August 2025 Newsletter: A Seat at the Table - Why the Women’s World Championship Deserves More
- karen.davis
- Sep 8
- 9 min read
There’s no place quite like Monte Carlo when it’s the venue for the Backgammon World Championship. This year’s tournament at the Fairmont Hotel was a wonderful and well planned affair.
The revival of the black-tie gala dinner set the tone. It wasn’t just a dinner—it was a statement. With fabulous food, elegant attire, and the Mediterranean glittering just outside the doors, it reminded everyone that backgammon can still be glamorous. Credit goes to Marc Brockmann Olsen (tournament organizer and unofficial host of the festivities), who clearly wanted this to be more than just a competition.
But that same high-end approach came with a high price tag—€1,800 to enter the Championship division, before even factoring in accommodation at the Fairmont or travel. It’s an amount that raised eyebrows and, frankly, kept some players—particularly women—from attending… and that’s where the
conversation gets more serious.
There was real progress in one area: the third Women’s World Championship saw an impressive 58 entrants, more than the first two years combined. That’s worth celebrating. We warmly congratulate Miranda Moulton (UK), the new Women’s World Champion, on her outstanding victory, and Gabriela Leon (Romania), this year’s talented runner-up. Their performances were a testament to the skill, focus, and competitive spirit women bring to the game at the highest level.
But only eight women entered the main Championship division (3.5% of the field of 226 players)—a number that, while not surprising given the costs, underscores the disparity.
Here’s the thing: if we’re going to host a Women’s World Championship at Monte Carlo, in the same venue, at the same time as the world’s most prestigious backgammon event, then it needs to feel like it belongs there. This year, it didn’t.
The entry fee for the women’s event was €100—far lower than the €250 Intermediate or the €600 Advanced division event. That alone sent a message, whether intended or not: this is a side event. An afterthought. When you couple that with shorter 7-point matches (compared to 11-point for intermediate and 13-point for advanced), no Consolation, and a start time of 3pm on Saturday, when most of the tournament is already winding down, it’s not hard to see why some women felt the event wasn’t worth their time.
Many of the players at Monte Carlo had no issue paying €250-€350 for other events. Several women played in both the intermediate and the jackpot, gladly paying higher fees for a better competitive experience. It’s not about affordability—it’s about respect, visibility, and parity.
To include talented women who can’t afford it, perhaps the organizers could seek sponsors to provide added money to the prize pool to make it a must-enter event.
It was also good to see women featured as commentators throughout the tournament coverage—but to elevate the game and enrich the viewing experience, it would be even better if those selected had strong technical knowledge of backgammon to match their presence and all commentators treated women with respect. And it goes without saying that the Women’s World Championship should be streamed!
If the goal is to grow and legitimize the Women’s World Championship—and it should be—then we need to start treating it with the same seriousness we give other divisions.
That means:
- A meaningful entry fee that reflects the event’s value (not just a token price).
- Match lengths in line with intermediate or advanced divisions and a Consolation.
- A tournament schedule that puts the event in the spotlight, not in the shadows.
- And proper marketing—before and during the event—that promotes it as a key pillar of the week, not an add-on.
Right now, it feels we’re stuck with the worst of both worlds: a substandard format that doesn’t attract top-tier players, and an environment that makes it hard to argue for its relevance. That’s not good for women, and it’s not good for backgammon.
Monte Carlo proved this year that backgammon can still be glamorous. Now we need to prove it can also be inclusive, aspirational, and fair. The women’s tournament deserves a seat at the same beautifully dressed table.
– WWB Board of Directors, Karen Davis, Melanie Hughes & Irina Litzenberger
Stars of the Show: Hannah DeRosier and Olivia Upbin
Almost 400 players came together in Monte Carlo for the Backgammon World Championship (July 26–August 3). The field was packed with some of the best players in the world, but the brightest youth stars weren’t even in the Championship, Advanced, or Intermediate brackets. Because of their age, they weren’t eligible. Instead, they starred in the Under 18 Tournament: Olivia Upbin from New York City and Hanna DeRosier from New Orleans, took home first and second place.
Hannah has been playing in American Backgammon Tour tournaments for several years. She won the Youth Exhibition at the Miami Open in 2024 and was 1st in a field of 37 players in the Michigan Newcomer Freeroll. She was selected as a commentator of the National Women’s Championship at the
Chicago Open in 2024.
