GIANTS OF BACKGAMMON
Who are the top players in the world? 

WHO ARE THE WORLD'S BACKGAMMON GIANTS OF 2011?! *

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Every two years since 1993, Yamin Yamin of Illinois has surveyed Championship-level players and tournament directors around the world.**  He asks them to rank the best players in the world, considering the level of their involvement with backgammon and their tournament skills over the past two years.  

Which players are the most respected by their fellow competitors? The 32 players who receive the most votes will be honored with special awards and trophies at major tournaments on the national circuit.

* Because of a major computer crash, we are getting a late start this year. The printed and online ballots are available now. The voting deadline is extended to February 29, 2012. -- Carol Joy Cole, Editor.

For a printed copy of the 2011 ballot, contact cjc@flintbg.com or call (810) 232-9731. For a PDF copy, go online to: http://www.flintbg.com/Giants.pdf

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STICK IS THE #1 BACKGAMMON GIANT FOR 2011!

We received more ballots for the 2011 Giants than ever before! Thanks to all who voted.

Complete statistics on the Top 64 players were published in the April 2012 issue of the Flint Area BackgammoNews.
Stats on the number of ballots per player, the number of first-place votes, and the total points per player are in print.

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CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE 2011 GIANTS!

126 ballots were submitted for the 2011 Giants of Backgammon.
56% of the ballots came from voters outside the USA.
353 different players were nominated as Giants.

Here are the Top 32 international players who received the most votes:

"Stick" practicing at home v. the still unreleased superbot dubbed 'Lefty'
and "Falafel" Natanzon at the 2009 New York Metropolitan Open
[Photos by CJC]

Click here for photos of all 32 Giants of Backgammon for 2011.

RANK	2011 GIANTS of BACKGAMMON	COUNTRY
1.	Stick Rice (7)	USA
2.	"Falafel" Natanzon (2)	Israel
3.	Neil Kazaross (3)	USA
4.	Masayuki Mochizuki (1)	Japan
5.	Michihito Kageyama (9)	Japan
6.	Sander Lylloff (4)	Denmark
7.	John O'Hagan (11)	USA
8.	Lars Trabolt (8)	Denmark
9.	François Tardieu (3)	France
10.	Nack Ballard (6)	USA
11.	Ray Fogerlund (16)	USA
12.	Matt Cohn-Geier (15)	USA
13.	Bob Wachtel (10)	USA
14.	Kit Woolsey (13)	USA
15.	Mort Holm Lassen (12)	Denmark
16.	Gus Jacobsen Hansen (23)	Denmark
17.	Paul Weaver (25)	USA
18.	Steen Grønbech (23)	USA
19.	Jürgen Orlowski (14)	Germany
20.	Jake Jacobs (19)	USA
21.	Richard Munitz (21)	USA
22.	Ed O'Laughlin (18)	USA
23.	Steve Sax (14)	USA
24.	Bill Robertie (26)	USA
25.	Mike Senkiewicz (32)	USA
26.	Joe Russell (30)	USA
27.	Petko Kostadinov (28)	USA/Bulgaria
28.	Karsten Bredahl (34)	Denmark
29.	Mary Hickey (53)	USA
30.	Tobias Hellwag (--)	Germany
31.	Joe Sylvester (--)	USA
32.	Stephen Collins (--)	USA

*Numbers in parentheses show their Giant ranking in 2009.

**Voter eligibility is determined by this Committee:

Giants of Backgammon Chairman: Yamin A. Yamin
Auditor: Jake Jacobs
Editor: Carol Joy Cole
Statistician: John Stryker

Howard Ring was one of our original Auditors. He passed away on 9/24/05 at the age of 45. We honor his memory.

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Updated April 1st, 2012 by SM CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE 2009 GIANTS!

126 ballots were submitted for the 2009 Giants of Backgammon.
55% of the ballots came from voters outside the USA.
321 different players were nominated as Giants.

Here are the Top 32 international players who received the most votes, followed by players 33-64:

"Mochy" Mochizuki after winning the 2009 World Championship in Monte Carlo,
and "Falafel" Natanzon at the 2009 New York Metropolitan Open
[Photos by CJC]

Click here for photos of all 32 Giants of Backgammon for 2009.

