Basques in Boise

Thirteen couples signed for the Euzkaldunak-Nabo mus tournament on Sunday at the Basque center downtown Boise.

The tournament started some minutes after 18:00 and will finish next Sunday. Players included well-known members of the Basque-American community in Boise such as Ben Ysursa, Idaho Secretary of State; Jill Aldape, lead singer of Amuma Says No; John Aldape, president of Euzkaldunak; Tony Eiguren, owner of the Basque Market; or former weight-lifter Ben Goitiandia.

Rules for the NABO tournament establish that the game is played with four kings and four aces, unlike the Euzkaldunak local tournament, which is played with eight kings and eight aces.

"Here, you can start playing a king and a horse, it is enough", says Tony Arruabarrena, who is not playing this tournament but usually plays the Euzkaldunak one.

The winners of the tournament will represent the Euzkaldunak Basque Center in Los Angeles in 2009.