Backgammon tournaments
Backgammon has a busy competitive circuit, from the world championship in Monte Carlo to national tours and online leagues. Here is who runs the big events, how they work, and where to watch them.
How tournaments work
Tournament backgammon is match play: two players play games until one reaches a set number of points, such as 7, 11 or 17, with the doubling cube in use and the Crawford rule in force. Most events are single elimination brackets, so a lost match knocks you out of the main draw, but large tournaments add consolation and last-chance brackets so a loser can keep playing.
Players are usually split into divisions: championship (open to anyone, and where the strongest players compete), intermediate and beginner. Entry fees go into a prize pool that is paid back to the winners. Side events such as doubles, jackpots and speed tournaments run alongside the main draw.
The World Championship in Monte Carlo
The Backgammon World Championship started in Las Vegas in 1967 and moved to Monte Carlo in 1979, when the two competing circuits of the time merged into a single world championship (see history). It has been held at the Fairmont Monte Carlo ever since, for about a week each summer, with championship, intermediate and beginner divisions as well as women's, doubles and team events.
Recent world champions include Sander Lylloff of Denmark (2022), Frank Frigo of the United States (2023), Johan Moazed of Sweden (2024) and Timo Väätäinen of Finland (2025). The 2026 championship ran from late July to early August.
WBGF world championships
The World Backgammon Federation (WBGF) was founded in 2018, growing out of the European Backgammon Federation, and has more than 40 member nations across Europe, the Americas, Asia, the Middle East and Africa. It sets competition rules, ranks players, and works for recognition of backgammon as a mind sport.
It runs three world titles: the World Team Championship, where national teams play each other, the Women's World Team Championship, and the World Individual Championship. In 2026 they were held in London from August 24 to 30, alongside the Mind Sports Olympiad. National federations, such as the USBGF and the UK Backgammon Federation, pick the teams.
USBGF and the American Backgammon Tour
The U.S. Backgammon Federation (USBGF) is the national body for backgammon in the United States. It has run the American Backgammon Tour (ABT) since 2017: a circuit of live tournaments in cities across the country through the year. Results in ABT events earn points, and the points race decides the ABT player of the year. The USBGF also runs online events, including the ABT Online series and the USBGF Online Championship, plus a members' magazine and rating lists.
The 2026 Las Vegas Open
The Las Vegas Open is one of the larger ABT stops. In 2026 it runs from October 7 to 12 over Columbus Day weekend at the AC Hotel by Marriott Las Vegas Symphony Park. The main event is a 16-player bracket of 17-point matches, and this year's event also hosts the tournament's first Players Cup, a competition scored by the quality of play (as measured by a bot) rather than by results alone. Full details are on the USBGF site.
How to watch
Top-level backgammon is good to watch with commentary, because experts explain the checker plays and cube decisions as they happen. The USBGF YouTube channel streams ABT matches, including the Las Vegas Open, and the Monte Carlo championship and WBGF events stream their feature tables. Broadcasts usually show the bot's evaluation, so you can see who is ahead and which plays were mistakes.
Following a match is easier if you know notation and the doubling cube, and a quick look at the glossary covers the jargon commentators use.
Getting started
The best preparation for a tournament is playing matches. In Backgammon Lounge you can play matches to 3, 5, 10 or 15 points with the cube and the Crawford rule, as in tournaments, against the computer or friends online. Learn the opening moves and pip counting, then look up your national federation for live events near you, many of which welcome beginners. Or start a match now.
Questions
What is the biggest backgammon tournament?
The Backgammon World Championship in Monte Carlo, held every summer since 1979, is the best known event and draws players from dozens of countries. The WBGF also runs world championships for national teams, women's teams and individuals.
When is the 2026 Las Vegas Open?
The Las Vegas Open, an American Backgammon Tour event, runs from October 7 to 12, 2026, at the AC Hotel by Marriott Las Vegas Symphony Park.
How can I watch backgammon tournaments live?
Many major events are streamed with commentary. The U.S. Backgammon Federation streams American Backgammon Tour matches on its YouTube channel, and the Monte Carlo championship and WBGF events stream their feature matches too.
What is the American Backgammon Tour?
The ABT is a circuit of live tournaments across the United States, run by the U.S. Backgammon Federation since 2017. Players earn ABT points through the year, and the points race decides the player of the year.
Do I need to be a strong player to enter a tournament?
No. Most live tournaments have separate championship, intermediate and beginner divisions, and many have consolation and last-chance brackets, so newer players get plenty of matches.
Ready to roll? Play the computer or a friend, free in your browser.
Play backgammon