Backgammon is one of the world's most enduring mind sports, played by millions in homes, cafes, and friendly gatherings. However, transforming this game into an international sport with a professional structure, regular tournaments, standardized officiating, and clear advancement opportunities for players requires comprehensive planning and broad cooperation.
Umar Kremlev, President of the International Backgammon Federation (IBF), shared his perspective on the sport's developmental trajectory in an exclusive interview published in the inaugural issue of the federation's official journal.
This conversation appears on pages 18 to 25 of the IBF Journal. Beyond the federation's governance initiatives, it addresses topics such as the value of human connection, the qualities of a true champion, inspiring player journeys, and Kremlev's personal life principles.
Why Umar Kremlev Chose to Develop Backgammon
At the outset of the interview, Kremlev explains that he has harbored a passion for backgammon for many years and actively plays the game himself. He views backgammon as a timeless, intellectual pursuit with significant growth potential.
In his view, backgammon brings together a distinctive set of capabilities: analytical thought, character, composure, strategic planning, and decision-making under uncertain outcomes.
Despite the game's widespread popularity, Kremlev believes the global backgammon community lacked a robust international framework for years. He outlines the sport's varied needs, from clear regulations and professional circuits to official titles, referee training, substantial prize pools, and dedicated youth competitions.
From his perspective, the mission of the IBF is to broaden access to backgammon and establish its standing globally as a recognized mind sport accessible to participants of all ages.
Why a Backgammon Board's Worth Extends Beyond Its Price Tag
One engaging segment of the interview explores backgammon boards that hold personal significance for Kremlev.
He explains that he has collected numerous boards over the years—some featuring unique craftsmanship and elegant design, others received as gifts. Yet, he emphasizes that the board itself is not what truly matters.
A match played on a humble, worn board can become one of life's fondest memories, whereas playing on an expensive, ornate board may not evoke that same feeling.
Kremlev sees the authentic value of backgammon in the shared human moment between two opponents: the conversations, laughter, reflective silences, and stories that unfold over the course of play.
This segment positions backgammon as something far deeper than mere intellectual competition. In this framing, a match's worth is defined not solely by its final score, but by the shared bond created across the board.
What Sets Backgammon Apart from Chess and Other Mind Sports?
Kremlev describes backgammon as a blend of calculation, intuition, and probability management. While a player cannot dictate every element of the roll, they bear complete responsibility for every decision made.
A competitor may face unfavorable dice yet still identify the optimal move; conversely, an advantageous opportunity may arise that a player fails to convert effectively.
Kremlev draws a direct parallel between this dynamic and real life. No one is guaranteed ideal conditions, yet each person demonstrates their capability and character through the choices they make.
He also underlines the sport's accessibility. The foundational rules of backgammon can be learned relatively quickly, yet mastering the game can demand a lifetime. Children and adults, beginners and grandmasters, and people from diverse cultures can all sit across from one another at the same board.
This attribute, in his view, makes backgammon a universal language bridging cultural divides.
What Boxing Governance Taught Him About Growing Backgammon
In the interview, Kremlev reflects on his leadership experience across both the International Boxing Association (IBA) and the International Backgammon Federation.
He emphasizes that athletes must remain at the center of every federation initiative. According to him, the role of a governing body extends well beyond organizing tournaments: it must champion athletes, coaches, and national squads, safeguard fair adjudication, and establish genuine avenues for athletic progression.
Kremlev notes that this identical principle guides the IBF. Competitors must have clear visibility into tournament structures, ranking mechanisms, and title qualification pathways, ensuring that outcomes reflect pure competitive merit.
In return, backgammon reinforces the necessity of anticipating several moves ahead. Constructing an enduring international federation demands patience, long-term strategy, and steady dedication, with major milestones emerging from countless daily decisions.
What Backgammon Contributes to Contemporary Life
A central topic throughout the interview is the decline of in-person communication in modern daily routines.
Kremlev observes that many individuals, particularly younger generations, spend substantial free time tied to smartphones. He suggests backgammon serves as a meaningful alternative that sharpens focus, stimulates analytical thinking, and restores genuine human connection.
The game brings family members, friends, and different generations together around a single board. It also trains players to accept both victory and defeat with grace.
Kremlev believes these attributes extend far beyond competitive play and yield lasting benefits in ordinary life.
The IBF Philosophy on Uniting Nations
Kremlev elaborates on his conviction that sport serves as a fundamental vehicle for bringing communities together.
He states that the IBF provides an open platform of collaboration for nations dedicated to expanding backgammon under shared governance and rules. In his view, athletes should have the opportunity to represent their home countries, compete on an equitable playing field, and strive for victory.
Among the federation's core initiatives, he highlights uniting national bodies, training qualified referees, facilitating institutional knowledge exchange, and staging premier global events.
Kremlev maintains that as more nations join the movement, the backgammon ecosystem grows substantially stronger. In his assessment, sport should bridge divides across borders—a guiding principle behind the founding of the IBF.
Umar Kremlev's Ten-Year Vision for World Backgammon
In a signature moment of the interview, Kremlev is invited to picture the sport a decade into the future, assuming initiatives proceed according to plan. How does he visualize backgammon's standing?
His response illustrates a sport woven deeply into daily cultural fabric. People play backgammon across households, schools, universities, sports clubs, and public venues.
