Nigel Merrigan

Full Name: Nigel B. Merrigan

Date of Birth: 22 / 03 / 1966

Birth Place: Singleton, Wales

Current City of Residence: Preston, Lancashire

Marital Status: Married, 23 years and not counting

Children: 4

Occupation: Psychology Lecturer/Lounge Cat

How I Started in Backgammon: A friend wagered he would eat the Chessboard and pieces if I ever won a Grand Prix. He won the bet and suggested I flip the board over.

Book I have written: In the pipeline along with the other sewage I’ve written

Backgammon Nickname: Mr Majestyk

Current Skill Level: Expert

Playing Backgammon live since: 1989

Favorite Tournament Venue: I’ll tell you next time I win there!

Titles won:

Liverpool Open 1991
British Open 1993
British Open 2006
Imperial Cup 2011

Other important finishes:

British Open 1994-2010 – I like this Tournament (Semis & Quarters)
15 MITTELEUROPA – Finalist (Intermediate Flight)
British Open 2005 – Consolation
Peligoni Cup 2005 – Semi Finals
Manchester Open 2005 – Finalist
Belgium Open 2006 – Consolation (Championship Flight)
Gammonitis 2006 – Consolation
County Cups 2006 – Finalist (1000-1 award)

Favorite Backgammon Book: Reno

Favorite Music: Jazz

Favorite Film(s): Mr Majestyk, Hard Times & Rounders

Favorite Food: Italian

Other Interests & Hobbies: A casual mix of beer and flying saucers

Person I’d like most to meet: Me! 20 years earlier.

Favorite Celebrity: Phillip Seymour Hoffman

If I could change anything in the world, I would…: treat any frugal act of good intention with a generous measure of sobriety.

If I could change anything in the Backgammon world, I would…: persuade others to rethink their 5-2 opening!!!

Additional comments:

Tip: “Never pat a burning dog”, Russell Crowe, A Good Year