Seventy-nine players registered for the Beginners flight and after six rounds of full tilt action it was an ecstatic 23-year-old Frederik Blinkenberg who emerged as the Champion taking the title and winning a free entry into the Intermediate flight that begins today.

“I am very happy that I won the tournament because I have practised a lot,” Blinkenberg told this reporter after his victory, “I think I played some tough matches but had good dice, and I am looking forward to trying my skills in the Intermediate flight.”

Frederik Blinkenberg - 2008 Nordic Open Beginners Champion

Quite an awesome achievement for someone who has been playing with the doubling cube for only five months!

Meanwhile, two special qualifiers limited to 32 players each, were filled in no time and the battle commenced to see who would win free entries to two other major events this year – the Japan Open and World Championship/Cannes tournaments. Although these side events were not completed at day’s end we saw Alexandros Kolonias of Greece reach the semi-finals of the World Championship/Cannes Qualifier by eliminating Filomila Karantzali, also of Greece, in the quarterfinals.

The tournament room was bustling with all kinds of other activity yesterday as players arrived to register with many of them taking part in scores of mini-jackpots and satellites being offered for the Championship and Advanced flights.

Pia Jeppesen, one of the Denmark’s top players, is looking forward to having a good time here in Helsingør, and commented , ”It's funny to play in a big tournament like Nordic Open in Denmark because I know so many of the players. With so many great players taking part, one doesn’t expect to win, but of course I sure hope to and will play my best. If lose in the tournament, I will partake in all the many other side events, but let’s hope I go far in the Championship and not have time for that.”

Pia Jeppesen of Denmark

The World Series of Backgammon is on location here filming this second stop of their Season 2 where one can qualify to play in the WSOB Championship 160,000 Shoot-Out Decider happening July 21, 2008 at the Palm Beach Casino, Cannes.

Results of the Beginners flight – 79 players:

1. Frederik Blinkenberg.
2. Martin Bøhm.
3. Bjarni Baldvin.
Spurt: Søren Schmidt