Mark Donaldson

Full Name: Mark Donaldson

Date of birth: April 18, 1963

Birth Place: Minnesota, USA

Children: 1 son

Occupation: President of a company that services the natural gas industry

How I Started in Backgammon: A friend and I went out for a beer after a round of golf and found two people playing this funny little game with checkers and dice. One of them (Ray Bills) was so inviting and hospitable and allowed us to join the game… thousands of dollars (i.e. of tuition) and 18 years later Ray is still winning… but that may change soon!

Backgammon Nickname: Tuttle

Current Skill level: Advanced

Playing Backgammon live since: 1991? I think

Favorite Tournament Venue: Midwest Backgammon Championship, Wisconsin State B C, Only went once, but loved the California State Championship

Titles won:

– 1st 2006 Midwest Backgammon Championship

(Advanced Division)

– 1st 2007 Las Vegas Open (Intermediate
Division)

– 1st 2007 Midwest Backgammon Championship – Open
Doubles

– 1st 2007 Wisconsin State Backgammon Championship –
Open Doubles

Other important finishes: Elayne and I beat Carter!

Book I have written: No book, but I have a lot of material for one.

Favorite Backgammon book(s): Backgammon by Paul Magriel, Backgammon Boot Camp by Walter Trice, Modern Backgammon by Bill Robertie, Backgammon Praxis by Marty Storer

Favorite Music: Anything but Rap and twangy Country Music

Favorite Film(s): Brazil, Central Station, Cinema Paradiso, Shawshank Redemption

Favorite Food: A good steak with a great bottle of wine would be my last request.

Other Interests & Hobbies: Golf, Travel, Rare Book and Poster collecting, Sailing

Person I’d like most to meet: Ayn Rand or Milton Friedman (i.e. if I could travel in time) or if not, Terry Gilliam or Clint Eastwood

Favorite Celebrity: Tom Hanks or Natalie Portman

If I could change anything in the world, I would…: Free the world from most Government controls and create an environment of personal, political, and economic freedom.

If I could change anything in the Backgammon world, I would…: Create a Ryder Cup type tournament series that would culminate in the World Cup Backgammon Championship!

Additional comments: Read the Book “Atlas Shrugged” for a prescient drama which incredibly parallels the exact issues of our time!