New on MOB

• Mary Hickey Wins 2nd US Backgammon Open
• Bob Wachtel reports from Velden Open
• Notes from 2010 Nordic Open
• WSOB Prague Pictures
• New Backgammon World Champion!
• Blind Backgammon

Although no woman won a world backgammon championship title since Carol Crawford and Lee Genud days, back in the 1970s-80s, female backgammon players continue to honor major backgammon tournaments with their presence, grab national and international titles, and, of course, to populate the gender restricted ghettos also known as the Ladies Cup. Here are some updated examples of backgammon leading ladies from the last couple of years:

Pia Jeppesen of Denmark is one of the most prominent figures of female backgammon. On top of taking home almost every Ladies tournament' trophies, she had recently won the main championship at the Backgammon & Poker on Board IX, a week long event held during a Caribbean Cruise from Fort Lauderdale to Princess Cays, St. Maarten, St. Thomas and Grand Turk; semi-finalized the Consolation division at the ABT Las Vegas Open backgammon tournament and at the main event of the Partouche Trophy.

Scarlett Serrero is a second generation of backgammon mastery; the daughter of French pro Michel Serrero can be traced at the top of every possible ladies' backgammon tournament, especially at those held at the French Riviera. In 2009, she had also finished fourth at the Partouche Gammon Tour Grand Finale and arrived at the same position at the 21st European Backgammon Championship held in Velden, Austria.

Nakamura Junko of Japan, winner of the 2008 Japan Open backgammon tournament, the most important backgammon tournament in Asia, whose tournaments records include playing the Monte Carlo World Backgammon Championship, the Nevada State Backgammon Championship and the Nordic Open.

Inge Pfettrisch is Germany representative among the top female backgammon players. On the last European Backgammon Championship she lost the Ladies Tournament to Scarlett Serrero and finished second, while at the same time she won the Intermediate Division and took home the Ladies Prize.

Inge Christoffersen of Denmark is one of the top ranked women in the Danish Backgammon Federation rating list and the defending Danish Backgammon Champion, after winning the 2008 Play65.com Danish Backgammon Championships.

Filomila Karantzali of Greece is semifinalist at the XXL Last Chance competition at the Play65.com 21st Nordic Open and winner of a Greek Backgammon Federation monthly tournament.