Antoinette-Marie Williams - How To Move in the Games of Life, Lessons from My Dad.

 

As far back as I can remember, Rachel and Henry Williams played cards. At 10, I listened to the laughter and teasing around the card table. My dad invited me to play. He needed a partner. He taught me the rules of the game, how to win. And he also taught me how to hold the cards in my small hands to play Bid Whist, pinochle and cutthroat pinochle. [audience laughter] 

 

They lit up the room with passion and confidence. And it rubbed off on me. I learned to play backgammon from my friend, Terry, almost 50 years ago, probably longer than most of you have been on the planet. Backgammon is a board game that's been around probably longer than and found in Tutankhamun's coffin. The game is played with 15 checkers and dice for each player. Each player rolls the dice and moves their checkers around the board according to the numbers on the dice. You win the game by getting your checkers to your home board and getting your checkers off before your opponent. 

 

I loved backgammon. I was dying to play. I was hungry to play this game. I found Chess City, a few blocks away from my apartment. They played bridge, chess and backgammon there. Only a few women were in the game of bridge. I found a group of men playing over in the corner, four Bulgarians and one Haitian. They were arguing mostly in Bulgarian about the plays to make. They made some of the worst plays I had ever seen. [audience laughter] They were really bad. After watching for several days, Figgy, one of the Bulgarians, invited me to play. “Had he read my mind?” Jesus. He invited me into this game. I was so excited. 

 

That evening, I walked home with more ducats than I came with. [audience laughter] It was truly reassuring and exciting to play with them. We played several days a week, and I walked away generally with more money in my pocket. Sometimes I lost, and my motto, “It's just an investment.” Kept them coming back, putting more money in my pockets. [audience laughter] 

 

After playing with them for a while, I heard about Monte Carlo. Monte Carlo has the largest world backgammon championship in the world. I always thought that this Mediterranean Wonderland tournament was out of my reach, too expensive. I did some research. “Monte Carlo, here I come.” [audience laughter] It was a week-long tournament in July and I went. There were over 200 people in the intermediate division, very few women. But I was there, representing the sisterhood. 

 

When I walked into the room, I heard the melodious tune of the shaking of the dice. It was music to my ears. Most of the men there, male opponents, underestimated me. They thought that I was a mere dilettante in the game. But I was going there to prove that I was a winner, that I could beat them. 

 

Day one, Pierre walked in. Tall, dark, mustached and handsome. Fine by my definition. [audience laughter] He sat down to play. Pierre had no chance. I rolled like Wanda possessed and beat him 13-0. He walked away graciously, but disheveled. [audience laughter] I strutted to the scorekeeper's desk to claim my win. Throughout the rest of the week, I played all male competitors, and I beat them all. Undefeated, I won the intermediate division of the Monte Carlo World Backgammon tournament. [audience cheers and applause]

 

I won a trip to Spain to use a car at the timeshare, a $1,200 German backgammon set and a trophy, and the recognition of my peers at this tournament. I had made it. After playing some more tournaments, winning and losing, there was this tournament in San Antonio in 2017. I was the only black female and the first woman to ever be in the finals of this tournament. But not only was I the first woman, there was another woman. She and I were in the finals, both from the Big Apple. 

 

We sat down to play, and Layla was beating me 8-5 in an 11-point match. I took a break from the defeat. I rolled to the bathroom on my Ferrari, [audience laughter] and I got to the sink, and I splashed cold water on my face and I heard my father's voice, “Play every game like it's your first.” I talked to myself in the mirror, “Goddamn it, Antoinette. You can't let her beat you. Second place is not an option.” 

 

I roll back to the table. People are standing on chairs, encouraging, thumbs up, smiling at me, rooting for me. The score was 8-5. We started to play. I rolled. I got to the best part of my game. I turned the cue. Layla passed. The score is now 8-6. We play on. I get into a good position again. I double the cue. Layla passes. It's now 8-7. My inner voice is saying, “That's when I go with it. You've got it going on, girl. Move, move.” 

 

We start the next game. I put one of Layla's checkers on the bar. She has to come into my home board. She can't come in. My board is closed. I'm rolling to take my checkers off. I'm shake, shake, shaking vigorously. I'm nervous. My heart is pounding. I think everyone in the building hears me. I'm shaking the dice. Layla can't come in. I'm finally taking off all my checkers. Layla still is on the bar. “Oh, my God, I'm winning this game. I'm winning this tournament.” 

 

Before I know it, I've won four points. Not only did I win, I backed amateur. I won six points. I won the San Antonio tournament, the first woman, the first black woman to win this tournament and the prizes. I am so happy. People are surrounding me with joy and thanking me, giving me congratulations. That same year, I won third place in the American Back Amateur, the first woman to ever win in that division as well, a black woman in this game representing other women. 

 

Finally, I got a phone call that said that I was nominated for the Backgammon Hall of Fame. I've been recognized by my peers. [audience cheers and applause] 

 

I'm so happy to be recognized by my backgammon peers. I love the game as much as I did in 1973 when I first learned, and I'm proud that there are other women joining in this male dominated game. I remember what my father taught me. I still take risks and I still play every game like it was my first. Thank you.