GG Nkomo

Marc Nkomo climbed the palm trees of the coast for decades, tapping wine by feel for exactly when a trunk was ready, and reads a backgammon position with the same unhurried care. Before every move he looks away from the board once, out to the window or across the room, and only then looks back and plays. He has done this since he learned the game and cannot say why it started, only that a move made without the glance feels unfinished to him. Opponents used to think it was hesitation and have since learned it changes nothing about the speed of what follows. He looks away, looks back, and moves at once, settled.