ABOUT WORLD SERIES OF BACKGAMMON®
World Series of Backgammon (WSOB) was founded by television producer and backgammon player, Andy Bell in 2006 with events Cannes. In 2007, WSOB launched its first multi event tour with tournaments in Cannes, the UK Masters in London and the Nordic Open in Copenhagen, attracting record fields for each event and 400 players overall into its high stakes main events.
WSOB captures the match action, jeopardy and background around the world’s leading backgammon events on the WSOB Tour, broadcasting in throughout Europe on Eurosport 1 and 2 and distributed worldwide by ESPN International. In 2009, WSOB continued to break new ground with live interactive webcasting from its tour events.
Season I, sponsored by PartyGammon.com, launched in 2006 in Cannes hosted at the stunning Palm Beach Casino in Cannes, Sean Casey of Ireland triumphed in the final from a field of 90 of the world's best players collecting €50,000 in prize money. USA defeated DENMARK in the team event.
In Season II, 2007-2008, WSOB announced its exclusive partnership with Gus Hansen who would play its events and commentate on its innovative TV shows whilst also securing major sponsorship from French casino operator, Groupe Partouche worth €750,000.
WSOB expanded its ambitions with a new event in London - the UK Masters, held at the austentatious Casino at the Empire in Leicester Square, saw a record 128 draw/ €700 buy-in in the main event, the largest backgammon event held in the UK. The world's largest tournament, the Nordic Open also joined the WSOB tour in an exclusive deal for the first time and saw the Championship field increase from 78 to 153 players and finally on the 08 tour, WSOB Cannes returned and recorded 155 Championship players, second only to the world championships.
2008 also saw the introduction of WSOB's own 'final table', the €160.000 WSOB Championship which rewarded the best players from the tour and Super Satellite winners with €10,000 value seats to the 16 players finale. Frenchman Frederic Andrieu won the Gold Cube and the €100.000 champion's cheque. More than €500,000 in prize money was won on the second season.
WSOB again emphasized its ambition to grow backgammon emerging with a new tournament in Prague and a expanded 64 draw WSOB CHAMPIONSHIP, with $480,000 guaranteed., which again saw the world's best players contending, including Gus Hansen, Falafel Natanzon, Peter Jes Thomsen and world champion, Masayuki Mochizuki.
TEAM WSOB
Some of the best players in the world are on Team WSOB. They play exclusively online with WSOB and are regulars on the WSOB tour.
Masayuki Mochizuki
Known as Mochy on the worldwide backgammon circuit, Masayuki Mochizuki recently confirmed his status as perhaps the leading player in the world winning the 2009 World Backgammon Championships in Monte Carlo. Mochy plays exclusively online with the WSOB.
Mike "Falafel" Natanzon
"Falafel" got his name playing for hustling low stakes on the streets of New York. Falafel was Mike's favoured sandwich and before long, he was dubbed Falafel by his street-mates in Central Park. Falafel has since become the No 1 'Giant of Backgammon' as voted for by his peers.
Within the game Falafel has won the coveted Las Vegas Open and the Nations Cup 2005 and is one of the most noted money players in the world and can often be found sparring for backgammon or making sports bets with some of the other leading backgammon playingh gamblers in the world including Gus Hansen and Sander Lylloff.
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Morten Holm
Professional gambler Morten Holm is one of the most accomplished backgammon players in the world game with myriad titles and notorious player of cash games and props. Holm is part of the 'Danish clique', a group of highly accomplished players, including Sander Lylloff and Gus Hansen, who have shared experiences and ideas in skill gaming to become highly successful winners in games of luck and skill.
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Katja Spillum
Norway's Katja Spillum is a full time backgammon and poker pro. She is widely regarded as the best female player in the world and often tops the Norwegian Backgammon Federation rankings. Katja resides in Copenhagne, at the heart-beat of world backgammon.
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TELEVISION PRESENTATION TEAM 2008
Gus Hansen
Gus Hansen is a professional poker and backgammon player, widely regarded as the best dual discipline player in the world and winner of the 2007 Aussie Millions poker and 4-time WPT title winner. Gus also reached the final of last year' WSOB CANNES, Riviera Cup from a record field of 155 Championship players.
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John Clark
John Clark, an experienced backgammon and poker commentator, is an acclaimed backgammon player who has been ranked UK #1 for much of the past decade. John has been in the commentary box since the beginning of televised backgammon in 2005, debuting alongside PAUL 'X22' MAGRIEL in HIGH STAKES BACKGAMMON from the WORLD BACKGAMMON CHAMPIONSHIPS.
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Jessie Cantrell
New Yorker and beginner player Jessie Cantrell made a name for herself on the cult internet show, Black20News.com before joining the WSOB presentation team as host for the 2008 season.
Co-presenters and contributors
WSOB co-commentators and world class players Morten Holm; Sander Lylloff and Falafel Natanzon are some of the world's leading players and offer fascinating insight into the mind-set and skill of players featuring in televised stages.
WSOB reporter's Will Cockerell write-up from events have famously been bringing to life WSOB events for 1000s of backgammon fans following what's happening from WSOB events online from home.
World class player Carter Mattig can often be found running around a tournament room with a camera crew seeking personal insights from players or delivering his own distinct style to camera.
The first WSOB season was hosted by Kara Scott who has gone on to be one of the most recognised faces in world poker, hosting High Stakes Poker and European Poker Tour. Kara also presented the very first televised match-play event, the 2005 World Backgammon Championships, also developed and produced by WSOB, founder and director, Andy Bell.
