The 2009 Bristol Backgammon Open

Backgammon player Lawrence Powell has been crowned as one of the best backgammon players in the world after defeating Martin Barkwill in a tense heads-up showdown at the final of 2009 Bristol Open on August 27th, 2009.

Sponsored by web skill games community CasinoRip.com, the 2009 Bristol Backgammon Open saw one hundred players including thirty-nine backgammon players from all over the world compete in 3 separate competitive preliminary events. Michael Sorensen from Denmark won the Bristol Open's consolation competition while fellow Danish backgammon player Pia Jeppesen won the "last chance" event.

Other notable participants at the Bristol Open included Japanese Backgammon World Champion Masayuki "Mochy" Mochizuki, who also gave a seminar on different strategies in backgammon, 2002 European Backgammon Champion Katja Spillum Svendsen, 2006 World Champion Philip Vischjager and former Danish number one backgammon player Mikael Jensen.

Ian Tarr, the tournament director of the 2009 Bristol Open said that it was a successful backgammon tournament and he considers it as one of their most successful Bristol Opens that they have conducted.

He added that with six British backgammon players in the final 8, it was a good feeling to see the home players doing well. Tarr said that he was very happy for Powell's and Barkwill's fantastic performance at the tournament.

September 17, 2009