From August 10th to 16th, the beautiful historic city of Aachen, Germany, hosted the inaugural German Aachen Festival, a new event eagerly anticipated by backgammon enthusiasts from all over Europe. On the fourth day of the tournament, Tuesday, August 13th, the fourth round of the 11th Backgammon Proficiency Test took place.

The inclusion of the Backgammon Proficiency Test was made possible through the efforts of tournament producer Marcus Reinhard, a key figure in Germany’s backgammon community. Marcus personally invited Michihito “Michy” Kageyama, a top professional player and a member of our test problem-writing team, to participate in the event. Marcus’s dedication to the game was evident, as he had taken the test himself at the Swedish Open in July.

Due to the lack of prior promotion, only seven participants took part in the test. Nevertheless, holding the test at the very first German Aachen Festival was a significant achievement. This small step marks the beginning of what could be a much wider spread of the Backgammon Proficiency Test across Germany and future editions of the German Aachen Festival.

Here are the scores of all participants:

Rank	Total score	Total errors	Name
1	38	1289	Oliver Squire
2	32	2353	Paulus van Rooijen
3	31	2337	Marc Friebe
4	30	1947	K. H.
5	20	4062	M. B.
5	20	4296	Kees Rooke
7	19	3784	K. B.
Total 7	Ave. 27.1	Ave. 2867

As the German Aachen Festival continues to grow into a major event attracting players from both within Germany and abroad, we hope the Backgammon Proficiency Test will draw even more players in the future.

From July 8th to 10th, the WBGF Team World Championship 2024 was held in Stockholm, the capital of Sweden, drawing backgammon enthusiasts from around the world. Following this event, the 42nd Swedish Open took place until July 14th.

For detailed information on the event, click here.

The Swedish Open’s main tournament, which saw 165 players compete, reached its climax with the 11th Backgammon Proficiency Test being conducted as a side event under the supervision of professional player Michihito “Michy” Kageyama (Giants #3). This marked the third time the test was held in Sweden and the first in two years.

This year’s event saw the highest level of competition due to the concurrent Team World Championship, attracting top players from various countries. Participants came from 11 different nations.

The highest scores were achieved by Denmark’s P.J. and America’s Steve Sax, each scoring 38 points. France’s Remille Tristan closely followed as the runner-up. The detailed scores of all participants are listed below.

Rank	Total score	Total errors	Name
1	38	1622	P. J.
1	38	1731	Steve Sax
3	37	1431	Remille Tristan
4	35	1638	(Anonymous)
4	35	1737	P. H.
6	34	1802	Steen Mikkelsen
7	33	1981	(Anonymous)
7	33	2097	(Anonymous)
7	33	2216	Torsten Lux
10	32	2072	Alain Babillon
11	31	2263	Janne Kaipainen
12	30	3160	Rainer Spoerk
13	29	2544	Stephan Hartmann
13	29	2879	Păun Andrei
15	28	2528	B. E.
15	28	2609	Didisheim Patrick
17	27	2489	Heribert Lindner
18	26	3060	Jeremy Sherr
18	26	3071	M. H.
20	25	2964	(Anonymous)
21	24	3340	Oliver Schneider
22	22	3919	(Anonymous)
23	19	3710	Rozenberg Daniel
24	16	4284	G. G.
25	14	5386	(Anonymous)
Total 25	Ave. 28.9	Ave. 2661

The significance of holding the Backgammon Proficiency Test during the Swedish Open, which attracts players from all over the globe, cannot be overstated. The test’s prominence continues to rise each year, enhancing player skills and serving as a vital platform for international exchange. We aim to further spread the appeal and depth of backgammon through these proficiency tests in the future.

On May 3rd, the new season of the Backgammon Proficiency Test began, and just three weeks later, on May 24th, the second round of the 11th Backgammon Proficiency Test took place at the 42nd Chicago Open.

The Chicago Open is a major event that attracts many backgammon enthusiasts every year, and the Backgammon Proficiency Test draws significant attention as well. Since the 4th Proficiency Test in 2014, the Chicago Open has hosted every Proficiency Test, making it the most frequently held event in the United States. This year saw a record 42 participants, including 8 women.

