First long and short backgammon tournament held In Riga
27.06.2009 16:34 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ An exciting long and short backgammon tournament was
held for the first time in Riga, organized by the Association for
Development of Sports in Latvia. Around 40 people participated in an
incredibly exciting competition, which lasted until midnight.
According to a designer Theodora Dauber, in all major capitals of the
world there are backgammon devotees clubs.
«I play backgammon since 10 years,- Theodora said, showing how to
properly play and throw the dice. Henceforth, such fights will be held
regularly, so that in the long run to reach the international
level. It’s very important to distract children from the computers in
which they practically "live". When I was growing up, we played
Cossacks-robbers, a lot of talking. And now all sit home and stew in
their own juice,’ Theodora Dauber said.
`I was told that there is evidence, that people have been playing
backgammon for several thousand years. Thus, the most ancient of the
boards has been found in Asia Minor and dates to the time of around
3000 BC.E. An analog to the game has been found in the tomb of Pharaoh
Tutankhamun (XV BC. E.), `Theodora Dauber said, as d-pils.lv reports.
31-year-old accountant Darya Safonova noted that she was taught to
play by granny and daddy. "My whole family – mother and sister are
used to play backgammon. We organize exciting meetings. I love this
game since you still need to shoot the dice, and thus not only the
skill but also the luck is of great importance," Darya Safonova said.
As it turned out, backgammon is extremely popular among the Baltic
Armenians. Agrafera Kosyan, the champion of Latvia and Jurmala’s
"Noah’s Ark" restaurant hostess, attended the tournament.
`We have many times met with our Diaspora representatives’, Agrafena
told. `We invite our friends from other cities to come. Estonian
Armenians visited us. Among players I was the only woman from
Latvia. I have won the first place thrice. I have also received an
Audience Award. In Armenia, many people play backgammon. In the
evenings when you go out you see how all guys sit at boards,` she
said.
Now the first place was won by the entrepreneur Ashot Grigoryan in
short backgammon and the businessman Armen Patochyan – in long one.