Backgammon Champions

In some activities a player needs luck, while in others skill is the predominant requirement. In backgammon, there is a need for both. The best backgammon players have this combination in higher levels than the average player and understand how the two work together. When the two work just right, in a preponderance of tournaments, backgammon champions are made. But, this is the exception rather then the rule if one is to look at the history of backgammon champions. Over the last forty years, or so, there really has not been a champion that has dominated the game for any real stretch of time. The best champions, it would seem, tend to always be around the top ranks but never really can be said to be dominant, simply because of the nature of the game.

Playing and studying

In most instances, the best backgammon players find a way to put in their playing and studying time. The age old debate of strategy versus luck has little bearing on the fact that a player needs to understand what the right moves to make are given a particular set of variables. The only way to know and understand these moves is to see them develop during the course of a game. Reacting properly, and seeing the dynamic as the other player then responds (correctly or incorrectly) is the only real way to become better or best at the game.

Understanding people and their skill level

There is a bit of psychoanalyst in every good backgammon player. There are a set of prescribed moves given some of the more common set-ups of a game in progress. This does not mean that the player opposite you will necessarily make those moves. If they do not make the prescribed moves you need to adjust your moves to get past their “mistake.” Understanding that they will not make the prescribed move before they do it is one characteristic of the best backgammon players.

Playing the circuit

For the most part, backgammon champions play the backgammon circuit. One might say this is rather self evident, but they would be understating the reality of the requirement. The world championships are played once per year and can attract just about anybody to them. There is no real world circuit. Instead, there are regional tournaments and then regions within the regions. So, Europe and the United States would be two regions and then there are tournaments with those regions to make some sort of a consensus champion for them. Given the geographic size of these regions and the costs associated with playing at more then a few to gain points it is difficult to have a real idea of who might really be in the championship stratosphere of the backgammon world.

2007 North American points

There are points awarded to players at regional backgammon tournaments around the countries involved. Depending upon how a player performs, a certain amounts of points are awarded. With this in mind, just two players were awarded over 40 points in 2007. Ray Fogerlund was awarded 44.87 points in 2007, Richard Muntz 42.26 and Patrick Gibson 32.77.Mr. Fogerlund appears to have been in the top 10 for the last several years as has been Neil Kazaross from an all time perspective.