Undefeated and unfazed, 17-year-old prodigy John Issa created quite a stir at the recent Jamaica Inn Foundation Backgammon tournament, after getting the better of William Mahfood in a keenly contested decider, creating history in the process.

Revelling in the surprising success, Issa’s triumph not only gave an insight into the immense talent and opportunities that await for the youngster, but significantly, it came at a benefit tournament that holds particular sentiment for Ocho Rios-based Issa, given its role in raising much-needed funds for the White River Fish Sanctuary.

“Having won, my emotions are over the moon, but there were times, a few times this tournament where I thought I was done for, but, you know, I was very persistent, I was able to pull through, so I’m very grateful for that,” said Issa, who became the youngest winner in the eight-year history of the competition.

“I’m from Ochi and you see the degradation of our marine life and our ecosystems so the fact that I’m able to have fun in a tournament as well as support something, which means a lot to me and that I see in my day-to-day life, is really spectacular,” he added.

Undefeated in 15 games, Issa, who also won the warm-up tournament in the seeded division — becoming the first player to win both the warm-up and main tournaments — closed off an impressive series with a 9-4 victory over Mahfood, a man many regard as the best player on the island.

The victory did not arrive without peril though.

“Even getting an opportunity to play a player like [Mahfood] is very interesting and engaging and I’m grateful for it but to beat him is another ball game and I’m very thankful for all the people who have supported me and believed in me to get this one,” Issa said before pointing to his ability to stay calm under pressure as a major factor behind his success.

“There was a point where I missed a critical play. I don’t know how, but it happens to the best of us. It was a four-five to kill on the four point in the final parts of the match and if that didn’t go well for me, then I think it would have been a harder match because then [Mahfood] would have been up by more points,” said Issa.

For his win, Issa walked away with US$2,500, a custom-made backgammon board, a three-night stay at Jamaica Inn and a Club VIP Red Card.

Mahfood, who walked away with US$1,000, a customised backgammon board and a Club VIP Blue card and a two-night stay at Jamaica Inn, was full of praise for Issa and third-place finisher Frank Hart, in what he believes is a sign that the sport is gaining popularity among younger players.

“You know what this good is to see — the passing of the mantle to the younger people. John played an undefeated tournament, he played phenomenally. He made a couple of errors, as I did, but it was really well executed on his part, and I’m very proud of him,” Mahfood said.

“Actually, I was very close to losing my semi-final match to Frank Hart and at the last minute, I got very lucky. I’m fortunate to have been in the final and I was beaten by the better man.”

Mahfood had edged Hart 7-6 at the semi-final stage. For his efforts, Hart won US$750, customised backgammon board as well as a Club VIP package.

Kyle Mais, managing director of Jamaica Inn and a director of the Jamaica Inn Foundation, highlighted the importance of the tournament.

“I mean, the game itself is one thing, really, the purpose and the whole reason behind putting on this tournament is to raise funds for the White River Fish Sanctuary, which the Jamaica Inn Foundation was very instrumental in establishing eight years ago now. It is doing extremely well, it’s one of the best, I would say, performing — if that’s a way to look at it — sanctuaries in its protection and what it has achieved,” aid Mais.

“This is the foundation’s biggest fund-raiser and over the years, it’s grown, so we were thrilled to see the number of participants. It was very encouraging and bringing awareness; it’s backgammon, it’s a game, but it’s bringing awareness to a predicament when it comes to global warming, to climate change, which is affecting our reefs and our livelihoods in tourism,” he added.