Biographies - Tapio Palmroth
by Jake Jacobs

"Moro " to all, from Tapio Palmroth. "Tapio" means "forest god" in ancient Finnish, but Tapio does not spend his time living in a tree. In Finland he is backgammon's goodwill ambassador, writing for the Finnish BG News, and for the local papers, as well as doing radio interviews to promote the game. (His picture appeared last year in CIGAR AFICIONADO, in the article on the World's Greatest Backgammon Hustler. No, it isn't Tapio!)

 Tapio has, like several of the previously profiled, a varied occupational background. He was a student politician, a light-truck driver (do they have a curfew?), a warehouse worker, a bartender in a disco ("beer and sausages"), DJ, coffee shop waiter ("beer and sausages and coffee!"), children's tennis instructor, windsurfing instructor, "and of course: Shoes! Shoes! Shoes! Tapio, you see, sells shoes. He has been all over the world with his footwear, a real "sole man," selling in places as diverse as Russia, the Middle East, Europe, and North America. No word on whether he knows Imelda…Or Marla Maples.

 Though in 20 years he has cashed in his share of consolations, or as a runner up, a first prize has eluded him so far. Still, his spirits are high. He plays backgammon, backgammon, and more backgammon, sells shoes, shoes, shoes, and raises three kids. He also plays tennis, windsurfs, and is very interested in other sports. ("Only watching those.")

 Tapio directs tennis tournaments, including the ATP Challenge tournaments in Tampere (Finland – his town). He is also a windsurfing director. As a BG director he has run small tournaments in Finland for 20 years, as well as the 1998 Freixenet tournament, and the Carlsberg Helsinki Open in 1999.

 Tapio's nickname online is GobiDesertCanoePro, which he tried to explain to me, but the meaning seems to have paddled away across the desert. (Ahh…and that desert canoeing thing…being a 'pro' in the wrong time or wrong place is some kind of blues-thing (blues is cool); the same thing as when being in the right place and on the right time but not as a 'pro' is blues the other way up or down, so there you've got it…maybe. ;-)")

Tapio's slogan is: "If you think you have THE answer – you only have ONE answer." His wish for us all: "May the luck be on your side!"

e-mail Jake Jacobs: tobaksa@bg-info.com