Olivia became serious about her game when she met Japanese Grandmaster Michy Kageyama at the New York Metropolitan Open in January 2025. During his stay, he stopped by a social night at the New York City Backgammon Club hosted by Remi Wells Davenport—a gathering that regularly pulls in hundreds of mostly younger players. That evening turned into something bigger: Michy agreed to give lessons to Olivia and her mother, setting them on the path to Monte Carlo.
When Michy realized Olivia couldn’t play in the Main event because of her age, he reached out to Grandmasters and some other top players with a heartfelt request:
“15-year-old Olivia Upbin will be coming to the Backgammon World Championship in Monaco, but due to age regulations, she can only play in the Doubles and U-18 tournaments. What she truly wants is to gain experience and learn. If you have time during the event, please consider playing with her. It would mean a lot to her and be a wonderful contribution to the future of our backgammon community. Let’s support the next generation of players!”
And the community responded in force. Grandmasters from across the globe—USA, UK, Japan, Germany, Czechia, Canada, Sweden, Denmark, South Africa, Israel, and more—stepped up to play matches with Olivia and Hannah. The list of names is staggering: two-time world champions Mochy and Akiko, three-time world champion Jörgen Granstedt, two-time Ultimate Backgammon Champion Zdeněk Žižka, plus Victor Ashkenazi, Tobias Hellwag, Sander Lylloff, Ryan Rebelo, Steve Sax, Dirk Schiemann, Chris Trencher, David Wells, Sebastian Wilkinson, and Antoinette-Marie Williams, among others.
Along the way, Olivia picked up not just new skills but wisdom that applies on and off the board. She wrote on her Backgammon Girl Facebook site:
“Best pieces of advice/lessons from these matches (and life)"
See the whole board and never rush your move when there is no need to.
There is nothing wrong with taking risks in a match, but not knowing that you are taking risks (or severely mispricing that risk) is the quickest path to the consolation round.
You can play the best game of your life and sometimes the dice still don’t roll your way. And sometimes they do…
The cube play of these grandmasters is truly next level. I know I have room to grow here.
Don’t forget to analyze your matches.
Backgammon may be the best and oldest game in the world, but you should still always find balance in your life (and go for a swim in the ocean or explore a nearby town).”
Perhaps the best summary came from Akiko Yazawa, who partnered with Olivia in the Doubles event. She affectionately called Olivia and Hannah “The Two Backgammon Princesses.”
3rd Women's World Team Championship
Seven women’s teams have registered so far for the online 3rd Women’s World Team Championship hosted by the World Backgammon Internet Federation (WBIF) including: Bulgaria (Maya Peycheva, Team Captain); Germany (Susanne Lahme, TC); Norway (Marianne Snarheim Husum, TC; Portugal (Filipe Andrade, TC), Sweden (Linda Wallin, TC), United Kingdom (Julia Hayward); United States (Irina Litzenberger, Team Captain; Karen Davis, Kara Schultz, Wendy Kaplan, Mary Morse, Antoinette-Marie Williams).
Last year 23 nations competed in the online WBIF Women’s Team Championships won by France, with Denmark finishing second. Others in the top 10 included: United Arab Emirates; Turkey; Norway; U.S.; Ireland; Iran; Germany; and Italy.
The deadline for registering teams is August 31 – so don’t delay! The tournament begins on September 1 and is scheduled to end no later than January 2026.
It is a triple knock-out Swiss style tournament of individual 13-point matches played on Heroes.backgammonstudio.com. Teams can have 5 players and one reserve player.
Winning Women Around the World
Women are increasingly placing in American Backgammon Tour
and international events.
Highlights for Women at the Backgammon World Championship
Miranda Moulton won the Women’s World Championship; she also finished 3rd/4th with her father Paul Mouton in the Doubles Consultation
Two-time world champion Akiko Yazawa finished tied for 5th-8th in the 2025 World Championship
Olivia Upbin and Hanna DeRosier finished 1st and 2nd, respectively, in the Under 18 event (see article in this issue)
Yamato Ohsaki finished 1st in the Monte Carlo Open Intermediate division, with Miho MacLeod finishing 2nd Consolation; Yamato also finished 2nd Consolation in the World Championship Advanced division
Philippa Lightbourn (Bahamas) and Kristin Westerman finished 3rd/4th in the World Championship Intermediate; Jennifer Kim finished 2nd Consolation
Laurence Sinitzky (France) finished 2nd in one of the 250 Euro Intermediate Jackpot; and Marianne Snarheim Husum finished 2nd in another.
