The boards clicked like small doors opening to new possibilities. For two days, from June 19 to June 20, the historic Jamaica Inn in Ocho Rios wasn’t just a hotel; it was a battleground, a classroom, and a sanctuary.

The ninth Jamaica Inn Foundation Backgammon Tournament rolled its dice for something bigger than a title as proceeds went to raise awareness and funding of the White River Fish Sanctuary.

Tournament director and the world’s first “Professor of Backgammon” Phil Simborg has watched this story unfold for decades. He remembered finding Jamaica Inn “by accident” 50 years ago and never leaving. Now he watches the game he loves grow roots.

“It is getting better and better every year,” Simborg said, eyes still on the final.

“If you look at the final, I was watching and they played like pros. Michael Chai and Mark Roberts… there were some really exciting cubes at the end. I’m telling you this, Jamaica is coming on. There’s a great power,” Simborg told the Jamaica Observer.

Michael Chai defeated Mark Roberts 11-9 in a final that tested both nerve and skill. It was Chai’s second title, years after his first.

Simborg calls him “one of the best players in Jamaica by far. He deserved to win and he played a great player in the final”.

Chai himself kept it simple after the last cube settled.

“It was a tough game… One of my good friends, Mark Roberts, he’s an okay player, you know. I knew it would be a tough match but ended up winning in the end.

“It feels good. After you get your first one you think you going to win a lot more. So it’s nice to win the second one,” Chai told the Observer.

But ask Simborg why he kept coming back, and he won’t talk about champions. He’ll talk about joy.

“The number one reason to play backgammon is because it is the most fun game there is. I come because I love it,” Simborg said.

He loves it enough to explain its secret.

“Backgammon is a game of skill. There’s some luck in the game, but how you manipulate the luck is the key. The better players don’t always win,” he explained.

“We are in support of the Fish Sanctuary, and it’s a very good cause. So that’s another great reason to be here,” Simborg further said.

He is already looking past June as in September the game goes global.

“Now there’s a big tournament at Bamboo Blu in Ocho Rios, and we’re going to get a lot of international players there from Japan, US, Canada, England, and Scotland. And I’m telling you, Jamaica is really coming on strong. The Jamaicans do well in that tournament,” he stated.

Yet the moment that lit him up wasn’t the 11-9 final; it was the night before, when the hotel quieted and the pre-tournament began.

“I was more excited about last night [Friday], the small tournament. We had a lot of women and younger people playing… and a lot of beginners. That, to me, excites me. That shows me the future of Jamaica is going to get better,” he said.

The title sponsor for the tournament was Desmond Mair Insurance Brokers — a Jamaican institution celebrating 100 years of service.

Supporting sponsorship came from Wisynco (Wata), Guardsman, Select Brands, Mayberry Investments, Jewels & Time, VIP Attractions, Harbour Wine and Spirits, Worthy Park Estate, Billy Craig Insurance, Couples Resorts, Hot off the Press, WB Trophies, and Shane Aquart.

SIMBORG… the number one reason to play backgammon is because it is the most fun game there is