Rousseau claims fish sanctuary fundraiser title

MITTA ROUSSEAU rallied from 4-6 down to beat Luke Roberts 9-7 in Saturday’s thrilling finale of Jamaica Inn Foundation’s seventh annual backgammon tournament, lifting his first title at the event, which benefits the White River Fish Sanctuary.

Rousseau’s path to the final wasn’t easy, a semi-final victory against last year’s champion, Montego Bay’s Adrian Armstrong in the Kingston-MoBay rivalry, a defeat that was heard all around as the Montegonian cursed his luck while being in awe of the Kingstonian’s fortunes in their final game.

Rousseau used the doubling cube, giving an opponent the choice to concede a game or play to the end at the risk of the match being counted as two games, after joining Roberts at 6-6 in their battle to nine games.

After his final showdown against Roberts, Rousseau emphasised, “you’re never out of the game at 4-6 down”, but ultimately, “the luck of the dice has a lot to do with it”.

Roberts had inched ahead 7-6, but Rousseau offered the cube to tie the match at 7-7, using a similar play to go 8-7 up before taking the final game to the end.

“It’s just the nature of backgammon with the cube. The dynamics of the game can change quickly,” experienced Rousseau pointed out after victory over his younger rival for the winner’s prize of US$2,500, a three-night stay at host sponsor Jamaica Inn, a Club VIP Red Card, and a backgammon board.

VICTORY SPEECH

Roberts, hailed by Rousseau in his victory speech at the awards ceremony as “the future of Jamaica’s backgammon”, took home US$1,000 as well as a ticket for a two-night stay at Jamaica Inn, a Club VIP Blue Card, and a backgammon board to sharpen his skills ahead of next year’s tournament.

Rousseau’s close pal, Warren Burrowes, finished third, winning US$750, two Club VIP bundled arrival and departure services, and a backgammon board, rounding off the top finishers in the main tournament.

Dr Carey Wallace, executive director of main sponsor, Tourism Enhancement Fund, outlined the role his organisation plays in supporting ventures that showcase Jamaica to the world.

“Our Dunn’s River Falls was again named the Caribbean’s best attraction. I was reading recently that our ackee and saltfish was voted the second-best national dish in the world,” Wallace pointed out.

Friday’s Warm-up Tournament was divided into seeded and non-seeded sections, respectively won by Larry Shiller and Alexei Russell, defeating Michihito Kageyama and Luke Browne.

Shiller topped Lost Souls, players who fell in earlier rounds of the main tournament, ahead of Steven McConnell, Kynan Cooke, and Mikey Chai.

Among the sponsors for Jamaica Inn Foundation’s seventh annual backgammon tournament were the TEF, Wisynco, Coldwell Banker Jamaica Realty, SelectBrands, Desmond Mair Insurance Brokers, Best Dressed Chicken, Jewels & Time, Worthy Park Select, Bijoux, Jacana, evergo, Spanish Court Hotel, Nations Choice, BCMG Insurance Brokers, Hot Off the Press, Digicel, T-Shirt Express, Massy Distribution, Harbour Wines and Spirits, Sagicor Investments, the Jamaica Tourist Board, and VIP Attractions.

The tournament benefits the White River Fish Sanctuary, a ‘no-fishing’ zone of 370 acres, approximately three and a half miles of coastline from St Ann to St Mary, established six years ago by the Jamaica Inn Foundation working with the area’s fishers’ association.

Jamaica Inn Foundation, alongside the Aquatic Association of Jamaica, also stages the annual Swim to the Sanctuary, benefitting the White River Fish Sanctuary in continued efforts to protect and restore the area’s reefs as well as engage and educate local fisherfolk to effectively preserve the local fish stock.