RANK	2009 GIANTS of BACKGAMMON	COUNTRY
1.	Masayuki Mochizuki (6)	Japan
2.	"Falafel" Natanzon (1)*	Israel
3.	Neil Kazaross (5)	USA
4.	Sander Lylloff (4)	Denmark
5.	François Tardieu (3)	France
6.	Nack Ballard (2)	USA
7.	Stick Rice (63)	USA
8.	Lars Trabolt (16)	Denmark
9.	Michihito Kageyama (35)	Japan
10.	Bob Wachtel (9)	USA
11.	John O'Hagan (19)	USA
12.	Mort Holm Lassen (10)	Denmark
13.	Kit Woolsey (8)	USA
14.	Steve Sax (7)	USA
15.	Matt Cohn-Geier (--)	USA
16.	Ray Fogerlund (24)	USA
17.	Mike Corbett (27)	USA
18.	Ed O'Laughlin (22)	USA
19.	Jake Jacobs (14)	USA/Singapore
20.	Malcolm Davis (20)	USA
21.	Richard Munitz (30)	USA
22.	Steen Grønbech (68)	Denmark
23.	Gus Jacobsen Hansen (21)	Denmark
24.	Peter Jes Thomsen (11)	Denmark
25.	Paul Weaver (15)	USA
26.	Bill Robertie (17)	USA
27.	Jürgen Orlowski (51)	Germany
28.	Petko Kostadinov (29)	Bulgaria
29.	Bob Koca (--)	USA
30.	Joe Russell (79)	USA
31.	Walter Trice (26)	USA
32.	Mike Senkiewicz (18)	USA

*Numbers in parentheses show their Giant ranking in 2007.

RANK	2009 GIANTS of BACKGAMMON	COUNTRY
33.	Fernando Braconi (--)	Italy
34.	Karsten Bredahl (42)	Denmark
35.	Hugh Sconyers (34)	USA
36.	Katja Sophie Spillum (41)	Norway
37.	Julian Fetterlein (48)	England
38.	Dana Nazarian (31)	USA
39.	Mike Svobodny (36)	USA
40.	Jan Jacobowitz (73)	Germany
41.	Lars Bønding (13)	Denmark
42.	Jon Kristian Røyset (53)	Norway
43.	Andreas Humke (33)	Germany
44.	Carol Joy Cole (169)	USA
45.	Jörgen Granstedt (23)	Sweden
46.	Perry Gartner (40)	USA
47.	Paul Magriel (12)	USA
48.	Thomas Jespersen (76)	Denmark
49.	Karsten Nielsen (37)	Denmark
50.	Goetz Hildsberg (52)	Germany
51.	Frank Talbot (39)	USA
52.	Raj Jansari (266)	England
53.	Mary Hickey (96)	USA
54.	Philip Vischjager (60)	Netherlands
55.	Jeremy Bagai (55)	USA
56.	Carlo Melzi (92)	Italy
57.	Mario Sequeira (127)	Portugal
58.	Kent Goulding (44)	USA
59.	Najib Salamzy (99)	Germany
60.	Mads W. Andersen (43)	Denmark
61.	Volker Sonnabend (67)	Germany
62.	Giorgio Castellano (141)	Italy
63.	Victor Ashkenazi (253)	USA
64.	"Othello" Itikawa (95)	Japan

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**Voter eligibility is determined by this Committee:

Giants of Backgammon Chairman: Yamin A. Yamin
Auditor: Jake Jacobs
Editor: Carol Joy Cole
Statistician: John Stryker

Howard Ring was one of our original Auditors. He passed away on 9/24/05 at the age of 45. We honor his memory.

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We received a record number of ballots for the 2007 Giants! Thanks to all who voted.

Full statistics on the Top 64 players were published in the March 2008 issue of the Flint Area BackgammoNews.

For the first time, the Top 64 players are listed on this website. See the list below the 32 Giants.

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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2007 GIANTS!

120 ballots were submitted for the 2007 Giants of Backgammon.
53% of the ballots came from voters outside the USA.
297 different players were nominated as Giants.

Here are the Top 32 international players who received the most votes:

Falafel Natanzon at the 2007 PartyGammon Million ~ Nack Ballard at the 2007 Las Vegas Open
[Photos by CJC]

Click here for photos of all 32 Giants of 2007.

