CasinoRip Backgammon Champion

Lawrence Powell has been crowned champion of the 2009 CasinoRip Bristol Open backgammon tournament. He beat runner-up Martin Barkwill in a tense final on the evening of Sunday, August 30.

Attendees at this year’s successful event included Japanese World Champion Masayuki ‘Mochy’ Mochizuki, who also gave a seminar on backgammon strategy, and other giants of the game Katja Spillum Svendsen (2002 European Champion), Philip Vischjager (2006 World Champion), and former Danish number one Mikael Jensen. The consolation competition was won by Denmark’s Michael Sorensen, while Pia Jeppesen, also of Denmark, won the ‘last chance’ event. A total of 100 players competed in the three separate competitive flights, including 39 players from overseas.

“It was a fantastic event, one of the most successful Bristol Opens we have hosted,” commented Tournament Director Ian Tarr. “With six Brits in the final eight it was good to see the home contingent do well, and many congratulations to Lawrence and Martin, who have both been here several times before and were justly rewarded for their persistence!”