The two top players in the world, Mochy & Michy from Japan, visited our club after playing in a tournament in Bradford in 2018. Mochy faced a challenge from one of our members, John Horton. John sensationally beat Mochy 7-3.
Later Mochy & Michy gave a lecture at our club & took on all comers, Mochy playing two players simultaneously!
The 2018 season has crowned two new NEBA League Champions.
Congratulations to John Horton, who picked up the Division Two Trophy and earns a promotion to Division One after securing 5 wins out of his 6 matches played.
Division One was won by Grandmaster Tim Cross, who pipped Martin Barkwill to the title. They both finished with 5 wins out of 6 and Tim came out on top in the play-off.
This year has been a sad year for the club, following the untimely death of another NEBA member in their fifties.
Antony Crerar was instrumental – along with his good friend Chris Humble, and others – in setting up the club in 2015, and attended early meetings in The County, Gosforth.
Sadly, his illness prevented him from retaining his involvement, so he will not be known to many current members.
He fought a long and brave fight against his severe brain tumour, and our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Pam, children Jordan and George, and extended family.
It is with the deepest sadness in our hearts that we have to say goodbye to our very dear friend and NEBA member Paul Gilbertson, who was taken from us far, far too soon.
Nothing can be said about Paul that hasn’t already been said since his passing.
The outpouring of tributes from the backgammon community shows us all just how loved he was.
He was a man that had absolutely no idea at all of how popular he was, and as tragic as fact is, now that he has passed, it may well be the biggest reason (among many, many reasons) that he was just so very special.
NEBA will honour Paul with a minute of silence and some tributes at 7.25pm on Monday 4th June at our monthly meeting and Paul’s funeral will be held on Wednesday 13th June 2018 at Durham Crematorium, South Road, DH1 3TQ beginning at 11am and all are welcome.
No flowers, please. Instead donations to the MIND mental health charity would be appreciated.
Paul’s family are hosting is a tournament at 1pm on Tuesday 12th June at the Honest Lawyer Hotel, Croxdale Bridge, Croxdale, Durham, DH1 3SP & several players from around the UK are expected.
Rest in Peace Paul, you’ll never be forgotten.
Masayuki Mochizuki – aka Mochy – and Phil Simborg are to visit the North East Backgammon Association on Monday 26th March.
Mochy is the current world No.1 ranked player and a former world champion, while Phil is one of the leading lecturers and tutors of the game in the world.
If time permits, Mochy will be available to play a 3-point game for £50. He is willing to play two matches simultaneously and for players to buddy up in consultation doubles or trebles against him. A trebles team would therefore only have to play £17 each.