eXtreme Backgammon Trophy
It is the greatest dream of every backgammon player on earth: being the chosen one to participate in the 'All Indian eXtreme Backgammon Trophy'. The xbg crew is giving you exclusive insights in one of the world's most important backgammon tournamnet.
oolong wins!
Match time: December 2006
click image to enlarge!
The first round of this world class tournament took place in legendary and intangible Hampi/Karnataka – what a perfectly chosen spot! oolong and pejot took all the stresses and strains of the intense training camp in Mamallapuram to be in good shape – having in mind that they have to travel to Hampi and dive into the depths of the mystical extreme backgammon world!
Ok – ok I do not want to keep you on tenterhooks any longer! oolong had to play the first match versus Hampi’s finest and famous magician!
The match took place close to a holy spot next to the Hampi river. oolong was a bit nervous at the beginning of the match. You may wonder why! Let me tell you: the magician was in perfect company! Not only his apprentice was with him – there was also this scorpion the magician was showing around before the match! Another thing why oolong lost touch in the early stages of the game was the fact that the magician refused to roll the dices with his hands! Not a huge problem for him – he managed to roll without! Probably a tiny exercise for him… The fact that oolong made it at the end in a unforgettable and thrilling 5-point match shows us that extreme backgammon experience is no hocus-pocus!
The Fruit Dealer wins!
Match time: December 2006
click image to enlarge!
Let's have a closer look behind the scenes of the trophy. The extreme backgammon team covering the event is experiencing pure rapture flooding India! In other words: the backgammon trophy just kicks ass! The team decided to visit Chennai – checking out the backgammon vibes in Tamil Nadu’s capital!
To make a long story short – everybody is extremely excited about the trophy! People discussing chances of oolong and pejot and are guessing who the mysterious and unrevealed grandmaster joining next round of the tournament might be. But daily life has to go on you might think. And it does! It’s just a bit twisted at the moment…
A fact Swiss traveler Haensu has to deal with. He probably just thought about a short stop at Chennai Park Station on his way to Sri Lanka – but thats far out! Buying vegetables comes with heavy bargaining anyways but now you even have to play a match first before anything else happens. It might even be a better idea to sort some “accidental” blunders in or to leave the fruit dealer some shots…
oolong wins!
Match time: February 2007
click image to enlarge!
Backgammon star oolong was facing Japanese Grandmaster Ken “the prime minister” Sato in his quarter final match.
The match took place on the ancient temple site of Bagan / Myanmar. The trophy organizers decided to set an important sign for the people of Myanmar and the world choosing this spot. Although “the prime minister” is up to every trick playing Russian Backgammon for 25 years, oolong eventually won a dramatic game although it looked like Russian Roulette in deciding situations. oolong made it thus to the semis.
oolong wins!
Match time: April 2007
click image to enlarge!
Moving on to the semis! Once again, the xbg-crew managed to cover this ultimate event to eventually elect the Indian xbg trophy king. The crowd was electrified after oolongs match versus “the Primeminister” but when it came to the semis everybody was freaking out completely. We are exclusively covering oolong's match versus the famous yoga master Shree Shree Remmidemmi – the match too place at Sri Sri's meditation spot close to holy Ganga…
Although quitting the yoga scene as it became too commercial Sri Sri Remmidemmi still has “the moves” – you can’t loose sight on that… Sri Sri gave up woking as a truck driver - he sells “black sausages” these days – what basically means that he is not only a yoga master – he is godlike in bargaining as well…
Anyhow – his backgammon skills were truly extraordinary but oolong was finally awarded for his inhuman efforts – he made it to the final in a hard fought 17 point match. We hope to get an interview with oolong – after the final of course – oolong was busy preparing himself for the ultimate showdown...
oolong wins!
Match time: May 2007
click image to enlarge!
We see oolong here on his drive to the final. You can clearly see the tension and deep concentration! His whole body language has this graceful countenance – that’s what it takes to be a real xbg champion! And no wonder - oolong won the final in a somewhat disappointing showdown. You know how it is if there is big final but it cannot hold up to the massive expectations. Bboy saved his spot in the final - but he had nothing left to really threaten oolong.
It was a very well deserved victory in the end. oolong overcame magic, showed incredible strenght – mentally and physically and of course – performed backgammon at a level other regular humans can only dream of!
This was the “All India eXtreme Backgammon Trophy”! Thanks everyone for participating! And big applause again for oolong!
