The British Backgammon Awards 2012

The British
Backgammon
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.


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.


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.


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.


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’.


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’.


• 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.


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’!


• 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.


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…


British Backgammon Awards 2012
Winners:
Player of the Year: Arthur Wright
Most Feared Opponent: Julian Fetterlein
Tournament Director of the Year: Mike Main
Board Designer of the Year: Max Parker
Largest Contributor to the Game: Phil Tutchings
Most Courteous Player of the Year: Peter Bennet
International Player of the Year: Mochy

The British Backgammon Awards 2012

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