THE local backgammon community, along with local conservationists, will come together today at Jamaica Inn Foundation’s open backgammon tournament in another fund-raising effort to increase awareness around White River Fish Sanctuary.

Knolly Moses, director of Jamaica Backgammon Association, is proud of the sport’s growth and involvement in what he described as an extremely important cause, and believes the expected high level of competition will serve to continue attracting fresh blood to the sport.

“Last year was the first since COVID so folks kind of waltzed through the competition a bit. This year, everyone is really excited and looking forward to the competition. We are certainly expecting more participants, more persons have pre-registered and so on, and so we are expecting good numbers,” Moses told the Jamaica Observer.

“As always, we are expecting a high level of play and competition. There are a couple strong players who can’t make it but Adrian Armstrong, who won last year, is coming back to defend his title,” Moses said.

Other key participants expected to feature are William Mahfood, Mark Roberts, Mark Mahfood, Michael Chai Chong and Joey Issa.

“The proceeds go to the White River Fish Sanctuary to protect the fishing areas and make sure there is no overfishing and so on. We have suffered a few setbacks because of climate change and so on, and the reef has been deteriorating, so this is a really important tournament and cause,” Moses added.

Over $1 million in cash and prizes will be won, with the winner of the main tournament taking home US$2,500, a three-night stay at Jamaica Inn with a Club VIP red card; while the second-place finisher will win US$1,000, a two-night stay at the property, as well as a Club VIP blue card. Third place winner will walk away with US$750 and a Club VIP bundle.

Activities were scheduled to get underway yesterday, with a lecture and warm-up tournament taking place at Jamaica Inn.

Meanwhile Andrew Issa, CEO of sponsors Coldwell Banker Jamaica Realty, says he is pleased with his company’s involvement with the fund-raising efforts.

“From the inception Coldwell Banker Jamaica Realty has been a proud sponsor of the Jamaica Inn backgammon tournament, with all proceeds going towards the White River Fish Sanctuary. I have witnessed the new growth of coral and the increase in the fish stock. It’s truly an amazing effort to bring back our reefs,” said Issa.

Wisynco’s Executive Project Manager Tabitha Athey also welcomed the opportunity to partner with the tournament.

“The Jamaica Inn Foundation and the White River Fish Sanctuary are doing amazing work for Jamaica’s marine life, and Wisynco is proud to be a part of their backgammon tournament this weekend as we continue striving towards improving the lives of our people on this beautiful island,” said Athey.

“Battling the declining health of our marine environment supports the local economy through the fishing industry and protects our tourism product — and we feel privileged to be helping in every way possible,” she added.

The Jamaica Inn Foundation open backgammon tournament, along with the Swim for the Sanctuary event which takes place in November, are critical events in the foundation’s efforts to raise the organisation’s US$20,000 ($3.1-million) yearly contribution to the sanctuary.