The Backgammon Proficiency Test, which started in 2011, celebrates its 13th anniversary at this year’s Backgammon Festival. This marks the 11th edition, with three postponements over the years due to the COVID-19 pandemic and scheduling issues.
This time, to further enhance the excitement of the Backgammon Proficiency Test, an anonymous sponsor has offered to select one top-performing candidate as the “Backgammon Proficiency Test Ambassador.” The chosen ambassador will receive ¥100,000 to participate in an international backgammon tournament. A challenging criterion was set for selection: a minimum of 40 correct answers out of 50 questions. This requirement added an extra layer of tension to the examination atmosphere.
Among the candidates this round were Kiyokazu Nishikawa, Daisuke Katagami, and Kengo Nakasuka, who were also the top three Japanese participants in the 10th test.
After the test, Mr. Katagami remarked, “Scoring 40 this time would really be something.” The highest score was achieved by Mr. Nishikawa, who, despite this, requested that if anyone else scored over 40, they should be considered first for the ambassador role. Consequently, Mr. Nakasuka, who scored 40, was chosen as the ambassador. Congratulations!
During the awards ceremony, Mr. Nishikawa’s statement was read on his behalf as he was unable to attend: “After learning that Mr. Nakasuka scored 40, we spoke, and personally, I’m very pleased. Players who are actively shaping the future of backgammon are most fitting as ambassadors. Mr. Nakasuka is an excellent choice, truly deserving of this role.”
Responding to this, Mr. Nakasuka said, “Hearing Mr. Nishikawa speak so highly of me and knowing the sponsorship behind my participation, I am committed to preparing well and achieving good results. Thank you.” He added, “Knowing he scored 45, I’m reminded once again what an incredible player Mr. Nishikawa is.”
This round saw 19 participants with an average score of 24.5 and an average total error of 3,289. Here are the results of the first round of the 11th Backgammon Certification.
| Rank | Total score | Total errors | Name |
| 1 | 45 | 685 | Kiyokazu Nishikawa  |
| 2 | 40 | 963 | Kengo Nakasuka |
| 3 | 38 | 1511 | Daisuke Katagami |
| 4 | 34 | 1780 | Yukihiro Ninomiya |
| 5 | 26 | 2682 | Kensaku Okatani |
| 6 | 25 | 3465 | H. G. |
| 7 | 24 | 3865 | Toshiya Yatagawa |
| 8 | 23 | 3171 | Junko Nakamura |
| 8 | 23 | 3356 | Ryo Matsuura |
| 8 | 23 | 3613 | Satoshi Ozaki |
| 11 | 22 | 3237 | Naoki Chiba |
| 11 | 22 | 3534 | Kouki Miyaji |
| 13 | 19 | 4079 | Hiroyuki Kawakami |
| 13 | 19 | 4359 | Ryota Asano |
| 15 | 17 | 3729 | Raito Hongo |
| 15 | 17 | 4255 | Kazunori Miyata |
| 15 | 17 | 4713 | M. F. |
| 15 | 17 | 5312 | Riho Hosokawa |
| 19 | 15 | 4176 | Taro Ogura |
| Total 19 | Ave. 24.5 | Ave. 3289 |
As always, it’s important to remember that the Backgammon Proficiency Test isn’t just about scores. The quality of the question set and the expert commentary from world-class professionals are what make this certification stand out. Rather than fretting over scores, we hope participants will use this opportunity to reassess and strengthen their skills.
The Backgammon Proficiency Test is now in its 14th year. Up until the 10th edition, the total number of participants was 1,296, but now we have surpassed 1,300. The ongoing support from all of you has made this possible, and we extend our gratitude to everyone who has participated.
This year, we plan to continue hosting the Backgammon Certification around the world. Stay tuned for updates on our blog and social media. The second round is scheduled to take place at the Chicago Open 2024.