Women turned out for the St. Louis Gateway Backgammon Tournament, October 19-22, 2023, accounting for 14 out of 82 ABT entrants (17% of the field, up from 14% in 2021). Women are particularly at the playing table in the Intermediate division, accounting for over one-fourth of Intermediate players.
Women scored a number of sweet spots in the winners' circle. Linda Rockwell (IL) finished second to Hall of Famer Kent Goulding’s first place in the American Backgammon Tour (ABT) Open.
The final of the ABT Intermediate Division was an all-woman event, with Tiffany Van (TX) repeating her performance at the Texas ABT Intermediate event eight months ago by winning the Intermediate division. Paulette Duong (IL) finished second. Tiffany also took home another trophy for winning the Speedgammon Intermediate event.
Irina Litzenberger (VA) tied for first in the Backgammon Masters Awarding Body (BMAB) event with a 4-1 Win-Loss record, along with Julius High (GA), director of the Novice workshop and tournament event, and grandmasters Gerry Tansey (MO) and John O’Hagan (IN). Gerry Tansey won on the basis of PR with a stellar 2.59. Irina was 6th in a field of 18 entrants on the basis of PR, with a respectable 6.17 Performance Rating.
Phyllis Shapiro generously donated the trophy and prize for the Phyllis Shapiro Intermediate Challenge won by Jena Jennings in a field of 24 players.
Kent Goulding (MD) and Mike Senkiewicz (NY) won the Doubles event with second place going to Chris and Patty Knapp (MA).
ABT - SAINT LOUIS GATEWAY OPEN BACKGAMMON TOURNAMENT
October 19-22, 2023; Saint Louis, Missouri
ABT OPEN (44): 1-Kent Goulding (MD), 2-Linda Rockwell (IL), 3-Ian Terry (TX), 4/7-Saba Bejanishvili (GA) / Ray Fogerlund (NV) / Bill Lonergan (NY) / John O'Hagan (IN).
ABT INTERMEDIATE (38): 1-Tiffany Van (TX), 2-Paulette Duong (IL), 3/6-Scott Bailey (GA) / Robert Ellis (TN) / Mark Flannery (WV) / Thomas Rosandich (WI).
ABT NOVICE (6): 1-Dilara Baltaci (IL), 2/3-Gordon Crispin (MI) / Tracy Parent (MI).
BMAB-USA MISSOURI (18): 1/4: Julius High (GA) / Irina Litzenberger (VA) / John O'Hagan (IN) / Gerry Tansey (MO). PR winners: 1-Gerry Tansey (MO) at 2.49, 2-John O'Hagan (IN) at 3.66, 3-Kit Woolsey (CA) at 4.56, 4-Kent Goulding (MD) at 4.70, 5-Ray Fogerlund (NV) at 5.14, 6-Irina Litzenberger (VA) at 6.17.
$1,000 GATEWAY JACKPOT (7): 1-Gerry Tansey (MO).
MASTERS JACKPOT (24): 1-Saba Bejanishvili (GA), 2-Ray Fogerlund (NV), 3-Kent Goulding (MD).
INTERMEDIATE JACKPOT (24): 1-Ken Carlson (GA), 2-Jim Hallers (TX), 3-Randy Armstrong (IL).
SPEEDGAMMON OPEN (8): 1-Roberto Litzenberger (VA), 2-Rory Pascar (IL).
SPEEDGAMMON INTERMEDIATE (8): 1-Tiffany Van (TX), 2-Brad Fisher (IL).
GERRY TANSEY OPEN CHALLENGE (16): 1-Sam Ahmed (CA), 2-Sean Garber (IN), 3-Bill Calton (MI).
PHYLLIS SHAPIRO INTERMEDIATE CHALLENGE (24): 1-Jena Jennings (IL), 2-Gordon Crispin (MI), 3-Jon Schoenecker (MO).
DOUBLES (17 teams): 1-Kent Goulding (MD) & Mike Senkiewicz (NY), 2-Chris Knapp (MA) & Patty Knapp (MA).
DMP QUICKIE (16): 1-Bill Calton (MI), 2-Keith Deisner (MO).
WARM-UP (24): 1-Ray Fogerlund (NV), 2-Bill Lonergan (NY), 3-Bill Calton (MI).
AFTER TOURNAMENT (18): 1-Ray Fogerlund (NV), 2-Larry Whittenburg (IL).
