December Newsletter - A Year of Momentum: How Women’s Backgammon Is Changing—By the Numbers and Beyond
- karen.davis
- Jan 13
- 10 min read
The past year has marked a genuine inflection point for Women’s World of Backgammon (WWB). What began as an effort to create visibility, opportunity, and confidence for women in the game has translated into measurable growth—across tournaments, ratings, commentary, and community culture. Crucially, this progress is now being driven not just by WWB, but by the wider backgammon community.
The launch of the WWB Invitational Cup was a defining milestone. In its first year, the Cup showcased 16 elite international women competitors and proved there is both appetite and readiness for serious, high-profile women’s events. Gülderen Gücavli, winner of the 2023 and 2024 Turkish National Tour, and two-time backgammon world champion Akiko Yazawa from Japan finished first/second. The quality of play, professionalism of the format, and online audience engagement set a new benchmark for what women’s backgammon can look like.
Participation data from the American Backgammon Tour (ABT) reinforces what many have been sensing anecdotally: women are entering competitive play in unprecedented numbers. Across 16 ABT tournaments, the number of women entrants increased from 186 in 2022 to 329 in 2025—a 77% rise. Overall tournament participation grew by 38% during the same period, with women accounting for roughly a quarter of all net growth. This is not marginal progress; women are now a meaningful driver of expansion in the competitive scene.
The increase is visible across divisions. Women competing in Open events rose from 48 to 90 (an 88% increase), while participation in Advanced and Intermediate divisions jumped from 138 to 239—an extraordinary 73% increase. Women now make up 15.7% of all ABT entrants, up from 12.2% just three years ago. In Advanced and Intermediate divisions, women account for 25% of players, compared with 19% in 2022, signaling a deepening pipeline of competitive talent.
More women are looking to improve their game, playing in Backgammon Masters Awarding Body events and earning Masters ratings. Each of the 16 ABT tournaments in 2025 had a Players Cup BMAB event; 84 of the entries were women, one out of six of the total. In 2022 typically only 1 or 2 women could be found in BMAB events. Four U.S. women now have a BMAB Masters-rating compared with one in 2022.
Opportunities have expanded alongside participation. There are now two live world competitions for women – the Backgammon Women’s World Championship in Monte Carlo won by Miranda Moulton from the UK this year, and the World Backgammon Federation (WBGF) Individual Women’s Championship which will debut in Dubai in 2027 alongside the WBGF Women’s World Team Championship.
Women’s events at national and international tournaments are flourishing, giving women a protected space to gain confidence and recognition. In 2025, 12 Women’s Cup events were held at ABT tournaments, attracting 227 women entrants, compared with just three events and 38 entrants in 2022.
Online tournaments including World Backgammon Internet Federation women’s world individual and team championships have shown a spotlight on women’s expertise. National and local club online tournaments are allowing women to gain experience and skill without the logistical and cost barriers of travel.
Representation has also grown off the board. More women are now commentating, shaping how the game is analyzed and discussed, while setting visible examples of expertise and authority.
The impact of WWB peer coaching is now showing up in tournament halls. Ten women who had participated in peer coaching competed in the Miami Open this year, and the model has now successfully spread to the UK—demonstrating both scalability and international relevance.
Perhaps most encouraging is the cultural shift. When WWB raises issues, we increasingly see attention and action. Change is now being driven by many hands—tournament directors, organizations, sponsors, and players themselves.
Josefina Bichler (Germany), Tania Klimova (France), and Irina Litzenberger (USA) have mounted a noteworthy initiative TIES (The Tournament Inclusivity Experience Survey), and are conducting surveys of women playing in 16 major tournaments around the world with a view to compiling experiences and sharing with tournament organizers what they can do to help make their tournaments “women-friendly.” They plan to report their findings in September 2026.
Women are leading the development of social backgammon clubs from New York to Miami attracting hundreds of new younger players to the game, and implementing successful strategies for transitioning interested players to competitive play. That momentum was on joyful display at the Miami Open, where the Social Point team led by Rosemary Steffen and including 15 players in their 20s and 30s arrived in coordinated outfits, signaling pride, belonging, and community. More novices and women are gaining the confidence to compete on an equal footing.
