Duo set for street battle in Monopoly showdown

THERE will be no love lost when two determined men battle for the biggest property deal in town.

Hospital administrator Ekundayo Badmus, 41, who know what it feels like to be best in the land, defends his All-Ireland Monopoly title against former British winner Jeff Collins, 45, from Rostrevor, Co Down.

“Obviously, you need a bit of luck at the start,” said Jeff, explaining what it takes to be top of the property fantasy pile.

“Apart from that, it’s the wheeling and dealing. It’s like poker - you either have it or you don’t.

“I don’t think there are many people from the last Irish championships that are a threat - apart from this man here,” said electronics engineer Jeff, referring to the current national champion. “He beat me the last time I tried for the Irish title.”

Ekundayo has no illusions about the difficulty of retaining his Monopoly crown.

“It’s easier to get it than hold onto it. It takes skill to be a champion, but you need a little bit of luck as well - 2% of luck.

“If that luck is elusive, you cannot do anything.”

The venue for the showdown is Liffey Valley Shopping Centre on Dublin’s outskirts on Saturday. Only 32 can play and those who will do battle for the national championship have already been selected.

With the Irish title comes €7,000 in cash and an expenses-paid trip to Japan for the world championships next October.

Waterford’s Hasbro plant makes 1.5m Monopoly boards a year for the EU.