Sheshbesh tournament to decide the champion
DALIA SABLE
REGARDLESS of skill, experience or age, most sheshbesh players think they’re champions. To decide once and for all, the Sephardi Association of Victoria (SAV) is holding a tournament this week for passionate enthusiasts to play it off.
“Passion is the soul of our community, especially when it comes to sheshbesh,” Paul Berman of the SAV told The AJN.
Berman expects the competition to be tough, as well as entertaining, adding that “the luck of the dice will play its part and the cream will rise to the top”.
According to Berman, sheshbesh -— or backgammon -— plays a major role in the community and the tournament will be “a great way to celebrate our diverse culture, bring people to our new Sephardi Centre in Melbourne that would not have otherwise visited and to unite around the love of the game”.
Organisers are hoping to attract 128 competitors to play an eight-round “knock-out” tournament with all players guaranteed to play two matches, including a first-round practice.
While there are many styles and rules to the game, the tournament will function under standardised international rules published on the organisation’s website.
If the love of the game is not enough the attract competitors, the impressive prizes include vouchers from Elsternwick Flight Centre, FBI Travel and a night at the Como Hotel. Raffle prizes, food and drinks will also feature in between play.
“I don’t know many people that don’t love the game, regardless of their skill base,” Berman said.
“At the end of the day I’m confident that all competitors will enjoy the event and be back to compete again next year.”
Considered the national pastime of the Middle East, Sheshbesh is played throughout the region, as well as in North Africa and Asia. The game is named after the Arabic words for the numbers six —- shesh, and five -— besh, which are considered a lucky dice combination when rolled during play.
The sheshbesh tournament will be held on Sunday, August 9, at Albert Sassoon Yehuda Hall, 79 Hotham Street, St Kilda East. Registrations from 2pm, tournament commences at 3pm. Entry $50.
Enquiries: www.sephardivic.org.
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