Women placing in events in July-August 2025 include:
56th BACKGAMMON WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP / UBC FINALS
July 26-August 3, 2025; Monte Carlo, Monaco
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (226): 5/8- Akiko Yazawa (Japan)
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP ADVANCED (62): 3/4- Lyova Ghazaryan (Armenia); 2C-Yamato Ohsaki (Japan),
WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP INTERMEDIATE (84): 3/4-Philippa Lightbourn (Bahamas) / Kristin Westerman (USA); 2C-Jennifer Kim (USA), 3LC/4; LC- Krista Laitner (USA).
DOUBLES CONSULTATION (118 teams): 3/4- Miranda Moulton (United Kingdom) & Paul Moulton (United Kingdom).
250€ INTERMEDIATE JACKPOT #1 (32): 2-Laurence Sinitzky (France), 250€ INTERMEDIATE JACKPOT #2 (24): 2-Marianne Snarheim Husum (Norway),
WOMEN'S WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP (58): 1-Miranda Moulton (United Kingdom), 2-Gabriela Leon (Romania), 3/4-Sabine Brinkmann (Germany) / Suzy Collis (United Kingdom).
WBGF - WORLD DOUBLES CHAMPIONSHIP & 2nd BACKGAMMON FESTIVAL AACHEN
July 16-22, 2025; Aachen, Germany
WORLD DOUBLES (42 teams): 4-Ralph Danielski (Germany) & Janette Hodgkinson (South Africa)
CHARLEMAGNE OPEN - INTERMEDIATE (30): 3/4-Danijela Johannessen (Norway) / Andreea Gabriela Paun (Romania),
PRO/AM DOUBLES (28 teams): 1-Finn Bahn (Denmark) & Katja Spillum (Norway), 2- Miranda Moulton (England) & Oliver Squire (England).
SPEEDGAMMON (48): 3-Pia Jeppesen (Denmark).
AMATEURS #1 (8): 1/2-Gabriela Förster (Germany)
AMATEURS #2 (15): 1-Gabriela Förster (Germany).
AMATEURS #3 (6): 1-Sylvia Wiesenhütten (Germany).
UKBGT - WORCESTERSHIRE BACKGAMMON OPEN
August 1-3, 2025; Lickey, United Kingdom
ROSE HILL TROPHY (Consolation): 1C-Aniel Ciobanu, 3C/4C-Fraya Dravern
LICKEY END CUP (Last Chance): 2LC-Hazel Harper
DOUBLES (16 teams): 2-Rowena & Stefan Paliwoda
SPEEDGAMMON: 1-Anna Price
FRIDAY WARM UP (30): 2-Rowena Paliwoda
SATURDAY JACKPOT (16): 1-Maria Dolphin
IAN GWYNNE TROPHY (8): 1-Tracy Ballard
Upcoming Events
September 10-14, Players Cup BMAB New Orleans and Gammon Geaux New Orleans, Kimpton Fontenot, Bill Riles and Tara Mendicino directors,
281-703-9304. Click here for more.
October 8-12, Players Cup BMAB Denver and 7th Wild West Shootout, Embassy Suites, Denver, Dan Minardi, director 303-356-3679. Click here for more.
October 29-Nov 2, Players Cup BMAB Boston and Boston Open, Sheraton Four Points, Newton, Ma, Rory Pascar director, 617-699-9100. Click here for more.
Nov 18-24, Players Cup BMAB Miami, Newport Hotel, Sunny Isles Beach, Avi Cohen director 786-999-2623. Click here for more.
Dec 4-7, Players Cup BMAB Los Angeles, California State Championship, Hilton, Los Angeles Airport, Candace Mayeron, producer, 310-422-1646.
Recent WWB YouTube Videos
2025 WWB Doubles Event Round 1:
2025 WWB Doubles Event Round 2:
2025 WWB Doubles Event Round 3:
2025 WWB Doubles SEMI-FINAL:
2025 WWB Doubles FINAL:
Additional Informational Sessions:
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