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Writer's pictureChristine Merser

BWW August Newsletter



A Note from WWB Peer Coaching Participant Stephanie Blackton


Nothing could make us happier or more inspired than receiving a letter like this one: 'Victorious loss.' Priceless. Thank you, Stephanie, for reaching out.

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I wanted to thank you (Karen Davis) for all that you - and others - have done to lay a foundation for women to expand their presence into the world of competitive backgammon. I played my first singles match ever yesterday. . . . in a World Tournament!! Not something I would even have considered without the support, hand-holding and encouragement from you and the other women in Women's World of Backgammon. 

 

I went into the match against Rain Ackerman, open to the possibility I might lose every point. And, finished the match with a respectable 13 to 9 victorious loss. I can't tell you how thrilling it was to see the score tied at 7:7 or 8:8 just to see I was holding my own against a world class player.

 

The low entrance fee to this tournament made it much easier to not just stick my toes in the water but to jump in the deep end. 

 

Being guaranteed five games makes it good practice and exciting.  Without that, I would already be finished - and instead I have four more matches to experience tournament play. A great value for my 30 Euros.

As I was playing, I could hear you, "attack, attack, attack," "move your back checkers," "keep the connection," "doubles are the hardest," "don't waste pips," and "every roll is a cube decision". You might be pleased to know, I was very aware of doubling and won several points that way when Rain passed.

 

Thank you for paving the way and bringing other women up the backgammon ladder with you. I am honored to know you.

 

-- Stephanie Blackton 


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If you’d like to join in the peer to peer coaching…


If you would like to lead a peer-coaching clinic, please email us at womensworldofbackgammon@gmail.com. It requires a commitment to holding a 1-1.5 hour clinic at the same time and day each week, sending out Zoom invitations to a group of women (WWB will provide the list), and having two volunteers play a 3-point match in Consultation mode on Heroes.BackgammonStudio.com. Coaches typically help women identify the major options for cube and checker decisions and discuss the merits of different options. We also need substitute coaches who attend sessions and lead the 

group when needed.

 

If you would like to participate in a peer-coaching clinic, please email us at womensworldofbackgammon@gmail.com.


If you have friends or family that love backgammon as much as you, or maybe they are just learning to play, you can use the link below to forward this newsletter to them and ask them to subscribe! 



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Winning Women Around the World


Women are increasingly placing in American Backgammon Tour and international events. In July/August they included:

 

ABT - 21st ANNUAL WISCONSIN STATE BACKGAMMON CHAMPIONSHIPS


August 8-11, 2024; Madison, Wisconsin

ABT INTERMEDIATE (41): 2LC-Lynn Ehrlich (FL).

NOVICE (5): 2-Rhonda Woodbury (IL).

ZACH TABAK AMATEUR JACKPOT (18): 2-Terese Flynn (IL).

DOUBLES (20 teams): 1-Leslie Lockett (IL) & Kit Woolsey (CA),

QUICKIES (32): 1-Carol Joy Cole (MI),

 

55th BACKGAMMON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP / UBC 2024 CONTENDER


July 25-August 4, 2024; Monte Carlo, Monaco

WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP INTERMEDIATE (72): 3-Laura Monaco (Italy),

REDEMPTION INTERMEDIATE (16): 3/4-Laurence Sinitzky (France)

1250€ OVERFLOW SUPER JACKPOT (32): 3/4-Alexandra Knupfer (Switzerland)

450€ INTERMEDIATE SUPER JACKPOT (16): 3/4-Andrea Quadros (Brazil)

WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (30): 1-Miho Oka MacLeod (Japan), 2-Kazuko Numazawa (Japan), 3/4-Sophie Hutson (Australia) / Jennifer Kim (USA)

JUNIORS (4): 12-Sara Holm (Denmark).

DMP CHALLENGE 1-POINTERS (128): 1-Sophie Hutson (Australia)


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Women's World Championship 2024


Two Japanese women took 1st and 2nd place in the Women’s World Championship in Monte Carlo this July. Miho Oka MacLeod won the event in a streamed final match with Kazuko Numazawa.



 The Women’s Team USA won the event with team members: Rain Ackerman, Lynda Clay, Karen Davis (captain), Teri Harmon, Irina Litzenberger, and Leyla Zaloutskaya. The Women’s Team UK finished second with team members: Becca Bell, Anna Clark, Julia Hayward (captain), Anna Price, Rachel Rhodes, and Merrin Rose. The Republic of Georgia won third place, with Norway finishing fourth. Kaia Osbakk from Norway won the Best Individual Performance Award with her record of 5-0. All the teams fielded strong teams of women players, resulting in closely contested matches. It was an exciting, joyous occasion!


It was Miho’s first major win on the international stage. Kazuko is now a veteran player, winning the Merit Open Montenegro Grand Prix International Ladies Event in 2023 and tied for 10th at the 2024 Chicago Open in the Intermediate division. She finished second in the Sunny Florida Doubles, along with backgammon partner Michy Kageyama.

 

Another newcomer made a great splash! Sophie Hutson from Australia had an excellent first tournament, tying for 3rd/4th place in the Women’s World Championship along with the daunting feat of placing 1st out of 128 players in the DMP (Double Match Point) Challenge 1-Pointers. Jennifer Kim from the U.S. was the other semi-finalist in the Women’s World Championship.

 

The event continues to be elevated with streaming and commentary of the Final. The event attracted 30 entrants this year, up from 24 last year.

 

WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (30): 

1 - Miho Oka MacLeod (Japan), 

2 - Kazuko Numazawa (Japan)

3/4-Sophie Hutson (Australia) / Jennifer Kim (USA)


Kazuko & Miho at BWC Awards Ceremony; Miho MacLeod, Winer of Women's World Championship 


Women's World Championship 2024


August 28- Sept 2 – Viking Classic and Player's Cup BMAB, Hilton, Bloomington MN, April and Michael Mesich, Directors, 612-703-3211. Click here for details. 

 

Sept 26-30 – 3rd Jamaica Championship, Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Jeb Horton, director. Click here for details. 

 

Sept 26-30 – 3rd Jamaica Championship, Ocho Rios, Jamaica. Click here for details. 

 

October 16 -- Player's Cup BMAB Denver, Ben Friesen director held in conjunction with the 6th Wild West Shootout, October 16-20, Embassy Suites, Denver, CO Dan Minardi Director, 303-356-3679. Click here for details. 

 

November 5-10, Worldwide Backgammon Federation, 11th Merit International Open, Kyrenia, North Cyprus, Arda Fındıkoğlu President WBF – 

Turkey; Marco Fornasir – General Secretary, WBF

Click here for details. 

 

November 19-25 – Miami Open and Player's Cup BMAB, Newport Beachside Hotel & Resort, Sunny Isles Beach, FL, Avi Cohen Tournament producer, 786/999-2623; 

WBF – Turkey, Head director; David Presser (Israel), Boot Camp director; Roberto Litzenberger, Player's Cup BMAB director. Click here for details. 

 

December 12-15 – California State Championship, Hilton LAX, CA Candace Mayeron producer 310-422-1646. Click here for details. 


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