Who Are the Greatest Backgammon Players of All Time?
Choosing just one person as the greatest backgammon player of all time is not easy. Unlike some professional sports, backgammon does not have a single, comprehensive ranking system for determining the greatest player in history.
However, examining world championships, sustained performance at the highest competitive level, positions in the Giants of Backgammon rankings, major tournament results, and players' contributions to the technical and educational development of the game provides a clearer picture of its historical legends.
This overview includes players from different generations, from Tim Holland and Paul Magriel during the formative years of modern backgammon to Nack Ballard, Bill Robertie, Matvey Natanzon, known as Falafel, and Masayuki Mochizuki, known as Mochy.
Each of these players competed in a different era, and their contributions to backgammon history cannot be measured solely by the number of championship trophies they won.
Criteria for Identifying the Greatest Backgammon Players
To compare players from different generations, we must first define what greatness means in backgammon.
During the 1960s and 1970s, modern game analysis software and today's performance evaluation methods did not exist. Even the structure of world championship tournaments differed from contemporary competitions.
Historical research by Dale Kerr shows that early tournaments carrying the World Championship title were held in Las Vegas, followed by world championship events in the Bahamas and Monte Carlo.
Since the 1990s, the Giants of Backgammon list has become an important indicator of players' standing within the professional community.
The list is compiled through votes from championship-level players and tournament directors and has generally been published every two years.
Three criteria are particularly important when evaluating players' historical significance:
- Competitive dominance: A player's success against strong opponents and ability to win major titles.
- Longevity: Maintaining a position at the highest competitive level over many years.
- Historical influence: Contributions to backgammon knowledge, education, analysis, and culture.
These criteria allow for a more meaningful comparison without ranking players from different generations solely by their championship totals.
1. Masayuki Mochizuki (Mochy): A Leading Figure in Modern Backgammon
Masayuki Mochizuki, widely known as Mochy, is one of the most prominent players of the modern backgammon era.
He won the Monte Carlo World Championship in 2009 and 2021, claiming the prestigious title twice, twelve years apart.
However, Mochy's achievements extend far beyond his two world championships.
He has ranked first in numerous editions of the Giants of Backgammon list, including 2009, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2022, and 2024.
He also held the top position in the 2025 rankings.
Another significant achievement was earning the title of Super Grandmaster through the Backgammon Masters Awarding Body (BMAB).
This title is based on recorded technical performance and Performance Rating (PR) across a substantial number of matches.
Mochy also won the inaugural Ultimate Backgammon Championship in 2019, a competition emphasizing skill and decision-making quality.
His combination of world championship titles, sustained leadership in the Giants rankings, and success in skill-focused competitions makes him one of the most important figures in modern backgammon history.
2. Nack Ballard: A Champion and Innovator
Nack Ballard was one of the most influential players of the generation preceding Mochy's dominance of the Giants rankings.
Ballard won the World Professional Championship in 1982.
He also ranked first in the Giants of Backgammon list three consecutive times and remained among its top ten players over a sixteen-year period.
He held the number-one position in the 2001, 2003, and 2005 rankings.
Ballard's significance extends beyond competitive results. He has also contributed to the development of analytical tools and concepts in backgammon.
His most notable innovations include:
- Nackgammon: A backgammon variant featuring a different starting position.
- Nactation: A system for recording and describing backgammon moves.
- Pip Count Calculation Methods: Tools for more precise analysis of game positions.
Ballard exemplifies a player whose influence extends beyond tournament success to the development of backgammon knowledge and analytical techniques.
3. Matvey Natanzon (Falafel): The Master of Intuitive Play
Matvey Natanzon, widely known as Falafel, was one of the most recognizable players in modern backgammon history.
He ranked first in the Giants of Backgammon list in 2007 and returned to the top position in 2011.
Falafel remained among the leading players in the Giants rankings for several years.
One of his most recognizable characteristics was his intuitive playing style and ability to analyze positions quickly.
His reputation extended beyond tournament results. He also played an important role in mentoring and educating the next generation of players.
According to information published by USBGF, players such as Masayuki Mochizuki, Michihito Kageyama, and Zdeněk Žižka benefited from his experience and teaching.
