I have spent the last week in Trier, Germany. Perhaps better known as the home of Karl Marx, it hosted the World Team Championships, and I was lucky enough to be chosen to represent the UK. My teammates (left to right) are: Gaz Owen, yours truly, Martin Barkwill (non-playing captain), Raj Jansari, Jon Barnes, Oliver Squire and Lawrence Powell. In a three-way play-off we came agonisingly close to winning the gold medal but had to settle for silver. Romania took gold and France bronze. It was a great week and fantastic to be playing live backgammon again. It was also good to meet up with backgammon friends from around the world.