The 7th backgammon quiz in Play65 series of quizzes is online since yesterday and dozens of eager backgammon players are pressing submit madly. This week’s question is rather easy: who had organized the first major European backgammon tournament in 1973 in
The answer to last week’s backgammon question is
And a special bonus: "Nude backgammon with swimsuit models"
And in this guest post Phil Simborg is reporting from 14th Annual Ohio State Backgammon Championship:
I was pleased not only to attend this very fine ABT event, but I was also happy to be the Auctioneer for the Calcutta. I guess I got carried away doing the auction, as I ended up buying 4 teams with my partner. The good news is that someone came into the money on 3 of the 4 teams, so we made a few bucks on the deal in addition to our fun.
On Saturday morning, I gave a lecture to Intermediate and Beginner players on the basics of tournament play. There were 43 people in attendance, and I am told it was well-received. Many of the players there are friends and acquaintances from Play65 and other on-line play.
Then the actual play began, and for me, it was very exciting as I won my first three matches, beating some very fine Championship Level players. A good friend of mine, Greg Merriman, said he had an amazing place to go for dinner, and we ended up spending a lovely 2-hour dinner break with Scott Casty at one of the finest gourmet restaurants in the country by the name of Johnny’s. What a great surprise. It truly was one of the finer gourmet meals I’ve ever had.
The problem is, however, you cannot have a really fine meal like that without some really fine wine, and at $120 a bottle, we did indulge ourselves. Normally, I make it a rule never to drink alcohol when I am still alive in the main, but this meal demanded an exception, and the wine was as unbelievable as the food. I am sure I was not tipsy after the meal, but the results were sure tipsy, as I proceeded to lose my next three matches. I can’t blame it on the wine, however, as Scott drank and ate as much as I, and he won all of his matches but one and took the award for First Consolation.
It was a great event, well-attended, and I was also thrilled to see an old, great friend win the Championships.
Championship: 1-Antoinette-Marie Williams (NY) 2-Robert Lessard (Canada) 1st Consolation: Steve Hast (PA)
Advanced: 1-Rose Sheedy (IN) 2-Chris Knapp (Canada) 1st Consolation: Scott Casty
Novice: 1-Ryan Hast (PA)
Masters: Thomas Meyer (IL)
Doubles: Peggy Jackson (OH) & Alan Martin (FL)
The players sponsored by Play65 at the WSOB 2008 Nordic Open Backgammon Championship gained impressive achievements individually and as a team. The four Danish backgammon players - Henrik Løber, Karsten Bredahl, Jakob Holdt-Simonsen and Michael Kjærgaard Larsen - have all made Play65 very proud of its protégés at the Nordic Open held in March 20-24 at the Marienlyst Hotel and Casino in frozen Helsingør, Denmark.
Details right after the photographic proof:
Play65 team at the Nordic Open says cheese
The 20th Nordic Open Backgammon Championship was the second event in the series of prestigious World Series of Backgammon (WSOB). Took place in
The Play65 Team has revealed its championship potential in the various events that consisted the WSOB 2008 Nordic Open. Together, as Play65 Team, they have topped their contestants twice: first on the Nations’ Cup event that featured 12 teams and second at the Team Event in which they beat the Japanese Backgammon League. As individuals, the foursome didn’t embarrass their Play65 shirts but the other way around: Karsten Bredahl is the runner up at the Championship Consolation Division while Michael Larsen & Jakob Simonsen together semi finalized the Consultation Doubles event!
One more smile to the camera and you’re free to go
The online backgammon magazine GammonLine has published a new article, the first in almost 8 years. Formed by Kit Woolsey one of the top 5 backgammon players in the world, and the author of the "Woosley’s doubling rule" (which says, that whenever you are not certain about accepting or passing a doubling offer - double), Gammonline features database of backgammon articles in variety of topics.
The new GammonLine article, titled "Conversations with Backgammon Software" was written by Mike Corbett, another American backgammon giant and the author of a new book called "Backgammon Problems", discusses the differences between the backgammon play of a computer and a human player including examples and illustrations.
Posh backgammon players might be happy to learn that another rare and extremly expensive backgammon board is up for sale. Designed by Tomasso Barbi the brass and burled wood backgammon table is available through Casa bella Showroom for those of you who are brave enough to ask for the price.
(thanks to Mike Boudet from Universe of Luxury for the info)
As promised, the updates from Play65 final four at the 19th City of Venice International Backgammon Tournament is on its way…It turns out that if you win on play65 online backgammon tournament, you have better chances to win in one of the top backgammon tournaments in the world…
In other words, two of our representatives in the Venice International Backgammon Tournament Italian Giuseppe Ricciardi and Michael Schmidt of Germany took the championship and the finalist titles (respectively) in the Double “Davis” European Championship.
The Double “Davis” European Championship is based on the same formula applied in tennis “Davis Cup” championship: two single matches, a consultation and then two more single matches. In the last match, Giuseppe Ricciardi coupled up with Italian player Piero Gallo, whom together took the victory from Michael Schmidt and his German fellow Uli Koch. Simple arithmetics shows you that half of the winners in the Davis European backgammon championship was taken by Play65 winners. Doesn’t it make you feel proud?
If you were looking for a special Christmas present, you might be delighted to read that Braroe Chess is throwing a special 12-days sale. Braroe Chess is an online shop that specializes in board gaming equipment, especially chess and backgammon boards, checkers and sets. Starting on Monday, December 3rd and until December 15, each day one item of the online shop’s board game supplies (including chess and backgammon) will be offered in special discount. In the meantime, a $199.95 chess board was offered for $109.95. You should check it out, it could be worthwhile.
The UK Masters, the first event in the 2007-8 World Series of Backgammon (WSOB) tour, took place in 15-18 November in London. John Hurst, an English backgammon player is the winner of the event.
On top of his money prize, Hurst won a €10,000 seat at the WSOB championship. The World Series of Backgammon is one of the most prestigious backgammon tournaments in the world. The WSOB events are broadcast on TV in Europe and North America since 2006.
If you live in Europe, you will be able to watch the UK Masters backgammon tournament from December. The 2007-8 World Series of Backgammon consists of 3 events plus the final championship. The first event was the UK Masters, which took place recently at the Casino at the Empire in London with some of the world’s top backgammon players.
The next backgammon event in the series is the TruemoneyGames Nordic Open, which will take place in Copenhagen, at 20-24 march 2008. Afterwards, the Riviera Cup at the Palm Beach Casino, Cannes, 15-20 july 2008, which will be followed by the WSOB Championship. The first prize in the World Series of Backgammon champion is €100,000.
Will John Hurst become the 2007-8 WSOB champion? Wait for updates on the WSOB upcoming events…
Giuseppe Ricciardi, aka Gandalf, is the newest winner in Play65 "Italy" tournament. Gandalf will be playing at the 19th City of Venice International Backgammon Tournament against some of the best backgammon players in the world including three members of Play65 backgammon community. Mr. Ricciardi will arrive to this achievement after winning the special backgammon tournament that took place last Saturday. The last tournament in this series, and your last chance to fly to Italy on Play65 expense and get the once in a lifetime chance to compete against pro backgammon players and win larger cash prizes, will take place this Saturday, November 10th. I wouldn’t miss it If I were you!
