RACHEL RHODES WINS BRITISH OPEN

What a year for female power, firstly Katie Scalamandre wins the World Championship in Monte Carlo and now, just one month later Rachel Rhodes wins the British Open. Rachel's victory couldn't have come at a better time: It's Biba's 10th year; she is the first female player to win a major UK title and the event was held at the biggest ever Mind Sports Olympiad - so many broken records! British Open (85) So, how did she do it? Who else won what? Well, as reported yesterday, Rachel was pitched against David Robbins in her semi-final match and it proved to be a cliff-hanger.

A triumphant Rachel Rhodes beams with pride as she makes British backgammon history by being the first ever female British Champion.

With the score at 3-2 to David and the cube on 2, Rachel was on the bar during the bearoff and, as David's prime progressed towards the lower points so did Rachel's dice rolls. She eventually re-entered but was unable to escape and avoid a backgammon and went 9-2 down - in an 11-point match. David saw she was 'upset' by this and said, "Don't worry. I was 9-2 down to Paul Lamford and I won the match. My advice to you is don't give up". Now, Rachel is an astute girl and heeds good advice when offered it, so, she did just that; she didn't give up.

Rachel Rhodes reaches across the board on her way to defeating Felix Vink in the Open Main Final.

Literally point by point she clawed her way back into the match until the score reached 9-9. The next game was a 2-cube game and therefore for the match. It looked as if David had clinched it. He was bearing off and Rachel still had two men in his outer table, but, with the aid of 3 doubles she came storming back into her own bearoff and stole the match leaving David with just two men on his 1-point!

In the second semi-final Steve Pickard just couldn't manage to defeat Felix Vink. Felix, who lives in Dublin, had a telephone call from Sean Casey congratulating him upon reaching the semis and asking me if I could award Felix honorary Irish citizenship and call him Felix O'Vink. This I did and perhaps that was the spur that got him into the final against Rachel.

British Open Medal Winners (l to r). Felix Vink - Silver, Rachel Rhodes - Gold, Steve Pickard - Bronze.

Talk about spur, Rachel didn't 'spur' the rod in a very one-sided final. She wouldn't let Felix in at all. She led all the way by an ever increasing margin and emerged a worthy British Open Champion with a score that will remain anonymous to protect Felix's reputation!

As the Open this year was part of the Mind Sports Olympiad, Rachel and Felix were also awarded Gold and Silver medals; with a play-off for 3rd and Bronze between David and Steve. Steve, back onto 'World Champ' form pushed David out of the medal race and secured the Bronze for himself.

As part of their prizes; trophies, cash, medals, Rachel and Felix also won a backgammon game for the Game Boy kindly donated by JVC Europe. These are so new that we didn't even have any to hand out, hence the vouchers they are clutching. As soon as they arrive in the UK they will be despatched to the winners courtesy of JVC Europe.

Progressive Consolation (81) Tom Townsend emerged victorious against Garreth Bell in his non-progressive semi-final and awaited the result of the progressive semi between George Stefanopolous and Michael Damaniou. George sat down, hot favourite among his fellow 'Bell Boys' as Greek fought Greek across the backgammon board. However, Michael was unimpressed by the pundits and calmly walked away from the table as the winner. He now faced Tom in the final. Winner, Tom Townsend and Michael Damaniou with their Open Consolation Trophies.

Tom, already a Silver medal winner from the Olympiad Championship Silver Category was eager to add to his collection of bright, shiny things and, dazzling Michael with the reflected sunshine off his first medal added a second leaving Michael as Runner-up. I had warned Tom about being aware of Greeks bearing off, and it appeared he heeded my advice!

Last Chance (40) 'Foxy' players, Corinne Sellens and Gerry Carolan battled it out for the Last Chance Trophy. But, the feminine charms were just too much for Gerry and he caved in to take the Runner-up Trophy leaving Corinne (and Rachel) in the vanguard of 'Dice Girl' power! 'Foxy Lady' Corinne Sellens, Winner and 'Foxy Bloke' Gerry Carolan, Runner-up in the Open Last Chance.

Suicide! (64 open draw)
The open draw, offering re-entries to a draw of 64 is a popular format in this 3-pointer. It goes along at a good pace and is one of the very few tournaments I get to enter nowadays. Playing like a man possessed I steamrollered my opponents in a merciless pursuit of a trophy. That was until I met Shaun Herd in the semis. Unfortunately for me Shaun stops now and then and thinks about his moves - this underhand tactic took me completely by surprise and I fell in the penultimate round, running out of steam.

In the final Shaun faced Ashfin Foulad who had just knocked out John Clark. [John had previously been giving Afshin some tips on checker play and tactics - something he probably now regrets!] Afshin was desperate to win a trophy as his brother, Ramin was already a Bronze medallist in the Silver category of the Olympiad Championship, and he wanted to catch him up. And catch him up he did taking the Suicide! 1st place leaving Shaun the Runner-up.

Finally, here are the British Open full results.

*****

...So, the games are over. It's been a long, hard, tiring ten days (for me that is) but I've enjoyed every minute of it. Records have been broken on a daily basis making it the most successful Mind Sports Olympiad so far. To ensure the smooth-running of the Games many people volunteered their time (and money in some cases in the form of personal sponsorship) to make certain that the competitors had a good Games.

There really are too many people who deserve a mention but certain people spring to mind that have made a significant contribution. They are Peter and Jill Turner on the Registration Desk who were often submerged in a sea of competitors all demanding to be dealt with first; Dan Glimne the Chief Arbiter who's quiet manner and knowledge of rules, procedures and common-sense was paramount in keeping the competitors happy when minor disputes threatened to grow like Topsy; Jenny Corfe (daughter) who handled the registration forms and manned (or should that be girled?) the computers diligently entering thousands of bits of data; Barbara Corfe (mum) who seemed to be doing everything, and finally Tony Corfe (dad) who was doing everything.

Tony is a dynamo of energy, first to arrive last to leave. If there were a drugs test at the Mind Sports Olympiad I am convinced that Tony would prove positive! No normal man can do what he does; but then Tony isn't normal - he is exceptional. It is an agreed fact that without Tony (and Barbara) the Games just wouldn't happen. He knew everything, did everything and I never once saw him lose his cool under the most demanding pressures - He is a remarkable man and one I am proud to call a friend.

I can't sign off without a mention of the one person that without whom the Mind sports Olympiad wouldn't exist, David Levy. He is the one that has brought us all together and has turned a vision into reality. He has worked tirelessly as the head of a dedicated team who, when it looked as if the 2000 Olympiad would be cancelled after the main sponsor dropped out, not only found enough smaller backers to step in but (if my facts are correct) offered to cover any financial losses out of his own pocket. Such selfless acts are rare nowadays and the Mind Sports Olympiad and Mind Sports Worldwide (who have contributed towards keeping Biba alive this last 12 months) are lucky to have him at the helm.

On behalf of the British Isles Backgammon Association I'd like to thank him for his confidence in supporting me and Biba and for giving the whole world, a Mind Sports Olympiad.

• British Open 1999