Zdeněk Žižka, the two-time defending champion of the Ultimate Backgammon Championship, will face Japan's Hideaki Ueda in the UBC 2026 final. The match will take place on November 24 and 25 in Prague, where two Grandmasters with contrasting journeys will battle for the championship title.
The UBC 2026 Championship final stands out as one of the most prominent fixtures on the professional backgammon calendar. In this encounter, Zdeněk Žižka—widely known as ZZ—of the Czech Republic must defend his title, while Japanese contender Hideaki Ueda plays for his maiden championship in the event.
According to the official tournament schedule, the final will be hosted at the Kings Court Hotel in Prague. Žižka enters the clash with back-to-back victories in 2024 and 2025, whereas Ueda earns another opportunity to secure the trophy after his 2020 final appearance.
Zdeněk Žižka: From Starting at Age Five to UBC Champion
Zdeněk Žižka began his journey in the game during early childhood. Around age five, he was introduced to backgammon by his family, especially his mother, Eva Žižková, who was herself an accomplished player.
Despite this early start, his serious foray into competitive tournament play began in 2014. In his first major international appearance in Cyprus, Žižka captured the Intermediate division title. He delivered notable performances in international events throughout 2015 as well, steadily rising to prominence in higher-tier backgammon competitions through consistent results.
The year 2016 marked a defining turning point in his career. Žižka earned the BMAB Grandmaster title that year, becoming one of the youngest players ever to receive the distinction. He was also selected to compete in the prestigious World vs Denmark event.
A defining hallmark of Žižka's evolution has been his rigorous commitment to match analysis. Utilizing eXtreme Gammon software to dissect decisions and identify blunders became a foundational part of his analytical approach to the game.
Two Consecutive Titles and an Opportunity for History
Žižka's greatest recent accomplishments have come in the UBC. In 2024, he won the championship by defeating Masayuki "Mochy" Mochizuki in the final, and in 2025 he successfully retained his title.
Now, Žižka aims for a third consecutive crown. A victory in the 2026 final would cement his standing in the championship's history and represent one of the crowning achievements of his professional career.
Hideaki Ueda: Rapid Rise from Japan to the World Final
Across the board sits Hideaki Ueda, a Japanese Grandmaster whose entry into competitive backgammon took a markedly different path than Žižka's.
According to his competitive record, Ueda began playing in late 2016. Nevertheless, his progress was remarkably swift, quickly matching skills in domestic Japanese competitions against premier players such as Mochy and Michy.
Ueda attained the BMAB Grandmaster title roughly two years after picking up the game. This rapid ascent, combined with consistent appearances in Japanese tournaments, established him as one of the leading figures in the nation's backgammon scene.
Japanese Titles and the 2020 Final Experience
Ueda's record boasts major triumphs in domestic Japanese championships, including winning the Meijin title in 2024. He was also part of the Japanese squad that won the WBIF World Team Championship in 2020.
Ueda has previous experience in the UBC final as well. In the 2020 final in Tokyo, he squared off against Masayuki "Mochy" Mochizuki. That match concluded with a 14-10 scoreline in Mochizuki's favor, leaving Ueda just short of the title.
Nevertheless, his performance in that contest proved he belongs among the elite. Now, six years after that first final, he returns to the title match—this time facing a champion who has won the trophy in two consecutive editions.
Return to the Final After Contender Stage Triumph
Ueda punched his ticket to the UBC 2026 final by winning the Contender stage. This triumph offers him another opportunity to turn past experience into a different outcome.
For the Japanese player, the Prague final is not just another match; it represents the chance to secure his first UBC championship and bring full circle a journey marked by a late start, meteoric rise, and international success.
Two Distinct Paths, One Shared Goal
The journeys of Žižka and Ueda illustrate that reaching backgammon's summit can happen through very different avenues.
Žižka began around age five, reaching his current standing through years of experience, analytical study, and continuous international competition. Ueda, by contrast, entered the game in late 2016, rapidly earning the Grandmaster title and claiming top honors across Japan and the world.
Their contrasting timelines are also reflected in their UBC resumes. Žižka is the 2024 and 2025 champion seeking a three-peat. Ueda, having reached the final in 2020, now earns a second shot at capturing the crown.
Prague Prepares to Host the UBC 2026 Final
According to the official schedule, the UBC 2026 final will take place on November 24 and 25 at the Kings Court Hotel in Prague. The encounter features a multi-round format in which both match play victories and players' analytical performance scores determine the overall result.
On one side of the board, Žižka seeks to prolong his UBC dominance; on the other, Ueda fights to capture his first title.
Will ZZ celebrate a historic three-peat, or will Hideaki Ueda finally achieve the triumph that eluded him in 2020?
The answer will unfold on the boards in Prague.