While the passing of Matvey Mike Natanzon aka "Falafel" has got the entire backgammon community mourning, his Japanese friend and backgammon Giant Michihito Michi" Kageyama has written a wonderful tribute to the late hero.
A classy top player honoring another classy top-play!
A new variation of modern backgammon has been invented: ChivaGammon.
It can be played with or without clocks with the regular time settings. It´s modern backgammon with cube played as a match to 5 points.
However, the Crawford Rule has been skipped and instead, in order to win the match, a player must reach minimum 5 points, but with minimum 2 points difference. Like in Tennis and other sports, the match continues as long as the 2 points difference have not been reached.
It´s a great game, demanding special skills and calculations. Try it out.
21st March is "World Backgammon Day"
For over 10 years, we have been encouraging the backgammon community to celebrate the World Backgammon Day by gathering, playing, organizing tournaments and enjoying the game, especially on March 21st. An application at UNESCO for the officialization of this "World Backgammon Day" has been made and is ongoing.
We encourage everyone in 2025 celebrate the oldest game on the planet with friends and family, in clubs and through live and online tournaments and events.
Have fun & play backgammon!
Changes have been made to the yearly tournament on the beautiful and sunny Spanish island of Mallorca.
New dates: The tournament has been moved to May 2025, from 13th to 18th, during the orange blossom season.
The tournament in Malloca is probably the most laid back and relaxed event in the world, a perfect combinatiion of vacation, beach, fun and backgammon. The event will be held in a 3-lives swiss-based format + an Ultimate Fight (Last Chance). Each round will be to 9 points. Various side-events will be held, such as a "Warm-up" with a beautiful fmgammon board for tthe winner, Doubles, DMP, Super-Jackpot, Speedgammon and the "Bogidar-Superspeed (5 points, 30 secs total bank time + 8 secs delay per move).
Hurry to book your room at the ElCid Playa de Palma at the special backgammon rate, as it fills quickly.
Come to Majorca, play backgammon, enjoy the sun, meet old and new friends and have fun.
For full info, please visit the website: https://ckt816.wixsite.com/mallorca
The Anniversary Tournament of ISTAVDER in Istanbul (Turkey) is a must attend in terms of space, equipment, organisation and format. It has been attracting more and more players in the history of is existence.
In 2025, from 23rd to 27th of April, the tentative is to break another record in terms of attendance with over 700 players. The location is a huge convention center, which 2 hotels on each side with direct access. The WOW-Hotels and Convention center will be exclusively for this huge tournament during those days. Regardless of the number of participants, there will be plenty of space and "squeezing" won´t happen.
Selected matches will be recorded and streamed, live commentary by top players will be provided, a huge screen will display the most interesting pairing, beautiful and unique trophies will be handed out to the winners, and a wonderful closing awards ceremony will take place.
The entry fee is inexpensive and is only aimed to cover partly the organization costs. Special rates have been arranged at both WOW-Hotels. Side-events such a Consultation Doubles and SpeedGammon, as well as DMP-Challenges and numerous Jackpots will be available throughout the tournament days. The total prize pool is projected to exceed 90.000 €
This is a tournament to experience by every player and a benchmark for all other events around the world.
All the info and bookings are available on www.ftbgsystem.com
Mark your calendar and make your reservation NOW!
WBA has been helpful in the creation of ISTAVDER and is fully supportive of this mega-event and real "backgammon feast".