RANK	2007 GIANTS of BACKGAMMON	COUNTRY
1.	"Falafel" Natanzon (4)*	Israel
2.	Nack Ballard (1)	USA
3.	François Tardieu (3)	France
4.	Sander Lylloff (44)	Denmark
5.	Neil Kazaross (2)	USA
6.	Masayuki Mochizuki (28)	Japan
7.	Steve Sax (6)	USA
8.	Kit Woolsey (5)	USA
9.	Bob Wachtel (15)	USA
10.	Morten Holm Lassen (27)	Denmark
11.	Peter Jes Thomsen (12)	Denmark
12.	Paul Magriel (10)	USA
13.	Lars Bønding (7)	Denmark
14.	Jake Jacobs (14)	USA
15.	Paul Weaver (16)	USA
16.	Lars Trabolt (31)	Denmark
17.	Bill Robertie (20)	USA
18.	Mike Senkiewicz (19)	USA
19.	John O'Hagan (18)	USA
20.	Malcolm Davis (17)	USA
21.	Gus Jacobsen Hansen (26)	Denmark
22.	Ed O'Laughlin (29)	USA
23.	Jörgen Granstedt (13)	Sweden
24.	Ray Fogerlund (36)	USA
25.	Ralf Jonas (37)	Germany
26.	Walter Trice (23)	USA
27.	Mike Corbett (30)	USA
28.	Dirk Schiemann (8)	Germany
29.	Petko Kostadinov (152)	Bulgaria
30.	Richard Munitz (--)	USA
31.	Dana Nazarian (221)	USA
32.	Leo Fernandez (41)	Argentina

*Numbers in parentheses show their Giant ranking in 2005.

The Giants of 2007 were honored at the Nevada State Tournament in Las Vegas (April 15-20, 2008),
the Chicago Open (May 23-26, 2008), and the Michigan Summer Championships (July 3-6, 2008).

RANK	2007 GIANTS of BACKGAMMON	COUNTRY
33.	Andreas Humke (40)	Germany
34.	Hugh Sconyers (33)	USA
35.	Michihito Kageyama (133)	Japan
36.	Mike Svobodny (24)	USA
37.	Karsten Nielsen (49)	Denmark
38.	Joe Sylvester (250)	USA
39.	Frank Talbot (21)	USA
40.	Perry Gartner (51)	USA
41.	Katja Spillum (59)	Norway
42.	Karsten Bredahl (63)	Denmark
43.	Mads Andersen (22)	Denmark
44.	Kent Goulding (46)	USA
45.	Peter Heitmüller (47)	Germany
46.	Jerry Grandell (9)	Sweden
47.	Johannes Levermann (11)	Germany
48.	Julian Fetterlein (97)	England
49.	Bob Glass (48)	USA
50.	David Wells (25)	USA
51.	Jürgen Orlowski (143)	Germany
52.	Goetz Hildsberg (--)	Germany
53.	Jon Kristian Røyset (137)	Norway
54.	Andreas Märtens (150)	Germany
55.	Jeremy Bagai (53)	USA
56.	Serge Rived (58)	France
57.	Rick Barabino (65)	USA
58.	Hugh McNeil (39)	Canada
59.	Gregg Cattanach (50)	USA
60.	Philip Vischjager (--)	Netherlands
61.	Mogens Knudsen (55)	Denmark
62.	Arkadiy Tsinis (68)	USA
63.	Stick Rice (--)	USA
64.	Howard Markowitz (38)	USA

Complete statistical results for the Top 64 players in the world are published in the March 2008 issue of the Flint Area BackgammoNews.
Further inquiries may be sent to cjc@flintbg.com

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CONGRATULATIONS TO THE 2005 GIANTS!

98 ballots were submitted in 2005, of which 45% came from foreign voters. The ballots nominated 273 different players for the Giants of Backgammon. Here are the 32 top-ranked players in the world:

[Photos by Bill Davis]

The Top 32 Giants were honored at the Nevada State Tournament in Las Vegas (April 26-30, 2006),
the Chicago Open (May 26-29, 2006), and the Michigan Summer Championships (June 30-July 3, 2006).