These developments tell a clear story: women’s backgammon is growing—not as a side initiative, but as an integral force shaping the future of the game.
The 2nd WWB Invitational Cup Is Here 🎲
We’re thrilled to officially kick off the 2nd Women’s World of Backgammon Invitational Cup—and you’re invited to join the excitement right from the start.
The launch begins with a live, public draw, hosted by Julia Hayward, Chair of the UK Backgammon Federation. She’ll be drawing the matchups for 16 of the world’s top women players from 8 countries, all competing in the 2026 WWB Cup.
The tournament itself will run through March 8, culminating on
international Women’s Day—a fitting finale for a global celebration of women in backgammon.
What’s New This Year?
This year, the Cup moves to a Swiss format with two losses, giving players more chances to advance—and giving fans many more great matches to enjoy. All matches will be played to 11 points on Heroes, in the official WWB Cup tournament room.
Who’s Playing?
This year’s lineup brings together champions, masters, and rising stars from around the world:
Akiko Yazawa (Japan) – Two-time Monte Carlo World Champion and 2025 WWB Cup finalist
Cecilia Rogers (UK) – BMAB Master 3
Eva Zizkova (Czechia) – BMAB Master 1
Gülderen Gucavli (Turkey) – Champion of the 2025 WWB Cup
Hanna Thorsen (Norway) – BMAB Master 3
Irina Litzenberger (USA) – BMAB Master 3
Kara Schultz (USA) – BMAB Master 2
Karen Davis (USA) – BMAB Master 2
Katja Sophie Svendsen (Norway) – 2002 European Champion
Martha Gjelseth (Norway) – BMAB Master 3
Maya Peycheva – BMAB Master 2
Melissa Shin (USA) – BMAB Master 3
Merrin Rose (UK) – Rising star
Miranda Moulton (UK) – 2025 Women’s Backgammon World Champion
Pia Jeppessen (Denmark) – WBIF’s highest-ranked woman PR
Sepideh Ghanadi (Iran) – BMAB Master 3
We’re also delighted to have Irina Litzenberger serving as Tournament Director, ensuring the event runs smoothly, fairly, and at the highest competitive standard.
We’ll be streaming extensively throughout the tournament, with commentary and analysis to bring the matches to life. You can look forward to insightful coverage from Denise Kaiser (Switzerland) and Julia Hayward (UK), alongside a rotating group of guest commentators from across the backgammon world.
Match announcements and streaming details will be shared on the WWB Facebook page and website, so keep an eye out—and come watch, learn, and cheer along with us. Or register to receive notices here.
We can’t wait to get started. See you at the draw!
A Stellar Year - Shin Rockets to Masters Title!
As a child, Melissa learned backgammon from her Dad, through whom she cultivated her competitive spirit but never played with the cube. Years later in late 2022, she was casually re-introduced to the game at the Venice Backgammon Club, a social club that meets at bars and museums around Los Angeles.
In 2024, Melissa learned of competitive backgammon and quickly transitioned from social meetups to tournament play with a clear mission: achieve excellence and earn a BMAB title. She burst onto the USBGF circuit making an immediate statement, and she certainly didn’t go unnoticed.
Melissa showed fluency in backgammon right from the start and dove into studying the game with remarkable passion and discipline. At her first-ever ABT in June 2024, she made the bold decision to play up in the Main Division. That determination fueled an extraordinary rise, allowing her to play the top players and jump rapidly from title to title - I don’t know anyone who has improved as quickly as she has.
After her first recorded BMAB match in June 2024, she earned her first title (I1) on November 20, and just 21 days later, she had already reached A3. She set her sights on a Master title but was not sure how long it would take.
On May 23, 2025, she reached A2, and by November 1—following the Boston Open—she had already advanced to A1. There was barely time to congratulate her, because just one month later she earned her BMAB Master 3 title at the
California State Championship.
