Mehdi Shefa wins 2020 Bellingham Winter Classic, Tillson Cup

Mehdi Shefa won the 2020 Tyrone Tillson Memorial Cup. Previously he also took top honors at the 2020 Bellingham Winter Classic, besting a full flight of top Pacific Northwest backgammon players. The Tillson Cup matches were played online in a nod to the new Covid-19 reality.

Players from Portland, Tacoma, Seattle, Vancouver, BC and Bellingham converged on Bellingham to pay in the 9th Bellingham Backgammon Winter Classic Invitational. The full A flight had 16 players, the B Flight had 5.

“A” Flight winners were:

First Place: Mehdi Shefa, Bellingham
Second Place: Jacques Trividic, Vancouver, BC, Third Place: John Leach, Tacoma Fourth Place, Joe Hutchinson, Bellingham

“B” Flight winners were:

First Place (tie): Monica Colgan and Daniel Stroberger, both from Seattle Third Place: Ralph Rody, Tacoma.

Congratulations to all who placed and also to all who competed. And special thank you to Tournament Director Michael Cain.

BBA 2020/2021 Monthly Tournament and Standings

The Bellingham Backgammon Association has started its 13th season of monthly competition.

Tournament schedule and format:

We will play the third Sunday of the month through May 2021. Play begins at 5:00 PM in the Doubling Cube on Safe Harbor.

Players are guaranteed three, seven-point matches (excluding byes) played under “Normal” time. When possible, winners will play winners. Winners receive two points; losers receive one. The player that accrues the most points is declared the evening’s champion. A sole, undefeated, winner will receive an additional point. Accrued points determine membership* seeding in the year-end BBA Championship.

Current standings:

Michael Cain – 6 points

Russ Kendall – 6 points

Guy  Coons-  5 points

Joe  Hutchison-  5 points

Mehdi Shefa – 4 points

Gary Hardan – 4 points

Kent Kleinssaer- 3 points

How to join the Bellingham Backgammon Association

Membership and costs:

In conformation with the gambling laws of the state of Washington no entry fee is required for participation in our monthly tournaments. We welcome all entrants at no charge.

*Membership is required for participation in the year-end Championship to be held the first and second Sunday of June assuming we are still unable to play in person.

*Membership for the 2020/2021 season is $15 per month or $105 for the entire season.