Antoinette Marie Williams. I am the Founder/CEO of Doors Wide Open, LLC (DWO), a for profit organization in New York City. DWO’s vision is to provide people with disabilities an online guide for all accessible venues in the five boroughs.
DWO will also provide a suite of services to include an Handicapable travel guide, power point awareness presentations to the elder community, an online “ASK Antoinette” where anyone can ask questions about any subject, a blog and social networking for up-to-date information.
Playing backgammon for almost 50 years, I am considered one of the top women players in the world. I have won the World Championship in Monte Carlo several times and other tournaments in Cyprus, Egypt, Chicago and San Antonio to name a few.
At 40 years old I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis a central nervous system disease. Unable to walk, I use a motorized scooter “my Apple red Ferrari” to get around.
At age 43, I earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and at 53 graduated with a Master’s degree in creative writing.
Besides my passion for backgammon and travel, I’ve tutored Adults in a literacy program and helped better 1st graders reading and writing skills. Recently I received a Community Service Award from the NYC Comptroller’s Office for work helping people with disabilities and elders to get benefits and services.
Awards and Accomplishments
Antoinette is one of the premiere female players in the United States. Here are just a few of her wins (most important are starred):
**2025 Winner Ladies 8th Gibraltar Backgammon Championship
**2025 Finalist Master’s Flight Last Chance 8th Gibraltar Backgammon Championship
**2025 Finalist GIB Challenge 8th Gibraltar Backgammon Championship
2023 World Team Championships (Skopje, Macedonia) – Finalist
2020 USA vs UK Women’s BG International Tournament lowest PR of 16 women players
2019 Winner Ladies Jackpot Monte Carlo World Backgammon Championship
**2018 3rd Place ABT Awards Top Finishers on the 2017 ABT Tour: first woman ever to place in top 3
**2017 Winner Texas Backgammon Championship Division
2017 Winner Consolation Cherry Blossom Backgammon Championship
2017 Doubles Winner w/Leyla Z. California Backgammon Championship
2016 Finalist Cyprus Ladies Tournament at 4th Merit Open International Backgammon Championship
2015 Winner Masters Ladies Prize 3rd Merit Open International Backgammon Cyprus
2014 Open Consolation Winner Texas Backgammon Championship
**2014 Finalist Monte Carlo Open (Warm-up) @ Monte Carlo World Backgammon Championship
**2011 Finalist Ladies Tournament Monte Carlo World Backgammon Championship
2011 4th Place - 9th Annual Wisconsin State Backgammon Championships
2011 2nd Place Doubles Winner with Julius High 9th Annual Wisconsin State Backgammon Championships
2010 Winner Warm-Up New York Metropolitan Open
**2008 Winner Championship Division 14th Annual Ohio State Backgammon Championship.
**2008 Winner Championship & Co-Organizer The Egyptian International Backgammon Tournament Sharm El Sheik, Egypt
2005 Winner Riviera’s Challenge Ladies Tournament
1999 Winner The Lady’s Treasure Midwest Backgammon Championship in Chicago
1996 Winner Ladies Tournament Las Vegas Open
1994 Winner with Howard Markowitz & Alan Steffen “Let’s Do It Again” Fred Team Tournament, Monte Carlo World Backgammon Championship
1993 3/4 Place Main and 2nd Consolation NY / NJ Co-op Regional
1993 Winner Doubles w/Bob Bieder BG Co-op Fall Championships at Rocking Horse Ranch
1993 Semifinals with Howard Markowitz and Alan Steffen “Dream Team” Fred Team Tournament, Monte Carlo World Backgammon Championship
1992 Ladies Prize 4th City of Venice-Championship
1992 Winner with Howard Markowitz & Alan Steffen “Dream Team” Fred Team Tournament, Monte Carlo World Backgammon Championship
**1991 Intermediate Winner of the Monte Carlo World Backgammon Championship
1991 Winner 1st Main Consolation NY/NJ Co-Op Regional
1988 2nd Place Winners Team Tournament with Matti Karsikko & Alex Barsel Monte Carlo World Backgammon Championship
1979 Winner Intermediate Division Paradise Island, Bahamas Backgammon Tournament
Backgammon Honors & Accomplishments
2023 Oasis International Cup (Dubai) “Special Player” Award
2022 Special Player Award Cyprus (for long time contribution to the game of backgammon)
2021 Amsterdam/Columbus Business Improvement District - gives free backgammon lessons to people of all ages, twice monthly.
2021 to present USBGF Commentator Manager for ABT Online & Live Tournaments: (recruit players to comment on Main and Super Jackpot Finals )
2021 Special Player Award Dubai, United Arab Emirates: (for long time contributions to the game of backgammon)
2021 Author “Words from Local Backgammon Champ” Lifeforce in Later Years (LILY) Newsletter
2020 Contributing Author of 2 recipes with bg analysis soon to be published book by Phyllis Shapiro
2020 Tournament Ambassador Melbourne, Australia Backgammon Tournament
2020 to Present: Women of Backgammon (Leads educational bg discussions, recruits, involves and promotes women into the game)
2015 17th Place 2014 ABT Rankings
2009–2019 Organized “Pair-O-Dice” Tournaments in NYC
2008 Appointed Honorable President of Tbilisi Backgammon Club by Directors Anzor Babukhadia and Omar Dvali
2002 Marketing Director 1st Bali, Indonesia Backgammon Championship
1980s-present Monte Carlo Ambassador for World Championship
Author of several BG articles for the Chicago Point Magazine
Community Honors & Achievements
2022-2024 – Post Covid – regularly . . .
Backgammon Lessons to West Prep Academy 7th & 8th Graders once a week
Lessons at the Yale Club in NYC to Alumni and Guests biweekly
Meeting with Superintendent of 43 public schools in NYC with potential to teach BG starting 3 schools to 6th graders.
Lessons at NYC Backgammon Social Meetups
2019 Older Americans Service Award Comptroller of the City of New York in recognition of outstanding contributions to the elderly community
2018 Co-Organizer - First Conference of African American/Black families affected by MS
2002 - Founder & CEO: Doors Wide Open, LLC (an online site that provides information to people with disabilities on compliant restaurants)
2001-2003 Volunteer HIV/Aids Hotline support
1999-present Executive Volunteer - National Multiple Sclerosis Society
1980s – 1990s Teacher Volunteer Adult Literacy Program New York Public Library
My Degrees
Manhattan Community College - Associate in Arts
The City University of New York - Bachelor of Arts
The City University of New York - Master of Arts
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