-3 only to be caught right in front of the yellow or black house.

Two minutes from the two-hour mark, it was Nici who started the first PWL of the game with her GRN4 a sixth around the track. It was then that the collaboration broke as Sissy cut short Nici’s PWL.

After 2:08 hours of play, Sissy started her first of two PWL with YLW4 already two thirds around the track, however, it was cut short just when she reached match-point position. With her second PWL, she actually had a match point but missed the opportunity.

With the clear majority of pawns on the track, Harry was not only involved in disrupting a number of PWL but also completed his blue team and got to move his remaining red pawns around the track.

After 2:21 hours of play, Harry moved RED3 from home field (a) to (b) with RED4 right in front of the house. He had a chance to finish the game and the tournament but missed out right before Nici converted her second match point.

Sunday: Harry wins the opener

24 hours earlier, the tournament opened with a wide open game in which neither player maintained a tactically favourable order of pawns saved but all of them stayed in the game until the end game.

Harry started his first PWL after 2:13 hours of play. His first PWL was cut short but he got to start a second one soon and moved BLU4 well.

Sissy started a PWL on her own after 2:21 hours of play with YLW4 just over halfway around the track. But only a minute later, Harry converted his first match point on a “6” followed by a “1”.

Game 3 and, if required, Game 4 are scheduled for the coming weekend. Expect to see Nici and Harry pushing for the title while also endorsing Sissy to make sure they will both stay in the hunt for the title. While Sissy will need to win out to retain or title, her number 1 spot on the World Rankings will remain secure until the conclusion of the World Masters in March.

---