Ten difficult decisions arising in the WWB Women’s Cup at the New York Metro final match between Alexandra Knupfer (Switzerland) and Irina Litzenberger (US) were analyzed at a Women’s World of Backgammon (WWB) Zoom session on Tuesday, February 27th. Women’s World of Backgammon (WWB) provided $1000 in added money to the Lady Liberty Cup event, which drew forty women players to compete.
This inaugural Zoom session was prepared by Roberto Litzenberger, director of the BMAB Player’s Cup, who selected the ten positions for in-depth analysis and moderated the discussion. Two-time world champion Akiko Yazawa from Japan provided written comments. Grandmaster Marty Storer provided live commentary, with over 40 live viewers raising questions or adding comments.
View the session below:
You may also view the entire match with eXtreme Gammon Feed showing the best decisions on all plays at TK.
The winner of the New York Women’s Cup event, Alexandra Knupfer, is one of the top Championship players in Europe, placing in numerous prestigious events in Europe. She is best known in the U.S. for winning the 2019 Chicago Open Championship as well as placing third in the Faster Master Chicago Open event. In 2022 she placed 3rd/4th in the Merit International Open in North Cyprus 2000Euros Mega Jackpot and 3rd/4th in the Speedgammon event. In 2021 she placed 3rd/4th in the Speedgammon event at the 1st Merit International Oasis Backgammon Cup in Dubai. In 2018 she finished second in the Ladies Event at the Merit International Open in North Cyprus in a field of 64 women.
The finalist, Irina Litzenberger, is one of the top women Championship players in the U.S. This year she made the Backgammon Masters Awarding Body Master Class 3, one of only four women in the world to be certified as a Master. She finished 3rd/4th in the Backgammon World Championship Ladies Event in Monte Carlo (2022). She placed second in the Cherry Blossom Women’s Cup in 2023. She won the Sunny Florida Championship Consolation (2022). She is a frequent winner of Doubles events with her husband Roberto, including Ohio (2023) Texas (2022); Michigan (2022); Cherry Blossom (2022). She won the Battle of Sexes event at the 2021 Las Vegas Open, the Wonder Woman event at the 2021 California State Championship, and the Old Town Open Jackpot at the 2021 Chicago Classic. She was on the USA Women’s Team that won the 2022 Genud Cup against the U.K. where she was selected by the directors as tied with Karen Davis for U.S. Player of the Event.
