Ashford House hosts hotly-contested Wicklow Open backgammon tournament

The event was held online for two years and the players were all delighted to be back face-to-face once again.

Participants came from as far as Sligo and Donegal for the event, as well as from areas such as Dublin and Kildare. There was also a sizeable Wicklow contingent involved.

There was wonderful skill and enthusiasm demonstrated throughout the day, with exciting matches of the board game hotly contested.

The tournament was held in the Ashford House, with lovely weather meaning some of the games could take place outdoors. A couple of players even brought along their canine companions for some moral support.

There were 26 entrants, several of whom were attending their first live play tournament.

There was a real sense of the backgammon community coming back to life, with plenty of banter, catching up and reconnecting.

The tournament winner was backgammon veteran, David McNamara, who will receive the perpetual ‘Shark’ trophy. The runner-up was another veteran, Paul O’Kelly. Semi-finalists were Felix Vink and Nicola Fitzgibbon.

The consolation tournament was won by Derek Murphy. The runner-up was Jamie Degabriele, while semi-finalists were Chris Bleakley and Paul Davitt.

Everyone who took part was very grateful to tournament organisers Alan Cox and Jamie Degabriele, as well as Joe Dooley and Paul Davitt who sourced the venue for the event, and others who helped out on the day and in the build up to the event.

Many of those who took part are looking forward to taking part in the Irish Open, taking place just up the road in Dun Loaghaire, starting on October 15.