October 2025 Newsletter

October 2025 Newsletter: The Joy of Backgammon: A Game for a Lifetime

The Joy of Backgammon: A Game for a Lifetime

There are few pleasures as timeless as sitting across a board, shaking the dice, and watching a game of backgammon unfold. Whether you’re playing at home, in a café, or in a tournament halfway across the world, backgammon offers a rare mix of fun, focus, and friendship that enriches life at every age.

A Game That Keeps Giving:

Backgammon is one of the world’s oldest games, and perhaps that’s why it feels so enduring. Each roll of the dice brings a spark of chance; each move, a test of judgment and intuition. You can play for minutes or hours, for money or pride — the enjoyment lies not just in winning (although that is great!), but in the play itself: the conversation, the rhythm, the shared delight when a clever move turns the tide.

Unlike many pursuits that fade with time, backgammon is something you can play for life. It requires no strength or speed, only curiosity, patience, and a sense of humor. It keeps the mind sharp while keeping the body relaxed — a perfect combination for those who may no longer run marathons, but still crave the thrill of competition and the joy of mastery.

A Game of Camaraderie:

Part of backgammon’s magic lies in its ability to bring people together. Around a board, age, background, and status melt away. An 18-year-old and an 80-year-old can be perfectly matched, laughing over the same dice rolls. It’s a social equalizer: you can’t buy skill, only earn it through practice, observation, and good sportsmanship.

Over time, backgammon builds friendships that stretch far beyond the board. Clubs become communities, tournaments feel like reunions, and local players turn into lifelong friends. The bonds formed over shared games and good-natured rivalry are among the most enduring joys of the game.

The Well-Being of Play

Science now confirms what backgammon players have long felt: shared, mentally engaging play delivers profound health benefits. Research in Frontiers in Psychology and The Journals of Gerontology shows that social and cognitive activities — especially games — help maintain memory, reduce loneliness, and even support cardiovascular health.

Backgammon delivers all of that in one elegant package. It sharpens the mind through strategy, probability, and planning, while laughter and connection nourish emotional well-being and happiness. Every match is a lesson in balance — luck and logic, humility and confidence. Whether you study doubling cube theory or simply play for joy, backgammon sustains curiosity, purpose, and presence — three powerful ingredients for lifelong vitality.

A Lifelong Companion

In a world that moves too fast, backgammon slows us down just enough to savor the moment. It keeps our minds active, our friendships strong, and our spirits playful. Whether you are 20 or 90, backgammon is a companion that never tires of your company — a lifelong reminder that joy, like the dice, is meant to be shared.

– Women's World of Backgammon Board Members,

Karen Davis, Melanie Hughes, & Irina Litzenberger

A New Look For A Growing Moment

Women’s World of Backgammon (WWB) is proud to unveil our new logo — a symbol of forward momentum and collective purpose.

The clean, modern design reflects our commitment to future action and forward thinking, as we build a truly global community for women who love backgammon. It represents WWB’s vision: to connect, support, and celebrate women players everywhere — from emerging enthusiasts to world champions.

Together, we’re shaping a more inclusive and vibrant future for backgammon.

Join us. Play. Support. Celebrate.

Update: WBIF Women’s World Competitions

The WBIF Women’s World Team Championships are under way with 25 countries including 136 women participating. Ireland is Undefeated and leads the field. The Top 11 teams as of October 14 include:

Ireland

Argentina

Australia

Turkey

Norway

Denmark

Georgia

Iran

Germany

U.S.

Ukraine

The WBIF Women’s World Championship is in its final phase. Fifty women who were in the top third of their Regional Qualifiers are competing. After three rounds, five women are undefeated; 22 have 2 wins and 1 loss; 14 have 1 win and 2 losses. Women losing three matches are eliminated. The top 5 undefeated women include:

Paola Aiello (Italy)

Pernille Rosendal (Denmark)

Martha Gjelseth (Norway)

Merrin Rose (UK)

Tiffany Van (USA)

Winning Women Around the World

Women are increasingly placing in American Backgammon Tour and international events.

Women placing in events in September-October 2025 include:

Pia Jeppessen (Denmark) – WBIF’s highest-ranked woman PR
Katja Sophie Spillum Svendsen (Norway) – 2002 European Champion
Miranda Moulton (UK) – 2025 Women’s Backgammon World Champion
Rising stars: Merrin Rose (UK) and Melissa Shin (USA)

More Matches, More Excitement:

This year the event moves to a Swiss format with two losses, giving players more opportunities to advance—and giving fans many more matches to enjoy. All matches will be 11 points, played on Heroes in the WWB Cup tournament room.

Irina Litzenberger will serve as Tournament Director, ensuring a smooth, competitive, and inspiring event.

Watch Along!

We’re planning extensive streaming and commentary throughout the tournament. Expect insightful analysis from Denise Kaiser (Switzerland) and Julia Hayward (UK), along with a wonderful rotation of guest commentators who will help bring the action to life.

And to kick it all off, the live draw will take place on January 1st via Zoom—open to the public so everyone can join the excitement from the start.

Peer Coaching Innovations in the U.S.

