Tobias Hellog is one of the experienced backgammon players who has once again had the opportunity to compete among international players by taking part in this tournament. Hellog says he has been playing backgammon for around 30 years and is thoroughly enjoying his participation in the tournament.
In an interview, he spoke about his history in backgammon, the state of the game in Germany, his memorable championship victory in Monaco, and his views on Iranian players.
Tobias Hellog: From 30 Years of Backgammon to International Tournaments
Hellog describes himself as a backgammon player and says he is thoroughly enjoying being part of this tournament. When asked how long he had been active in the game, he gave a short and clear answer:
“I have been playing backgammon for 30 years.”
Three decades of playing backgammon have given this German player extensive experience. It is an experience shaped over the years through participation in various competitions and facing strong international players.
But when Hellog was asked who would win this tournament, his answer was even shorter: me. His confidence was obvious from the very beginning and showed that he had entered the competition with the goal of winning the title.
Hellog and His View of the Iranian Players' Presence
One of the interesting parts of the conversation was the discussion about the Iranian players participating in the tournament. Given the considerable distance between Iran and the tournament venue, Hellog was asked about the presence of the Iranians and their long journey.
In response, he said that hearing about their presence had made him feel relieved. Hellog explained that he had tried to stay in contact with some of his friends, and that hearing news about people who are in difficult circumstances is always concerning for him. In this part of the conversation, he highlighted the importance of safety and people's living conditions, showing that for him, the connection between players goes beyond competition at the table.
What Is the State of Backgammon in Germany?
Hellog then talked about the state of backgammon in Germany. According to him, the backgammon community in Germany has developed in different regions, but in terms of cohesion and social strength, it is not as strong as the Iranian backgammon community. In describing the situation in Germany, he used an interesting expression: “It seems like everyone is cooking their own soup.”
By this, he meant that there is not enough solidarity and a shared path among different clubs and players. It seems that although various players and groups are active in different parts of Germany, the level of cohesion and broad connection that Hellog sees in the Iranian backgammon community does not yet exist there.
This comparison is noteworthy for the Iranian backgammon community and shows that cohesion among players and enthusiasts can be one of the strengths of a sporting community.
Tobias Hellog's Unforgettable Memory of Monaco
When the conversation turned to Hellog's most important memories from his years in backgammon, he pointed to one of the greatest experiences of his professional career: the Monaco final.
Hellog considers this match probably one of the best moments of his life in the world of backgammon. But what makes the memory even more special was the tournament's very large Add Money prize.
He explained that 110,000 units of currency were allocated as Add Money at that tournament, which at the time was the largest amount of Add Money. When asked when the tournament took place, he answered: 2003.
And of course, the story was complete when he was asked whether he had ultimately won that tournament. His answer was an unequivocal yes. Winning the Monaco tournament is one of the most important achievements Hellog remembers from his long career in backgammon.
What Does Tobias Hellog Think About Arash Afrozian?
One of the most interesting parts of the interview came when Hellog was asked about Arash Afrozian. His answer was full of admiration and respect:
“He is incredible.”
Hellog explained that it was one of the few times he had genuinely regretted not being able to speak Persian. He said Arash Afrozian's personality was so interesting to him that he wished he could talk to him more and get to know him better.
But there was a problem. Afrozian could not speak German or English, and Hellog did not know Persian. This had made Hellog feel bad because, as he said, he wanted to be able to talk to someone with such a personality.
Arash Afrozian's Sportsmanship Through Hellog's Eyes
However, Hellog's admiration for Afrozian is not limited to his personality. He believes that a player needs sportsmanship to succeed at the highest level, and Arash Afrozian possesses this quality very well. Referring to Afrozian's performance last year, Hellog praised his showing and described it as incredible.
He also explained the differences between players in terms of behavior and competitive mindset.
According to Hellog, some players try to influence their opponents through psychological warfare. When you see such a player, you might think to yourself:
“Oh no, this guy again?!”
But in contrast, some players have a personality and spirit that provoke a completely different reaction:
“Wow!”
From Hellog's perspective, Arash Afrozian belongs to the second category: a player whose presence and behavior create a positive feeling among those around him.
A Language Barrier, but a Connection Beyond Words
The interesting part of this conversation is that despite being unable to communicate directly with Afrozian through language, Hellog has still been able to understand his personality and spirit.
At the end of the conversation, an interesting discussion also arose about the future of technology: that in the future we will probably have tools that allow us to communicate easily with one another regardless of language. For the international backgammon community, such technologies could be highly significant, as they could bring players from different countries closer together than ever before.
Final Words
After around 30 years of playing backgammon, Tobias Hellog still enters competitions with motivation and confidence. His short answer to the question of who will probably win the tournament, “me,” shows that his goal is nothing short of the championship.
Alongside this competitive spirit, Hellog also has an interesting perspective on the German backgammon community and believes that it is still not as cohesive as the Iranian backgammon community. His 2003 championship victory in Monaco, with 110,000 in Add Money, is one of the most important achievements of this player's professional career.
He also speaks of Arash Afrozian with great respect and, in addition to praising his skill, highlights Afrozian's personality and sportsmanship. Tobias Hellog's interview shows that at the highest level, backgammon is not only about the result of a match; it is also about the connections between players, mutual respect, sporting character, and the memories that remain for years.