At Tech Talkfest we are going to start playing backgammon. Sean Williams, one of our members, plays and is on a mission to teach as many people as possible. Our very own Zoe is a top notch player and was World champion in 2010. So how about it, up for a game?
Sean Williams – Backgammon in London
Sean runs the Backgammon in London League along with some other very keen players. He now wants to encourage people to play, so as well as a few of the Tech Talkfest members that already play, we are setting up a regular slot at The Union so we can field a team on the private members club Backgammon League next year. We plan to arrange a few friendlies over the next few months, so dust off your dice!
Sean hosts Backgammon at the Hippodrome on the 2nd Monday of every month to give the opportunity for more people to play across all levels. We do have some high rollers in the league, but many want the opportunity to play backgammon in relaxed, comfortable surroundings. The Hippodrome provides just that, with reasonably priced drinks and good food.
Sean has written a book about backgammon which features a few of the other London League hosts, Peter Bennet and Richard Biddle among them. Between these gentlemen they have a massive amount of backgammon prowess and an infinite amount of patience to teach people the basics, intermediate or advanced techniques.
If you want to learn, these are the men to teach you. In the coming months, they will be taking to the streets of London to show people how to play. They play fair, if you want high stakes, come to the Hippodrome on 13th October at 6.30pm and try your skill (or luck).
Talking of teaching, Sean has just returned from a Greek island where he spent a week improving the skills of members of an exclusive club. If you ever want some backgammon tips, his patience and clear explanation go a long way to making backgammon less daunting and completely playable, by anyone.
The joy of backgammon is that it is a very social game. There is plenty of opportunity at the beginning of a match to have a chat, near the end and when the stakes are high, people become less conversational, but having helped Sean with some of the organisation of these tournaments, the people are lovely, conversation between matches flows and there is much to learn.
As members of Tech Talkfest or The Union, look out for news of our regular Backgammon evening, with dinner. For those that aren’t, come along to the Hippodrome on 2nd Monday of every month and meet Sean for yourself. It is well worth it for an interesting conversation. If you are good enough, he may invite you to play?
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