A Breakthrough Model for Rapid Skill Growth:

The Women’s World of Backgammon Peer Coaching Clinics, launched in April 2024, have quickly proven to be one of WWB’s most impactful strategies for helping women transition from social to competitive play.

Over 50 women have participated in weekly sessions throughout 2024–2025, sharpening their skills and gaining confidence—together. These group-based clinics have largely replaced traditional one-on-one volunteer coaching, which, while valuable, was difficult to sustain. The clinics deliver faster learning, stronger community, and a far more scalable model.

Each session builds the fundamentals of strong competitive play:

spotting all candidate moves
evaluating which is best
understanding how match score and position shape decisions
reviewing errors in a supportive, growth-oriented environment.

The format is simple, friendly, and deeply effective. After quick check-ins, two teams play a 3-point match on Heroes.BackgammonStudio.com in Consultation Mode.

Captains and teammates discuss every checker and cube decision—and the “bot” provides instant insights. Co-founder Karen Davis and Associate Director Stephanie Blackton guide the learning, often joined by Team USA star Antoinette-Marie Williams.

The results speak for themselves.

Participants are now competing—and winning—across the American Backgammon Tour and international events. Standout achievements include:

Kristin Westerman – 3rd/4th in the Intermediate Division at the Monte Carlo Backgammon World Championships
Cassandra Bennett, Yvonne Dalpay, Terese Flynn, Gigi Goyette, Mary Greene, Jeanna Kish, and many others—strong performances in ABT tournaments.

A major milestone came on October 24, 2025, when 70 players joined an open Learning Session featuring Women’s Team USA’s Irina Litzenberger and Kara Schultz playing a 7-point Consulting Doubles match against eXtreme Gammon—a live demonstration of how “buddy study” accelerates competitive readiness.

Another highlight: the Sunny Florida Online Tournament (Aug–Nov 2025), where nearly 50 players—20 from the Peer Coaching Clinics—tested their progress. Congratulations to WWB’s Anca Morar, winner of the Intermediate Division and proud owner of a custom backgammon necklace!

The momentum is real—and growing. Peer Coaching is proving to be one of the most powerful tools for building confident, competitive women players across the U.S. and beyond.

Giving Tuesday

Giving Tuesday is almost here! On December 2, 2025, Women’s World of Backgammon will be joining millions around the world in a day of generosity—and every Giving Tuesday gift will go directly toward supporting WWB programs and initiatives for women players around the globe.

Want a behind-the-scenes peek? Rising stars and seasoned champions alike have been sharing how WWB programs—from Peer Coaching Clinics to the Invitational Cup—have become a powerful force for confidence, community, and competitive growth. Your support helps women discover their potential, strengthen their skills, and find their place in the wider backgammon world.

This Giving Tuesday, we’re shining a light on the women, mentors, volunteers, and partners who make our global community so special. And you don’t have to wait for the official date—any gift made today through December 2, 2025

counts toward our goal.

If you’re inspired to contribute, know that every single gift—big or small—makes a tangible difference for women in backgammon.

Tax-deductible donations to the PayPal account of the U.S. Backgammon Foundation – [email protected] – with a note that they are for the WWB Fund will be used to support Learning Sessions and YouTube educational videos open to all, men and women.

And before the big day arrives, just one thing: thank you. We’re deeply grateful to have you as part of the WWB community.

Winning Women Around the World:

Women are increasingly placing in American Backgammon Tour and international events.

Women placing in events in October-November 2025 include:

UKBGF - WORCESTER INTERMEDIATES OPEN

November 8, 2025; Worcester, England

INTERMEDIATE (64): 3/4-Hannah Parente

ELGAR TROPHY (Consolation) (32): 3/4-Alex Ward

SEVERN CUP (Last Chance) (31): 3/4-Gemma Preece

CNB - 1st COSTA D'AMALFI BACKGAMMON TORNEO

November 6-9, 2025; Cetara, Italy

CHAMPIONSHIP (31): 1-Laura Monaco

ADVANCED (37): 3C/4C-Claudia Amoruso

OPEN CNB (53): 3/4-Veronique Chamaz-Dehon (France)

SINGLE OR DOUBLE CONSULTING (16): 2-Fernando Braconi &

Marilena Montano.

OASIS INTERNATIONAL BACKGAMMON CUP

September 23-28, 2025; Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Congratulations Antoinette-Marie Williams for winning the Women's Tournament

WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT (24): 1-Antoinette Williams (USA), 2-Akemi Ota (USA), 3-Marianne Snarheim Husum (Norway).

INTERMEDIATES (59): 1LC-Zahra Shilaei (Iran)

UKBGT - MIDLANDS BACKGAMMON OPEN TOURNAMENT

September 19-21, 2025; Birmingham, United Kingdom

'LEGLESS CUP': 1-Catherine Seale, 2-Rosalie Johnson

Recent WWB YouTube Videos

Two of Europe's top women players: Laura Monaco (Italy) and Merrin Rose (UK) played in the Fifth Round of the European/South African Regional WBIF Women's World Championship) on Saturday, September 6. Melissa Shin and Julia Hayward are expert commentators.

Karen Davis and Antoinette-Marie Williams played in the fifth round of the Americas regional qualifier of the Women's World Championship on

Monday, September 8.

Denise Kaiser and Irina Litzenberger are expert commentators.