The test is based on situations commonly encountered in actual backgammon matches. Many of the problems challenge players’ strategic thinking and quick decision-making, which is why many players take on this test each year to measure their skills.

The highest score in this round was achieved by Gerry Tansey, who is also listed among the Backgammon Giants. He has now topped the Proficiency Test at the Chicago Open for three consecutive times.

The scores of all participants are as follows:

Rank	Total score	Total errors	Name
1	39	1367	Gerry Tansey
2	37	2099	(Anonymous)
3	35	1783	Chuck Bower
3	35	2057	Frank Frigo
5	33	2173	David Klausa
5	33	2429	Frank Talbot
7	32	2236	Art Benjamin
8	30	2418	Craig Anderson
8	30	2789	Steve Hairgrove
10	28	2595	Richard Munitz
11	26	2944	Paul Swain
12	25	3133	Bill Lonergan
13	24	3325	Richard Stubbe
13	24	3368	David Habib
15	23	3011	Jimmy DeRosier
15	23	3249	A. M.
15	23	3698	J. H.
15	23	3942	Karen Davis
19	21	3400	A. S.
19	21	4211	Roberto Gaui
19	21	4644	Amelia Pascar
22	20	3367	Allen Tish
22	20	4135	Clinton Laird
22	20	4455	Kratz Robert
25	19	4093	David Himebaugh
25	19	4485	D. S.
25	19	4488	John Stryker
28	17	3873	(Anonymous)
28	17	4340	Jeremy Ly
28	17	4839	Greg Merriman
28	17	4911	Hakki Baltaci
32	16	4146	Brett Hemes
32	16	4385	George Kourdahi
32	16	5707	Carol Joy Cole
32	16	5735	Hannah DeRosier
36	15	4343	(Anonymous)
37	14	5223	I. M.
38	12	4670	(Anonymous)
38	12	6008	Terese Flynn
40	11	5608	(Anonymous)
40	11	5833	A. J.
42	10	6073	A. P.
Total 42	Ave. 21.9	Ave. 3847

Two days after the test, a review session was conducted by professional player Michihito “Michy” Kageyama. The session featured lively discussions among the participants and served as an excellent opportunity to deepen their understanding of backgammon, a sentiment shared by many attendees.

The Backgammon Proficiency Test has become an annual highlight at the Chicago Open, drawing considerable attention each year. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Rory Pascar, the tournament organizer, Michy for his oversight and management on-site, and all the participants in Chicago.

For a list of the current scores of all participants, please check here. We look forward to seeing many of you participate in the next round.

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.

Sorry, this entry is only available in Japanese.

On Friday evening, May 26th, the third day of the 41st Chicago Open Backgammon Tournament & WBGF Club World Championship, Michihito “Michy” Kageyama conducted the 10th Backgammon Proficiency Test. He also gave a lecture about the test to the participants on Sunday.

The Chicago Open has held this test six times in the past, and they have all been well received. This year’s event was again very well received with 27 participants. More than half of the participants were repeaters. This time we also had a 10-year-old girl participate. We are committed to the education of young backgammon players and decided to let her take the test for free to support her studies.

After scoring, Gerry Tansey came out on top with 38 correct answers (out of 50). He described our test as “Very thorough and fair test of backgammon skills, as always. All problems are “real” backgammon situations and decisions. To the extent that the test is difficult, it is because backgammon itself is challenging. Thank you for producing such a high quality product, every player who wants to measure and improve their game must try this test”.