Melissa also captured 3rd/4th place in the Consolation at the Monte Carlo Open, and won/placed in events in Chicago, Denver, Boston, and LA. In the 2025 Players Cup year-long race, she finished 3rd overall and 1st among women. Remarkably, she is the only player to have won two Iron Stars.
Melissa, your stubbornness and drive are truly inspiring. Congratulations on an incredible run!
Join the WWB Inner Circle
Women’s World of Backgammon exists because of people who believe deeply in its mission: to expand the participation, visibility, and excellence of women in competitive backgammon. Everything we do is made possible by a community of supporters who care about creating opportunity at the table—and beyond it.
We’d love to invite you to become part of the WWB Inner Circle: a group of individuals who help champion women competing at every level of the game.
As you think about your end-of-year giving, we hope you’ll consider supporting Women’s World of Backgammon. Donations can be made via PayPal to donations@usbgf.org. Please include a note indicating that your gift is earmarked for the WWB Fund of the U.S. Backgammon Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) organization.
Your contribution helps us:
Support WWB’s educational initiatives
Recognize and celebrate the achievements of women players
Continue building pathways for women to thrive in competitive backgammon
Every gift—large or small—makes a meaningful difference. All contributors are acknowledged on the WWB website, and we’re incredibly grateful to the more than 50 individuals who have already provided vital support during our first three years.
To each of you: thank you. Your generosity is helping shape a stronger, more inclusive future for women in backgammon—and we’re deeply appreciative of your belief in this work.
WBIF Women's Individual and Team Championships Update
Fifty women out of 144 entering the WBIF Women’s World Championship qualified for the Final Phase. The field has now narrowed to fourteen women who remain in the competition. Women with 3 losses are eliminated from the competition. Pernille Rosendal (Denmark) and Khatuna Giorgobiani (Georgia) are tied with six winning matches as of December 18. Kara Schultz (U.S.), a BMAB Master Class 2, has the best performance rating (PR) of 4.73 and has five wins to date.
See Table below for details.
The WBIF Women’s World Team Championships have 25 countries represented, including 136 women participating. Five countries remain in the competition: Germany and Turkey are tied with 7 matches won, followed by Norway, Denmark, and Argentina as of December 18.
Winning Women Around the World
Women are increasingly placing in American Backgammon Tour and
international events.
Women placing in events in mid-November – December 2025 include:
ARABIAN GRAND PRIX 2025 BACKGAMMON (preliminary results)
December 12-19, 2025; Dubai, United Arab Emirates
MAIN (154):
Consolation Finals:
Elena Saukova (Russia)
WOMENS TOURNAMENT (27):
Finals: Tatiana Pram (Russia) vs Nina Taksanova (Russia)
3/4-Svetlana Mashkovtseva (Russia) / Elena Saukova (Russia).
BLITZ LONGGAMMON (64):
3/4-Ekaterina Dozdova (Russia)
BLITZ (128):
3/4-Morteza Babaei (Iran) 5/8- Alexandra Knupfer (Switzerland) / Georgii Monakhov
ABT - 48th ANNUAL CALIFORNIA STATE BACKGAMMON CHAMPIONSHIP
December 3-7, 2025; Los Angeles, California
ABT ADVANCED (58+36 rebuys): 3C/4C-Lynn Ehrlich (FL)
SUPER JACKPOT (12): 3-Akiko Yazawa (Japan).
MASTERS JACKPOT (45): 3/4- Kara Schultz (CA)
AMATEUR JACKPOT (58): 5/8- Teri Harmon (CA) / Melissa Shin (CA).
PLAYERS CUP CALIFORNIA BMAB (32): 1/2-Melissa Shin (CA
DOUBLES #1 (16 teams): 1-Deb Comisac (SC) & Michael Comisac (SC),
WONDER WOMAN JACKPOT (14): 1-Lynda Clay (CO), 2-Halle Hedayat (CA).