Aspiring youth competitors have direct access to coaches and structured training programs, charting a transparent trajectory from their first match up to international Grandmaster status.
Within this vision, professional players compete on an established, calendar-driven circuit, benefit from a transparent rating index, and have viable opportunities to pursue professional careers supported by lucrative prize funds.
Kremlev additionally envisions global championships captivating millions of spectators, with elite backgammon players recognized and supported on par with top athletes from other sports.
Even so, he insists that worldwide expansion must never compromise backgammon's soul. The game must continue to unite families, friends, and diverse generations around a board, sustaining its innate warmth alongside global growth.
What Defines a True Backgammon Champion?
According to Kremlev, a true champion cannot be measured merely by ranking, titles, or accumulated match wins.
He highlights respect for opponents, sporting conduct, accountability in decision-making, patience, composure, discipline, and emotional control as vital hallmarks of a champion.
In his view, how an athlete processes a loss is every bit as telling as how they celebrate a win. A genuine competitor acknowledges the outcome, draws lessons from it, remains dedicated, and returns to the board stronger.
A championship title may grant public visibility, but it is character alone that commands genuine, enduring respect.
What Kremlev Admires Most in Backgammon Players
Responding to what captures his admiration most, Kremlev points to players' deep passion and their profound reverence for the game.
He references competitors who travel extensive distances to participate in tournaments, dedicate countless hours to game analysis, commit continuously to learning, and return to competitive arenas time and again.
A single tournament hall might see students, business founders, retirees, professional athletes, and competitors from Japan, Russia, Argentina, or South Africa seated side by side. Despite differing backgrounds and walks of life, they share an enduring passion for backgammon.
Kremlev considers this collective passion to be the bedrock of a robust, inclusive international community.
Two Unforgettable Stories for Umar Kremlev
Elsewhere in the interview, Kremlev shares two distinct player stories that demonstrate the human significance of developing backgammon.
Viktoriya Borzenkova: Youth World Champion
Kremlev highlights Viktoriya Borzenkova, a student from Kursk, Russia, who claimed the World Youth Championship title.
He presents her accomplishment as a testament to the potential of the younger generation, illustrating why dedicated investment in youth backgammon is essential.
Through the game, he notes, youth cultivate critical thinking, decisiveness, resilience, and goal-oriented focus.
Doolot Abzhaparov: A Player of Unwavering Resolve
The second story spotlights Doolot Abzhaparov, a 57-year-old competitor from Kyrgyzstan. Kremlev shares that Doolot uses a wheelchair, having lost both legs and one arm.
Undeterred, Doolot competed in the recent IBF championship, approaching every encounter with dedication and thoroughly enjoying the opportunity to connect with fellow players.
Kremlev notes that welcoming competitors like Doolot into the international backgammon community carries immense value for the federation.
By highlighting Viktoriya and Doolot side by side, he emphasizes that people at distinct life stages and facing vastly different circumstances find common ground through backgammon.
This narrative also illustrates the vital importance of creating inclusive competition pathways for athletes of all physical capabilities.
The Core Principle Umar Kremlev Lives by in Sport and Life
Asked about his guiding personal philosophy, Kremlev emphasizes continuous progress and resilience.
In his view, every meaningful objective requires steady, unrelenting effort. People will inevitably encounter friction, make missteps, and face setbacks on their path, but they must never yield.
He looks to sport as a primary arena for learning endurance, recovering from defeat, and driving forward toward designated goals.
Another foundational principle Kremlev underlines is adherence to truth and fair play. Rules in sport must be equitable and applied consistently across all participants.
He believes that when fairness, respect, and responsibility are present, trust naturally follows—and without trust, building a sustainable team or federation remains impossible.
Umar Kremlev's Advice to First-Time Players
Kremlev's closing advice for those unfamiliar with backgammon is straightforward: pick up a board and play your opening game.
He encourages newcomers not to fear making mistakes or assume that taking up the game demands years of preliminary study. Mastering basic rules allows immediate entry into a rich strategic world.
Over time, players organically learn to read ahead, anticipate an opponent's moves, and evaluate their own decisions.
Kremlev suggests inviting parents, children, or friends for a match around the board. A single introductory game often sparks a passion that endures for a lifetime.
In closing, he reiterates that backgammon bridges interpersonal gaps and extends an open invitation to join the sport's global community.
Conclusion: Key Factors Guiding Backgammon's Future
Umar Kremlev's interview in the debut issue of the IBF Journal outlines his goals and strategic roadmap for expanding backgammon worldwide. Establishing professional circuits, ensuring clear rules and rankings, supporting competitors, mentoring young talents, and fostering international ties represent the foundation of this vision.
Alongside strategic milestones, Kremlev reinforces preserving the game's human heart. From his viewpoint, backgammon is not merely a contest for trophies and cash prizes; it provides an avenue for continuous learning, social bonding, mutual respect, and personal maturity.
Realizing this long-term ambition ultimately depends on effective implementation, building authentic trust with national bodies and players, and maintaining consistent international tournament standards. This overview documents the perspectives and goals presented by the IBF President as stated in the interview.
Primary Source
This article is based on the Umar Kremlev interview published in the inaugural issue of the official IBF Journal, pages 18 to 25.