Download - The British Backgammon Awards 2012

The British Backgammo

n Awards

Recognising the Best in British Backgammon…

The British Backgammon Awards: 2012

The Awards Process

• Over 50 nominations received;• Shortlists compiled based on number and quality of

nominations submitted;• Shortlists put out to the backgammon-playing public to vote;• Over 200 votes received;• Votes counted;• Results here tonight…


Seven Award Categories

• Player of the Year;• Most Feared Opponent;• Tournament Director of the Year;• Board Designer of the Year;• Largest Contributor to the Game;• Most Courteous Player of the Year;• International Player of the Year.


Player of the Year

• Arthur Wright• Eric McAlpine• Julian Fetterlein• Myke Wignall• Peter Bennet


The Nominees…


Arthur Wright

• Winner Intermediate Tournament Monte Carlo;

• International tournament organiser on DailyGammon;

• ‘One of the nicest people to play backgammon with’.


Eric McAlpine

• Winner RAC Scope Masters Tournament;

• Consolation Flight Winner London Open 2011;

• ‘Always a gentleman to play with’.


Julian Fetterlein

• BFCE UK Open Winner;• Countless BIBA titles;• Runner-Up Las Vegas Backgammon

Open 2010;• ‘One of England’s finest players’.


Myke Wignall

• 3 BIBA Tournament wins in the past 12 months;

• Winner of back-to-back BIBA tournaments;

• Winner of the Coventry Open;• ‘Most improved player’.


Peter Bennet

• Numerous UK tournament wins;• English Open 2008 champion;• Las Vegas Seniors 2005;• Chairman of the Scope Backgammon

committee;• ‘A great player and a real gentleman’.


And the winner is...

• A very close contest;• But just edging it with 37% of the

vote…


Most Feared Opponent

• Alan Beckerson;• Jon Barnes;• Julian Fetterlein;• Milo Fell;• Raj Jansari.


The Nominees…


Alan Beckerson

• Winner of the Championship at the Annual Scope RAC Backgammon Tournament;

• One of the most popular players on the London circuit;

• ‘Whenever I draw him I always think that I am going to lose’.


Jon Barnes

• Winner BIBA British Open 2009;• Maths teacher at Haberdashers’

Askes where he runs backgammon lessons;

• Top St Albans Player;• ‘One of the toughest opponents’ in the

UK’.


Julian Fetterlein

• BFCE UK Open Winner;• Countless BIBA titles;• Runner-Up Las Vegas Backgammon

Open 2010;• Currently highest ranked BIBA player;• ‘One of England’s finest players’.


Milo Fell

• The highest rated player in the London League;

• Has only lost one 11-pt match out of fourteen since the league’s inception;

• ‘His opponents are defeated before they even sit down to play’.


Raj Jansari

• One of only two UK ‘Giants’;• Regular winner of tournaments in

both the UK and abroad; • Respected money game and

tournament player;• ‘The toughest player to beat’.



• 41% of the vote…• A clear winner…


Tournament Director of the Year

• Chris Purchase;• John Wright;• Michael Crane;• Mike Main;• Phil Tutchings.


The Nominees…


Chris Purchase

• ‘Chris runs the St Albans Backgammon Club with style and a certain amount of flair’;

• ‘He always keeps everyone informed with the latest news and scores’;

• ‘He keeps things running smoothly and promptly’;

• ‘Chris seeks opinions whenever a new ruling is sought’.


John Wright

• ‘John is constantly asking his punters how he can improve and to find out what they want/don't like’;

• ‘John acts upon suggestions’;• ‘There is always lots of action at his

events and he adapts to suit the on the day’.


Michael Crane

• BIBA founder;• ‘Michael has kept the hub of

Backgammon going for over 25 years’;

• ‘Michael has introduced many new players to the game’;

• ‘Mr Backgammon In Britain’.


Mike Main

• Founder of Backgammon in London;• Creator of TTT format;• ‘Mike goes the extra mile to make his

tournaments run smoothly and without incident’;

• ‘Mike has worked really hard to get his tournaments off the ground over several years’;

• ‘Mike runs his events really efficiently and fairly’.


Phil Tutchings

• Founder of the Backgammon Federation of Central England;

• Tournaments include the Coventry Open and Team Championships;

• ‘The Coventry team competitions represent a very welcome innovation to the UK backgammon scene and are extremely well-run’.



• A very close contest with some fantastic nominees…

• Winning with 44% of the vote…


Board Designer of the Year

• Alexandra Llewellyn;• Geoffrey Parker Games;• Wycliff Boards.


The Nominees…


Alexandra Llewellyn

• Range of genuinely artistic and unique sets;

• Bespoke boards based on an individuals life;

• Good coverage in the non-backgammon press.


Max Parker (Geoffrey Parker Games)

• One of the most established and trusted games makers in the UK;

• Huge contributor to charity and regular sponsor of the Scope RAC backgammon tournament amongst others;

• ‘High quality boards with a significant annual contribution to charity’.


Wycliffe Brothers

• ‘Wycliff has come out with an amazing, first class product’;

• ‘Excellent boards at a most reasonable price’;

• ‘Recognized as a great value product’.