Scores for all participants are as follows:

Rank	Total score	Total errors	Name
1	38	1348	Gerry Tansey
2	35	1590	Ary Nogueira
3	34	1578	Kit Woolsey
4	33	1803	Bill Lonergan
5	32	2214	Joseph Sheppard
5	32	2531	Craig Anderson
7	31	1880	Frank Talbot
8	30	1648	Allen Tish
8	30	2519	Ken Bame
10	28	2428	Fredrik Carlsson
11	27	2390	Gree Lilley
12	26	3613	Marc Emrich
13	25	3262	(Anonymous)
14	24	3214	John Stryker
15	22	3331	Richard Stubbe
15	22	3423	Jim Zinkhon
15	22	3627	Carol Joy Cole
15	22	3684	Julius High
19	21	3195	J. D.
20	20	3550	V. E.
21	19	3761	Daniel Vargas
22	18	3556	N. A.
22	18	4136	Donna Lafferty
24	16	4158	Jeb Horton
25	15	5083	K. A.
26	14	4497	Eric Wazner
27	11	4404	H. D.
Total 27	Ave. 24.6	Ave. 3053

The overall scores for the 10th test at this time can be found here.

The Las Vegas Open was held from November 14 to 20, and the 10th Backgammon Proficiency Test was conducted on the morning of November 18. This is the second time in 11 years since the first test was held here.

Giant #1 Masayuki Mochizuki, a.k.a. Mochy, administered the test and 9 players took it, joined by Giants #14 Steve Sax. The following day, Steve gave a lecture on reviewing for the test takers.

The results for the 10 participants are as follows. As expected, Steve Sax did very well. His score puts him in second place overall at this time. Overall scores can be found here.

Rank	Total score	Total errors	Name
1	41	679	Steve Sax
2	28	3292	D. K.
3	22	3442	Julius High
4	20	3353	Mark Danburg-Wyld
5	19	4671	J. G. R.
5	19	5000	B. O.
7	16	5342	John Banks
8	14	4576	Marianne Bowen
9	13	4886	L. L.
9	13	5073	Al Piran
Total 10	Ave. 20.5	Ave. 4031

Thanks to everyone who took the test in Las Vegas, and thanks to Steve for the lecture. We are very happy to announce that the total number of participants for the 10th test exceeded 100. Thanks to all of you for your support!

長雨とともに季節先取りの寒さが到来した10月ですが、バックギャモン王位戦 の初日を迎えるとそれまでとは一転、気持ちの良い秋晴れとなりました。今年の王位戦の会場となった住友不動産大崎ガーデンタワー11Fのサミー株式会社での開催は今回が初めてです。

そして今年の王位戦は、8日10時の「バックギャモン検定」からスタートしました。受検用の部屋はとても広くてきれいな会場を用意していただきました。

参加者は、会場での受検が2名、オンライン受検が3名で合計5名となりました。

結果は、西川清一さんが40点で現時点での暫定2位、片上大輔さんが38点で暫定4位となる好成績を収めました。そして片上さんは今回の王位戦で優勝し、連覇を達成しました。おめでとうございます！

今年のバックギャモン検定は38点でした。

— Daisuke Katagami (@shogidaichan) October 8, 2022

王位戦連覇しました。これから名古屋に移動します。

— Daisuke Katagami (@shogidaichan) October 10, 2022

受検者5名の結果は次の通りです。

Rank	Total score	Total errors	Name
1	40	1035	Kiyokazu Nishikawa
2	38	1232	Daisuke Katagami
3	26	3146	Y. U.
4	25	2507	Satoshi Ozaki
5	18	4285	Y. Y.
Total 5	Ave. 29.4	Ave. 2441

現時点での全体のスコア一覧は こちら から確認することができます。

会場から新幹線が見下ろせる素敵なロケーションでおこなわれた今回の王位戦ですが、中上級の枠を取り払ったトーナメント、自作ボードの展示企画、バルーンプレゼント、似顔絵コーナーなど、これまでにない新しい試みもたくさんあり、非常に盛り上がった大会ではなかったでしょうか。大会スタッフの皆さま、ありがとうございました。

【王位戦　展示企画】

本年度王位戦では、全国の皆様から募集した自作のボードやダイスカップを展示いたします。どれも力作ぞろいです！
本日は展示いただく作品の一部を公開します！

また、当日は一部の作品について販売も行います！心惹かれるものがございましたら是非！！ pic.twitter.com/S5EM5amB7t

— 日本バックギャモン協会 (@jbl_backgammon) October 3, 2022

Sorry, this entry is only available in Japanese.