BG IN LONDON PLAYERS AT THE NORDIC OPEN 2008
 

Wednesday 19th March

Here we shall attempt to follow the fortunes of the Bg in London players and other Brits going to the Nordic Open 2008.

Our first man there is Murray Sharp for it as he that won the Bg in London WSOB / Partouche sponsored Nordic Open Satellite. Who is he? He's been around the London backgammon circuit for years and years - all those lines on his face and his grey hair tell us as much. Sharp is an appropriate name for the man for he is certainly that. Face to face backgammon to Murray means in your face backgammon.

 

However those of you who have read Chris Bray's column in The Independent might "know" of Murray by another name. In Mr Bray's articles that deal with chouette play he uses various aliases to excellent effect to highlight different styles of play. There's The Enigmatic Englishman, Barry Bigplay, The Prophylactic Pole, Quentin Quickcube, The Tempestuous Turk, Nigel Natural, Cautious Cuthbert and The Dowager Duchess. Some are based on real people, others are the work of Chris's educational mind. I'll leave it to you the reader to decide which of the other characters are based on real people but I can reveal that Quentin Quickcube (sometimes known as QuickDouble) is based on non other than Murray Sharp.

Next up bound for Denmark and also playing in the Championship Division is Peter Bennet. Peter is now a full time professional backgammon player, I'm expecting great things from Peter and I predict that his day will come very soon. Could it be this weekend? We shall see.

Tariq Siddiqi is yet another Bg in Londoner crossing over the water to play in this highly prestigious event. He's been around London Town for about as long as Murray has - will this be his great win?
 

Bg in London can lay some claim to others going along too though I fully admit that they are not as regular Bg in London players as those listed above.

The eccentric Mike Heard will be there and Julian Minwalla (who has played once at Bg in Camden) is a steady hand going along.

 

And last, but most certainly not least, for he’s probably the Brit with the best chance of all, the man who won Biba Brighton in 2006 and 2007 and well as the WSOB UK Masters 2007 but didn't win at Bg in Camden when he came along – Mr John Hurst.

What of Zoe and Sean I hear you ask? They are not sure. Well, at least Sean isn't sure. I just phoned him (now midday Thursday) and he said he would have to phone Zoe and find out if they are going! I expect Zoe might have written the webpages for lastminute.com so if they decide to go at least they should know how to book a late flight! 

The action kicks off on Thursday with the Beginners flight. We have no players in this however one of the T.D.s, Sabrina Milling, was at Bg in Camden a few weeks ago and we might get a report from her in due course. On Thursday evening there will be Qualifiers for the Japan Open 2008, Cannes Riviera and World Championships.