2008 Nordic Open Backgammon Championship

The 20^th Nordic Open Backgammon Championship was taken by Tassilo Rzymann, an Austrian backgammon player who is known among his backgammon colleagues as "shee-man". Since the 2008 Nordic Open was part of the World Series of Backgammon, the newly crowned champ will participate at the 2008 Riviera Cup, the third and final qualifier for the 2007-8 World Series of Backgammon championship. 

The 20^th Nordic Open Backgammon Championship was held at the Marieyst Hotel and Casino in Helsingør, Denmark on March 20-24, 2008. The Main Division drew 154(!) of the best backgammon players from all over the world. Dozens of backgammon enthusiasts joined the Advanced, Intermediate and Beginners Division; took part in the Consultation Doubles tournament, the Team Event and other backgammon tournaments and promotions. 

Even though the championship title and the 32,000 Euro 1^st prize was taken by an Austrian, the achievements of the Danish backgammon players didn't cause embarrassment to their homeland. The Backgammon Championship and the Consolation Division runner ups, Hans Christien Mathiesen and Karsten Bredahl (in correspondence) are both local citizens. The latter had counted two more winnings as a member of the Play65 Team (sponsored by Play65 backgammon website) at the Nations Cup and at the Team Event.  

2008 Nordic Open Consolation Finale: Mochy (left) won 11-4 against Karsten Bredahl

The 20^th Nordic Open Backgammon Championship featured, for the first time, the Ladies Cup, open only to members of the female sex. The free ladies backgammon event drew an impressive number of 64 entrants. The event was championed by Pia Sevelin of Sweden and was finalized, once again, by a Danish backgammon player Pia Jeppesen.