FMGammon 'Mete' Backgammon Set *Unboxing*

Link to *MY T-SHIRT BAND* - Pinkish Black:    • PINKISH BLACK live at Southwest Terro...  

My unboxing and review of a brand new FMGammon 'Mete VIP' backgammon set, bearing the first name of FMGammon co-founder Mete Topcuoglu, shipped to my home from Istanbul, Turkey, with the mammoth package arriving a ridiculous four days after shipment. The board was encased in styrofoam, and double-wrapped in bubble wrap. The packaging is really top-notch and makes it clear that FMGammon wants every set they ship to make it to its destination unscathed. The cube was wrapped in a cellophane bag for shipping, as it does not have a specific area to be stored in the bear off trays, unlike my 2020 'Hamdi' board, unboxed and reviewed in a later video.

This set has finger-dished blue and white checkers that I picked out of a few different options, along with a scoreboard (a fine added feature for tournament players), a carrying case, and a really nice wood doubling cube with a removable lid that holds two sets of 14mm precision dice. FMGammon also sent a unique COVID-19 mask, which is a really nice touch. Bravo!

This board, like many of FMGammon's higher-end boards, is constructed out of solid beechwood, and weighs a gargantuan 14 pounds or so. Solid construction wood framing, and a felt playing surface with gorgeous blue and orange points that appear to be sewn into the playing surface, but which are actually fully printed felt, leaving the playing surface as smooth as a baby's butt.

The dice cups are solid wood, and have a material inside that dampens the sound of shaking dice and gives a very warm, soft sound. The checkers meet the interior wood frame of the playing surface, producing an incredibly rich 'click' with each move of the checkers that becomes hypnotic! I love the sound of moving the checkers, but without the clattering of dice hitting a wood playing surface.

FM's customer service is fantastic, with my new friend Onur Ihtiyar answering all the questions I had about the board, the company, and providing information on the shipping, which was incredibly swift, via FedEx. Unlike other boards I've received from Europe, which sat in US Customs for weeks, FMGammon boards come straight to your home in mere days!

I could not be happier with this beautiful and well-constructed backgammon board! This is a 'keeper' for sure and my favorite board overall.

FMGammon boards are available on eBay, and also on their website (fmgammon.com), where different boards can be customized to your specifications as to size, playing surface and pip colors, checkers, dice, etc. In order to obtain the 'wood grain' effect on the playing surface of a custom-designed board (like Marc Olsen's version of this exact board), reach out to FM staff, as that 'Taki' color effect is not currently available on the FM website's 'board builder' function.

Thank you FMGammon, and I hope to visit Istanbul one day to meet Onur, Mete and Fuat, who have a really special company making an amazing product. Kudos!

For unboxing videos of some of my other backgammon boards, check out the links below:

FMGammon 'Talat' Premium backgammon set, with interchangeable playing surfaces and multiple leather accessories *Unboxing*'
   • FMGammon ‘Talat’ (Premium) Backgammon...  

869 Backgammon / Erhan Boards Backgammon set, a custom-designed "board of my dreams" designed in collaboration with the board maker Unboxing    • 869 Backgammon / ‘Erhan Board’ *UNBOX...  

Crisloid Tournament Attaché backgammon set, custom-designed, with unique checkers, and upgraded leather dice cups Unboxing
   • Crisloid Tournament Attaché Backgammo...  

Wycliffe Brothers 'Prestige Class' 23" Backgammon board w/ 1.75" nickel plated checkers Unboxing
   • Wycliffe Brothers 23” Prestige Class ...  

Gammoner Paul Magriel Commemorative "X-22" Backgammon board, a limited edition board (only 22 produced worldwide) with stunning custom checkers Unboxing    • Gammoner "X-22" Paul Magriel Commemor...  

FMGammon 2020 'Hamdi' Backgammon set w/ precision dice and scoreboard Unboxing    • FMGammon 'Hamdi' Backgammon Set *Unbo...  

FTH Backgammon Tournament Backgammon board, custom-designed, with merino wool felt interior Unboxing
   • FTH Tournament Backgammon Set *Unboxing*  

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