Chai-Chong tops Jamaica Open Backgammon

MICHAEL Chai-Chong was on Saturday crowned the first two-time winner of the Jamaica Inn Foundation’s Annual Backgammon Jamaica Open, beating Mark Roberts to the US$2,500 championship cheque among other prizes for which he needed assistance to cart from the awards ceremony.

    Roberts picked up US$1,000 for placing second in the main tournament and Kynan Cooke US$750, third, all rewarded with varying stays at Jamaica Inn as well as backgammon boards and VIP Attractions prizes redeemable at Club MoBay and Club Kingston.

   Chai-Chong, whose route to the title took him past Joey Issa, Mitta Rousseau and William Mahfood, said he was elated to have won a second crown in a game that isn't necessarily decided by skills.

    “It is always good to get a second win under the belt but it’s very hard. You have to have a lot of luck in backgammon. You don’t have to be the best player to win,” Chai-Chong pointed out, adding he was already cued up for upcoming tournaments such as September’s Jamaica Invitational hosted at Bamboo Blu.

     Tournament director, Phil Simborg, described by the US Backgammon Federation as “a full-time backgammon-playing and teaching professional and lifeblood of the Backgammon Learning Center ”, noted that he had witnessed a new level of play at the ninth Jamaica Inn Foundation Open, an annual fundraiser for the White River Fish Sanctuary.

     “I have never seen this quality of play in Jamaica before. I am just getting back from tournaments in Denver, Las Vegas and Chicago. The winner here would have beaten anybody at those tournaments,” Simborg declared.

     Rousseau, the 2024 winner, topped ‘Lost Souls’ ahead of Simon Browne, the category reserved for first-round losers from Saturday’s main tournament. Rousseau also picked up a ‘Best Sportsman’ prize along with Julie Kling, who took home ‘Best Sportswoman’.

    Friday’s warm-up tournament for non-seeded players was won by Luke Browne ahead of Pauline Hunter, the overall highest-placed female player, with Justin Ross finishing third.

    PJ Asher beat Simon Browne in the seeded-players division of the warm-up tournament, prompting awards master of ceremonies, Kyle Mais, to poke fun, saying Browne was a three-time winner by losing three times.

    Vivek Chatani got the better of last year’s main-tournament winner, John John Issa, to claim third in the warm-up match for seeded players.

    Issa, who, at 17, had beaten Mahfood 9-4 last year to become the youngest player to have won the warm-up and overall champion, lost to Johnny Todd in the first round of Saturday’s main tournament.

    Sharon Smith, of title sponsor Desmond Mair Insurance Brokers, declared all players “winners for just entering” the annual tournament, which Mais said will return with fanfare for its 10th anniversary next year, thanking sponsors Jamaica Tourist Board, Wisynco, Select Brands, Mayberry Investments, Coldwell Banker, BCMG Insurance Brokers, Jamaica Inn, Guardsman, Nations Choice, Hot Off The Press, Jakes, Dreadyworld, Couples Resorts, Jewels & Time, Harbour Wines and Spirits, Spanish Court Hotel, WB Trophies, Worthy Park Select, GammonVillage, Chukka and TShirt Express.