Complete statistical results on the Top 64 players in the world were published in the March 2006 issue of the Flint Area BackgammoNews.
Further inquiries may be sent to cjc@flintbg.com

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RANK	2003 GIANTS of BACKGAMMON	COUNTRY
1.	NACK BALLARD (1)*	USA
2.	Jerry Grandell (2)	Sweden
3.	Dirk Schiemann (4)	Germany
4.	Johannes Levermann (3)	Germany
5.	Paul "X-22" Magriel (6)	USA
6.	David Wells (23)	USA
7.	Neil Kazaross (7)	USA
8.	"Falafel" Natanzon (17)	Israel
9.	Mads Andersen (16)	Denmark
10.	Jörgen Granstedt (5)	Sweden
11.	Kit Woolsey (10)	USA
12.	Jake Jacobs (9)	USA
13.	Steve Sax (20)	USA
14.	François Tardieu (21)	France
15.	Bill Robertie (14)	USA
16.	Mike Senkiewicz (8)	USA
17.	Peter Jes Thomsen (13)	Denmark
18.	Michael Meyburg (11)	Germany
19.	Mike Svobodny (12)	USA
20.	Paul Weaver (19)	USA
21.	Malcolm Davis (31)	USA
22.	Howard Ring (18)	USA
23.	Gus Jacobsen Hansen (22)	Denmark
24.	Lars Bønding (176)	Denmark
25.	Brian Elgaard (68)	Denmark
26.	Kent Goulding (15)	USA
27.	Hugh Sconyers (32)	USA
28.	Morten Holm (40)	Denmark
29.	Mike Corbett (34)	USA
30.	Ralf Jonas (33)	Germany
31.	Frank Talbot (37)	USA
32.	Leo Fernandez (25)	Argentina

*Numbers in parentheses show their rank in 2001.

Voters soared to a new record in 2003: There were 117 international voters who nominated 268 different players for the Giants of Backgammon. The Top 32 Giants were honored at the International Cup in Las Vegas (May 5-9, 2004), the Chicago Open (May 28-31, 2004) and the Michigan Summer Championships in Novi (July 1-4, 2004).

Complete statistical results on the Top 64 players in the world were published in the March 2004 issue of the Flint Area BackgammoNews. Further inquiries may be sent to cjc@flintbg.com

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Voters set a new record in 2001: There were 92 international voters who nominated 248 different players for the Giants of Backgammon. The Top 32 Giants were honored at the Chicago Open (May 24-27, 2002) and the Worldwide Twin Championships in Las Vegas (June 11-16, 2002).

Complete statistical results on the Top 64 players in the world were published in the March 2002 issue of the Flint Area BackgammoNews. Further inquiries may be sent to cjc@flintbg.com

RANK	2001 GIANTS of BACKGAMMON	COUNTRY
1.	NACK BALLARD	USA
2.	Jerry Grandell	Sweden
3.	Johannes Levermann	Germany
4.	Dirk Schiemann	Germany
5.	Jorgen Granstedt	Sweden
6.	Paul "X-22" Magriel	USA
7.	Neil Kazaross	USA
8.	Michael Senkiewicz	USA
9.	Jake Jacobs	USA
10.	Kit Woolsey	USA
11.	Michael Meyburg	Germany
12.	Mike Svobodny	USA
13.	Peter Jes Thomsen	Denmark
14.	Bill Robertie	USA
15.	Kent Goulding	USA
16.	Mads Andersen	Denmark
17.	Matvey "Falafel" Natanzon	Israel
18.	Howard Ring	USA
19.	Paul Weaver	USA
20.	Steve Sax	USA
21.	Francois Tardieu	France
22.	Gustav Jacobsen	Denmark
23.	David Wells	USA
24.	Rick Barabino	USA
25.	Leo Fernandez	Argentina
26.	Abe Mosseri	USA
27.	Harald Johanni	Germany
28.	Mario Kuehl	Germany
29.	Wilcox Snellings	USA
30.	Elliott Winslow	USA
31.	Malcolm Davis	USA
32.	Hugh Sconyers	USA

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The 1999 Giants of Backgammon were featured in the February 2000 issue of the Flint Area BackgammoNews. They were honored at the International Twin Championships in Las Vegas at the Desert Inn on April 28, 2000.