For this reason, Falafel's place in backgammon history reflects a combination of competitive skill, a distinctive playing style, and educational influence.
4. Bill Robertie: World Champion and Author
William Robertie, known as Bill Robertie, holds an important place in both competitive backgammon history and backgammon education.
He won the Monte Carlo World Championship twice:
- 1983: Monte Carlo World Champion.
- 1987: Monte Carlo World Champion.
In addition to his competitive success, Robertie has written numerous educational books that have contributed to the development of backgammon knowledge.
His well-known works include Advanced Backgammon, Backgammon for Winners, and Backgammon for Serious Players.
He also appeared in the first eleven editions of the Giants rankings and played an important role in organizing the World Cup alongside Kent Goulding.
Robertie is a prominent example of a player who combined professional success with writing, education, and tournament organization.
5. Paul Magriel: A Pioneer of Analytical Backgammon Education
Paul Magriel is considered one of the most influential figures in the history of backgammon education and analysis.
He won the World Championship in 1978.
However, Magriel's historical legacy extends far beyond this title.
His book Backgammon, published in 1976, is regarded as one of the most important works on strategic backgammon education and holds a special place among enthusiasts of the game.
In the book, Magriel explained decision-making principles, positional analysis, and the reasoning behind move selection.
He was also a recognized figure in the professional backgammon community during the early years of the Giants rankings.
The name X-22 is also associated with his analytical work and tournament simulations.
Magriel's greatest contribution to backgammon history may be his role in promoting an analytical approach in which players seek not only to identify the best move but also to understand why that move is superior.
6. Wilcox Snellings: A Leading Money-Game Player
Wilcox Snellings is one of the outstanding players in backgammon history, particularly known for his strength in money games.
USBGF recognizes him as one of the strongest players of his generation and an important figure in money-game backgammon.
Snellings ranked first in the Giants list in 1993 and 1997 and finished second in 1995.
One notable event in his professional career was his return to the Monte Carlo tournament in 2019.
After approximately 22 years away from tournaments, he reached the final eight players and recorded an average Performance Rating of approximately 2.7.
This comeback demonstrated his ability to maintain a high technical standard despite a lengthy competitive absence.
7. Neil Kazaross: Player and Analyst
Neil Kazaross is a respected figure in professional backgammon who has contributed to both competitive play and the development of analytical methods.
He has appeared in every edition of the Giants rankings since their inception and has repeatedly ranked among the top five players.
During his professional career, Kazaross won 17 tournament titles on the American Backgammon Tour.
He also contributed to the development of match analysis tools, including:
- Rockwell/Kazaross Match Equity Table: A table used to analyze the expected value of positions in multi-point matches.
- Neil's Numbers: A recognized method for assisting decision-making in specific backgammon situations.
Kazaross also appears among the prominent players in historical USBGF Master Points rankings.
8. Lee Genud: World Champion and Educational Pioneer
Lee Genud is an important figure in competitive backgammon history and one of the game's outstanding female players.
She won the main World Championship division in 1981.
Genud also claimed the Women's World Championship title in 1978 and 1979.
One remarkable statistic from her career is her achievement of 37 first-place or runner-up finishes in major tournaments between 1979 and 1985.
These results demonstrate her sustained success at the highest level of international competition.
Genud later contributed to player education and the expansion of club activities, sharing her experience with many backgammon enthusiasts.
9. Michihito Kageyama (Michy): A Star of Japan's Modern Generation
Michihito Kageyama, known as Michy, is one of the outstanding players of Japan's modern backgammon generation.
He has occupied high positions in the Giants rankings across multiple years and finished second in 2019.
Michy's consistent presence among leading players reflects his standing in professional competition.
Alongside Mochy, he is considered one of the important figures of Japan's modern backgammon generation, which has contributed to the development of higher technical and analytical standards in the game.
10. Akiko Yazawa: World Champion
Akiko Yazawa is one of the outstanding women in professional backgammon history and a recognized champion of the modern era.
She won the Monte Carlo World Championship in 2014.
Yazawa claimed the main Championship title for a second time in 2018.
These two victories established her position among the successful players of modern backgammon history.
She has also appeared in various editions of the Giants rankings and was among the world's leading players during the peak years of her professional career.
