The 2009 New Zealand Backgammon Championship is set to begin this weekend at Nelson’s Founders Park. The Nelson Backgammon Club organized the event and as of right now only twelve players are competing.

Grant Hoffman and Tony Gibbons are the competition directors and they both are lovers of the game. Both play at least once a day they enjoy the game so much. The competition is going to take place outside but if it rains then they will move the tournament indoors.

The game of backgammon has been around for centuries and many are avid players of the game. Hoffman stated he started playing the game a while ago when he bought his cousin a backgammon set. Before he wrapped the gift, Hoffman decided to play the game and then he played it a few times more.

Huffman likes to compete as well. Earlier this month he competed in the Australian Open Backgammon Championship which took place in Sydney. Hoffman came in eighth place out of one hundred and twenty eight players. Huffman stated that what he won covered his airfare and accommodations plus the entry fee so it was well worth it.

The competition this weekend will see the players compete in a minimum of five, eleven point matches. The tournament will be in round robin format.



- 2009-11-19