A record number of international voters (80) nominated 228 players for the 1999 Giants. Here are the Top 32 players who received the most points:

RANK	1999 GIANTS of BACKGAMMON	COUNTRY
1.	JERRY GRANDELL	Sweden
2.	Nack Ballard	USA
3.	Johannes Levermann	Germany
4.	Neil Kazaross	USA
5.	Paul "X-22" Magriel	USA
6.	Mike Senkiewicz	USA
7.	Michael Meyburg	Germany
8.	Dirk Schiemann	Germany
9.	Mike Svobodny	USA
10.	Kit Woolsey	USA
11.	Howard Ring	USA
12.	Malcolm Davis	USA
13.	Kent Goulding	USA
14.	Jake Jacobs	USA
15.	Bill Robertie	USA
16.	Billy Horan	USA
17.	Wilcox Snellings	USA
18.	Elliott Winslow	USA
19.	David Wells	USA
20.	Peter Jes Thomsen	Denmark
21.	Jorgen Granstedt	Sweden
22.	Phillip Marmorstein	Germany
23.	Hal Heinrich	Canada
24.	Abe Mosseri	USA
25.	Gustav Jacobsen	Denmark
26.	Joe Russell	USA
27.	Mike Corbett	USA
28.	Harald Johanni	Germany
29.	Frank Talbot	USA
30.	Peter Heitmueller	Germany
31.	Rick Barabino	USA
32.	Paul Weaver	USA

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PREVIOUS GIANTS OF BACKGAMMON

1993	1995	1997
1-Wilcox Snellings US	Mike Senkiewicz USA	Wilcox Snellings USA
2-Mike Senkiewicz US	Wilcox Snellings USA	Mike Senkiewicz USA
3-Joe Sylvester USA	Billy Horan USA	Nack Ballard USA
4-Paul Magriel USA	Nack Ballard USA	Mike Svobodny USA
5-Mike Svobodny US	Paul Magriel USA	Paul Magriel USA
6-Bill Robertie USA	Joe Sylvester USA	Neil Kazaross USA
7-Nack Ballard USA	Mike Svobodny USA	Billy Horan USA
8-Kent Goulding USA	Kent Goulding USA	Kit Woolsey USA
9-Kit Woolsey USA	Bill Robertie USA	Jerry Grandell SWE
10-Jason Lester USA	Neil Kazaross USA	Bill Robertie USA
11-Billy Horan USA	James Colen USA	Kent Goulding USA
12-Tino Lechich AUSL	Kit Woolsey USA	Joe Sylvester USA
13-P. Marmorstein GER	Phillip Marmorstein GER	Malcolm Davis USA
14-Hal Heinrich CAN	Joe Russell USA	James Colen USA
15-Joe Russell USA	Evert van Eijck NL	Phillip Marmorstein GER
16-Tom Lumper GER	Hal Heinrich CAN	Hal Heinrich CAN
17-Neil Kazaross USA	Tino Lechich AUSL	Peter Jes Thomsen DEN
18-Ed O'Laughlin USA	Howard Ring USA	Joe Russell USA
19-Bob Wachtel USA	Jason Lester USA	Jason Lester USA
20-Sandy Lubetkin USA	Malcolm Davis USA	Evert van Eijck NL
21-Frank Talbot USA	Thomas Lumper GER	David Wells USA
22-Malcolm Davis USA	Ed O'Laughlin USA	Gustav Jacobsen DEN
23-Mike Corbett USA	Sandy Lubetkin USA	Howard Ring USA
24-James Colen USA	Abbas Zaltash USA	Thomas Lumper GER
25-Paul Weaver USA	Peter Jes Thomsen DEN	Jake Jacobs USA
26-Alan Steffen USA	Rolf Schreuder NL	Mike Corbett USA
27-Walter Trice USA	Alan Steffen USA	Elliott Winslow USA
28-Jack Kissane USA	Frank Talbot USA	Tino Lechich AUSL
29-Howard Ring USA	Harry Cohn USA	Paul Weaver USA
30-Rolf Schreuder NL	Herb Gurland USA	Johannes Levermann GER
31-Erik Seidel USA	Walter Trice USA	Stuart Hosen USA
32-Herb Gurland USA	Paul Weaver USA	Sandy Lubetkin USA

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Compiled by CJC
Flint Area Backgammon Homepage