• A staggering 76% of the vote…


Largest Contributor to the Game

• Chris Bray;• Ian Tarr;• Mike Main;• Phil Simborg;• Phil Tutchings.


The Nominees…


Chris Bray

• Backgammon columnist for the Independent newspaper;

• Author of countless backgammon books including ‘Backgammon for Dummies’ and ‘What Colour is the Wind?’;

• Always generous with his time and expert knowledge.


Ian Tarr

• ‘Ian Tarr has worked selflessly to create a healthy BG organisation in Bristol that puts other city organisations to shame’;

• With a variety of events twice a week all year round, and multiple annual prizes, he has galvanised the BG playing community in Bristol, many whom now sponsor prizes and support newer players coming into the game’.


Mike Main

• Founder of Backgammon in London;• Creator of TTT format;• ‘Mike goes the extra mile to make his

tournaments run smoothly and without incident’;

• ‘Mike has worked really hard to get his tournaments off the ground over several years’;

• ‘Mike runs his events really efficiently and fairly’.


Phil Simborg• Founder of the Backgammon

Learning Center;• One of the worlds’ most respected

backgammon teachers;• ‘Phil teaches dozens of college, high

school, and elementary students FREE. He established the college program in the U.S. and personally started clubs at over 30 colleges including Princeton, Yale, and Harvard. No one has worked harder and given more to bring more people into the game’.


Phil Tutchings

• Founder of the Backgammon Federation of Central England;

• Tournaments include the Coventry Open and Team Championships;

• ‘The Coventry team competitions represent a very welcome innovation to the UK backgammon scene and are extremely well-run’.



• The most closely contested of all of the categories;

• 32.5% of the vote…


Most Courteous Player of the Year

• Alan Beckerson;• Donna Sherred;• Lawrence Powell;• Monica Beckerson;• Peter Bennet.


The Nominees…


Alan Beckerson

• Winner of the Championship at the Annual Scope RAC Backgammon Tournament;

• One of the most popular players on the London circuit;

• ‘Whenever I draw him I always think that I am going to lose’.


Donna Sherred

• Relative newcomer to the backgammon circuit;

• Now a regular on the UK backgammon scene;

• Winner of Consolation at Live in London;

• ‘Donna is always a pleasure to play’.


Lawrence Powell

• Regular BIBA player;• One of the UK’s best players;• ‘Win or lose, Lawrence is unfailingly

polite and generous and is always a great pleasure to play against. He has to be one of the nicest people in the backgammon world’.


Monica Beckerson

• One of the most capped players on the London Backgammon circuit;

• Winner of countless tournaments and competitions;

• ‘It is always a real joy to play backgammon with Monica – even when she wins’!


Peter Bennet

• Numerous UK tournament wins;• English Open 2008 champion;• Las Vegas Seniors 2005;• Chairman of the Scope Backgammon

committee;• ‘A great player and a real gentleman’.



• Evenly spread vote but with one clear winner…

• 43% of the vote…


International Player of the Year

• Bob Koca;• Carter Mattig;• Mochy;• Paul Weaver;• Tobias Hellwag.


The Nominees…


Bob Koca

• Runner-Up in the World Series of Backgammon;

• Winner of the Cannes Tournament;• Giant number 28 of backgammon;• UBK – the unflappable Bob Koca.


Carter Matting

• One of the great international backgammon personalities;

• Always fun to play with or against in the chouette;

• Hugely popular around the world;• Sits on the USBGF Board of

Governors.


Mochy

• Giant Number One of Backgammon;

• Previous World Champion;• European Champion;• Founder of Backgammon TV;• Great teacher and ambassador for

the game.


Paul Weaver

• Giant number 25;• Co-author of Backgammon

Openings;• Regular contributor to online

discussion forums;• Always generous with his

knowledge and expertise;• Regular on the US and international

circuits – lost a heartbreaker in Monte Carlo last year in the semi-finals of the World Championship.


Tobias Hellwag

• ‘Not only has Tobias travelled extensively throughout the world, he has posted amazing results. In addition to traveling to tournaments, he takes an active part in daily chouettes. But the major reason for the nomination is that he is a kind, gentle, good sport and spreads good will wherever he goes.’



• Very closely contested across all the nominees…

• With 36% of the vote…


Mochy prepared a statement for us…

"I am so honored to be chosen as an international player of the year. Players in UK are always very polite, respectful, a bit funny and lovely. I have so many good memories there. I love London, I love British backgammon community, I love players there.I missed London Open but see you in Million tournamnent in London this fall.

Thank you. MOCHY"


Congratulations to all our nominees and to all of our winners…


Player of the Year: Arthur WrightMost Feared Opponent: Julian FetterleinTournament Director of the Year: Mike MainBoard Designer of the Year: Max ParkerLargest Contributor to the Game: Phil TutchingsMost Courteous Player of the Year: Peter BennetInternational Player of the Year: Mochy

British Backgammon Awards 2012 Winners:

Download - The British Backgammon Awards 2012

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