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Backgammon Tournament won by Tournament DirectorThe fourth annual High Stakes Backgammon Tournament at Strawberry Hills was championed by Alastair MacBeath, the tournament director himself. MacBeath, who lost the championship title to another tournament organizer, Chiva Taffazzoli of the World Backgammon Association in the previous tournament, outplayed William Mahfood in the 15-points final and took home the $315,000 grand prize in this year's event, held on April 24-25, 2009 at the Strawberry Hills Hotel and Spa.
The High Stakes Backgammon Tournament at Strawberry Hills, St. Andrews, Jamaica is a center of attraction to many of the area's backgammon enthusiasts and high rollers. The grand prize pool of over $2 million as well as the paradise like location of the Strawberry Hill Hotel also draws guests of honor to the relatively small event – only 32 players and a single division. One of them is Taffazzoli of Germany, who won last year's championship and was expected to repeat his success, being one of the strongest players in the event. Yet to the local players' joy, he fell out of the first bracket, leaving the less experienced MacBeath and Mahfood to wrestle for the title.
To justify the tournament's reputation as a high stakes event, Alastair MacBeath granted a $315,000 check, while Mahfood, his runner up settled for a check on $180,000, courtesy of Heineken, Blackwell Rum, Adducci Cigars and several other sponsors. Being also the tournament director, the new backgammon champion of Jamaica was also hoping that his victory would encourage other amateur backgammon players like himself to take a bold dip at the next year's Strawberry Hills backgammon tournament.
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