HOLLYWOOD STARS II (32): 3/4-Lynda Clay (CO)
HOLLYWOOD STARS III (16): 1-Maggie Diamantidis (CA)
BRIAN LEVER MEMORIAL TROPHY
November 29-30, 2025; Prestbury, United Kingdom
MAIN (58): 5/8 - Pam Wright, 5/8C - Sarah Joliff, 3/4LC - Rachel Rhodes, 5/8LC - Rosalie Johnson.
CNB - 20th MILAN BACKGAMMON OPEN
November 27-30, 2025; Milano, Italy
ADVANCED (49): 3/4-Veronique Chomaz Dehon (Switzerland)
INTERMEDIATE (6): 1-Michele Cortese.
ABT - 2nd MIAMI OPEN BACKGAMMON CHAMPIONSHIP
November 18-24, 2025; Sunny Isles Beach, Florida
ABT OPEN (97+37 rebuys): 1LC-Lynda Clay (CO)
ABT ADVANCED (41+15 rebuys): 4/5- / Tiffany Van (TX);
ABT INTERMEDIATE (35+13 rebuys): 1, 2-Philippa Lightbourn (Bahamas), 3-Augusta Lorber (FL), 4/5-Atti Riazi (NY) / Lilli Zander
PLAYERS CUP MIAMI BMAB (54): 3/10-Irina Litzenberger (VA) PR winners: 9-Irina Litzenberger (VA) at 5.05.
WOMEN'S WORLD OF BACKGAMMON CUP (24): 1-Amber Callahan (NY), 2-Jeanna Kish (TX), 3/4-Dina Laks (NY) / Tiffany Van (TX).
DMP CHALLENGE (64): 3/4- Rosemary Steffen (FL).
JUNIORS – UNDER 55 (16): 2-Akiko Yazawa (Japan).
U.S. YOUTH CHAMPIONSHIP (3): 1-Hannah DeRosier (LA), 3-Samantha Wells.
NOVICE TOURNAMENT (64): 3/4-Nasarah McKinney (FL)
AUSTRALIAN BACKGAMMON CHAMPIONSHIPS
November 14-16, 2025; New South Wales, Australia
OPEN (112): Ladies Prize - Narelle Mackenzie.
GREG ASH MEMORIAL (64): 2-Cindy Belonogoff, 3/4-Maria Nita / Shahar Shemesh.
DOUBLES: 1-Serenity Now: Elsa & Shane McNally, 3/4-Whisky & Risky: Rob Anderson & Brianna Allen
Upcoming Events
January – March 2026, WWB Invitational Cup; online on Heroes.BackgammonStudio.com
Match notices will be posted on
Jan 15-19, 19th New York Metro Open, Hyatt on the Hudson, Jersey City, NJ, Lynn Ehrlich Director 408-529-6769
January 18-19 New York Players Cup BMAB, Hyatt on Hudson
Feb 3-6, UBC Contender-Americas Region/Players Cup San Antonio, TX
281-703-9304
February 3-8, Texas Championships, Gunter Hotel, San Antonio, Bill Riles and Tara Mendicino, Co-directors, 281-703-9304
February 26, Players Cup Atlanta, KImpton Overland Hotel
February 26, February 26-Mar 1, 16th Atlanta Classic, Kimpton Overland Hotel, Atlanta Ga, Jonathan Hardigree, Director, 678-720-6161
February 26-Mar 1, 16th Atlanta Classic, Kimpton Overland Hotel, Atlanta Ga, Jonathan Hardigree, Director, 678-720-6161
Recent WWB YouTube Videos
Irina Litzenberger and Kara Schultz discussed played checker and cube decisions as they played a 7-point match Consulting Doubles match against the neural net software eXtreme Gammon on October 24, 2025. It illustrates how players preparing for a major backgammon tournament can study with a backgammon buddy partner to sharpen their game. The YouTube video of their live commentary can be found on the Women’s World of Backgammon YouTube channel.
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, 2025. 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, 2025. Denise Kaiser and Irina Litzenberger are expert commentators.
Additional Informational Sessions:
Premiered July 18, 2025
April 18, 2025
April 11, 2025
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