Famous Backgammon Players

Nack Ballard has ranked amongst the top ten greatest backgammon players in the game for over 20 years, and even has a variant of the game named after him - "Nackgammon". He won the 1982 Las Vegas Invitational and in April 1999 he won the Masters, SuperJackpot, and Last Chance all in the same week. Nack gives popular seminars and commentaries on the game, as well as lessons.

Jerry Grandell of Sweden has enjoyed an astounding run of success, having won the Olympiad in Venice (1996), Istanbul (1997), Monte Carlo (1997), Dallas US Open (1998), and both of the biggest events in Istanbul, the World's Giant Jackpot and the World Cup Challenge (1999). He is widely considered the greatest living player of the game.

Hal Heinrich is Canada’s top player and ranked amongst the world’s best. He co-wrote New Ideas In Backgammon with Kit Woolsey

Danny Kleinman is a world renowned analyst and backgammon theoretician, who wrote Vision Laughs At Counting.

Paul “X-22” Magriel wrote what is considered the bible on backgammon titled, simply enough, Backgammon.

Bill Robertie won the World Championship of Backgammon at Monte Carlo in 1983 and 1987, and is the author of Backgammon For Serious Players. Considered the world’s foremost authority on the game, he divides his time between competing on the international backgammon circuit and running the Gammon Press, the only publishing house devoted exclusively to backgammon literature.

Joe Sylvester is ranked amongst the world’s top ten backgammon players and has won various World Cup championship titles.

Chris Ternill of Denmark is the co-founder of the Danish Backgammon Federation. He owns and operates the Backgammon Shop and is an expert player.

Kit Woolsey is a championship backgammon analyst and teacher of both backgammon and bridge. He has written How to Win at Tournament Backgammon, New Ideas in Backgammon (with Hal Heinrich), and runs the on-line subscription magazine GammOnLine.