11. Tim Holland: A Champion of the Early Era
Tim Holland was an important figure during the formative years of world championship backgammon.
In 1967, he won the first tournament held under the World Championship title in Las Vegas.
Holland also won in 1968 and 1971, earning three titles during the early championship era.
However, comparisons with contemporary players must account for differences in tournament structures, competitive conditions, and the absence of modern analytical tools during his era.
Holland's importance lies primarily in his historical position as one of the first champions of modern backgammon.
12. Oswald Jacoby: A Multi-Discipline Mind-Sports Champion
Oswald Jacoby was one of the prominent figures in twentieth-century mind sports.
In addition to backgammon, he competed professionally in bridge and other intellectual games.
Jacoby won the Backgammon World Championship in 1972.
He also contributed to educational literature and the analysis of mind sports.
His place in backgammon history is particularly associated with the development of the game's modern competitive and educational foundations.
Why Are World Championship Titles Alone Not Enough to Determine the Greatest Player?
Examining the careers of prominent players demonstrates that the number of world championship trophies is only one measure of historical greatness.
For example:
- Mochy: Two world championships and many years at the top of the Giants rankings.
- Bill Robertie: Two world championships combined with extensive educational and writing contributions.
- Paul Magriel: One world championship and a major influence on analytical backgammon education.
- Nack Ballard: A World Professional Championship title and several editions at the top of the Giants rankings.
- Falafel: Two number-one Giants rankings and a significant influence on the next generation of players.
- Wilcox Snellings: Two number-one Giants rankings and notable success in money games.
- Lee Genud: A world championship and an extensive record of successful results in major tournaments.
A more comprehensive evaluation should therefore consider competitive achievements, longevity, and technical and educational influence together.
What Is Giants of Backgammon, and How Significant Is It?
Giants of Backgammon is one of the best-known lists recognizing outstanding backgammon players.
The list is compiled through votes from championship-level players and tournament directors.
However, Giants is not an official federation ranking system comparable to the ATP rankings in tennis.
Instead, it primarily reflects the professional community's assessment of leading players during different periods.
Repeated appearances on the list, particularly in high positions, can indicate professional recognition and sustained performance.
Players such as Nack Ballard, Neil Kazaross, Kit Woolsey, and Bill Robertie have appeared in numerous editions of the rankings.
For rankings and information about the selection process, readers can visit the Giants of Backgammon page on the USBGF website.
The Greatest Backgammon Players Across Different Generations
Comparing players within their historical periods provides a more accurate picture of their significance.
The Classical Era
Tim Holland, Oswald Jacoby, and Paul Magriel were prominent figures during the formative period of modern backgammon.
They contributed to the expansion of tournaments, the development of educational literature, and the emergence of a professional approach to the game.
The Expansion of Professional Backgammon
Nack Ballard, Bill Robertie, Wilcox Snellings, and Neil Kazaross were important figures during a period when organized competitions and analytical methods became increasingly developed.
The Transition to Computer-Assisted Analysis
Falafel, Mochy, and Michy were leading players of a generation that witnessed the expansion of backgammon analysis software and the emergence of new technical standards in professional play.
The Modern Backgammon Era
Masayuki Mochizuki, with two world championships, repeated first-place Giants rankings, a Super Grandmaster title, and success in skill-focused competitions, is one of the most prominent names of the modern era.
Nevertheless, choosing a single greatest player of all time remains open to debate because competitive conditions and evaluation standards have differed across generations.
Conclusion: Who Is the Greatest Backgammon Player of All Time?
Professional backgammon history has been shaped by players who made significant contributions in different areas.
Tim Holland was among the first world champions. Paul Magriel helped develop analytical education. Bill Robertie combined competitive success with writing. Nack Ballard contributed to technical innovation and professional competition, while Falafel played an important role in mentoring the next generation.
In the modern era, Mochy, through his combination of world championships, sustained Giants rankings, and outstanding technical performance, stands among the strongest candidates in discussions about the greatest players in history.
However, no single metric can definitively compare players from every generation.
A more accurate assessment should consider championships, sustained success, technical quality, and each player's influence on backgammon history and education.
Greatness in backgammon is not defined solely by the number of trophies won; it also depends on playing quality, longevity, and the legacy a player leaves for future generations.