March / April 2026 Newsletter-
Women's Team Championships Transforming Women's Competitive Backgammon Community
There's something quietly powerful happening in the world of backgammon—and you can feel it most vividly in the World Women's Team Championships.
The first championship in 2024, held in Sweden, was a landmark moment. Eight teams came together—many of us full of excitement, but without much structure or preparation. We showed up as individuals representing a country, rather than as a cohesive team. The U.S. took the title that year, but what many of us took away—regardless of standings—was a realization: we could do this better, and in doing so, create something far more meaningful.
By the second championship in Greece, where Norway emerged as the winner, that growth was already visible—not just in how we prepared, but in the scale of the event itself. The number of teams nearly doubled, increasing to 15. With that expansion came a noticeable shift in mindset. Teams began forming well in advance, with clearer selection processes and a more intentional approach to preparation. Instead of last-minute coordination, there was time to connect, to practice, and to build a shared sense of purpose.
That preparation has transformed the experience.
What once felt like a group of players competing under the same flag now feels like a true team. We study together, discuss strategy, play practice matches, and support one another through every round. Even without pairs in this format, the sense of collective effort is unmistakable. Each match still belongs to the individual—but the energy, encouragement, and accountability come from the group.
And alongside this evolution, the competitive bar is rising.
With more women entering the backgammon scene, “making the team” is no longer a formality—it's an achievement. It's becoming more competitive each year, and that in itself is a powerful motivator. Players are investing more time in their game, seeking coaching, analyzing their play, and pushing themselves to improve.
It's a virtuous cycle. Stronger competition leads to stronger players, which in turn elevates the entire field.
This event is also forging friendships across countries. You might assume that competing against players from other nations would make them our adversaries—but the opposite is often true. We follow each other's progress, delight in playing chouettes together after serious tournament play ends, and genuinely celebrate great play, no matter the flag. Some of us even practice together ahead of the event, sharpening our games while strengthening connections.
It's remarkable to witness. The women's backgammon community is becoming a truly global phenomenon—competitive, yes, but also deeply collaborative and supportive.
As we look ahead to the third championship in London this August, there's a sense that we're building something enduring. Not just a tournament, but a community—one defined by growth, camaraderie, and an ever-deepening commitment to excellence.
Because in the end, it's not just about who wins.
It's about how far we've come—and how much further we're willing to go, together.
WWB Board:
Karen Davis, Melanie Hughes, Irina Litzenberger, and Kristin Westerman
WWB Invitational Cup
Irina Litzenberger
WHAT A TOURNAMENT!!
The 2026 WWB Invitational Cup has officially wrapped up.
Huge congratulations to Martha Gjelseth for taking the win! She went undefeated through 7 rounds and beat Hanna Thorsen in a super close, really exciting final. It could've gone either way—such a great match to watch.
Shoutout as well to:
Hanna Thorsen for an amazing second-place finish
Kara Schultz for taking third
I'm honestly over the moon with how this tournament turned out.
Switching to the Swiss 2-loss format gave us so many fun and competitive matches. We ended up with 29 matches total (plus 1 forfeit and 2 byes), and we managed to watch live and record 28 of them—which I'm especially proud of!
If you missed any, they're all up on our YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/@WomensWorldOfBackgammon
Big thank you to Denise Kaiser and Julia Hayward for leading the commentary team—and to everyone else who jumped in to commentate. You all made the matches so much more fun to watch. I especially loved seeing players hop into the booth after being eliminated… that added such a great vibe and extra insight.
This really was a full WWB team effort, including our new Board Member Kristin Westerman and our Peer Coaching Associate Stephanie Blackton.
And seriously, to all the players—thank you. The coordination, the flexibility, scheduling ahead… you made everything run so smoothly. And the fact that every single match started on time?? That's kind of amazing.
You all made this event something really special ❤️
Martha Gjelseth
Hanna Thorsen
Announcing 2026 WBIF Women's World Championship
Deadline: Wed 1st July
Tournament Mode:
Qualification Phase
Be sure to sign up for the 2026 World Backgammon Internet Federation Women's World Championship. Details below and on https://www.wbif.net/
Tournament Mode
→Qualifiers for each region: America.....Europe/Africa.....Asia/Australia/Oceania
Five Rounds of Round Robin or Swiss system Format in each region.
All matches will be against opponents from the same region. 33%, rounded up, of the players from each region will qualify for the Final Phase.
→At the conclusion of the five rounds, all players that have a 5-0 or 4-1 record will qualify for the Final Phase.
→In addition, all players that finish 3-2 will be eligible to qualify for the Final Phase based on PR.
→To determine how many qualify from each region take the total number of participants and divide by 3 and round up. For example: with 29 players from a region, 10 would qualify (29/3=9.67, which rounds up to 10).
If, in qualifying, there were 6 players that finished 5-0 or 4-1, four of the 3-2 players would be selected based on the lowest PR's.
If, after counting the qualifiers for all regions, the number of qualifiers is an odd number, one more player will be added to the Final Phase.
That player will be determined by examining all the 3-2 players from the entire field that failed to qualify and taking the one with the lowest PR
Final Phase:
Swiss system play combining all regions with double elimination.
Further details:
Women's World of Backgammon (www.womensworldofbackgammon.com) is a sponsor providing $500 added money!
13 Point Matches
Clock 26min, 10 sec delay
Played at backgammon Studio Heroes
Entry fee: 30 Euro ( 500 Euro added money!!)
Start of qualifiers is 08.07.2026
Tournament Director: Joseph Russell !
email: [email protected]
Facebook: www.facebook.com/joseph.russell.1800
The tournament is a cooperation by WBGF and WBIF!
The entry fee of 30 Euro (12% of which covers administrative costs) should be transferred to the WBIF, via paypal: [email protected]
or bancaccount: Bernhard Mayr, Franz-Josef Str27a, A-6130 Schwaz account at Sparkasse Schwaz (BIC: SPSCAT22XXX, IBAN:AT92 20510 00000014167 ) take care for transfer fees!
Have a look at the Wbif Rules and Frequent Asked Questions at the wbif website!.
We hope that all participants will thoroughly enjoy this year's tournament, making it a big success for all of us. Questions about the tournament please send via e-mail to the tournament director.
2025 WBIF Online Women's World Championship
Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 WBIF Online
Women's world Championship
1. Sara Yousefi – Iran
2. Pernille Rosendal – Denmark
3. Marina Milos – Brazil
4. Khatuna Giorgobiani – Georgia
5. Maggie Sweeney – USA
6. Yuko Sugimoto – Japan
7. Kara Schultz USA
8. Martha Gjelseth – Norway
These developments tell a clear story: women’s backgammon is growing—not as a side initiative, but as an integral force shaping the future of the game.
Congratulations to the WBIF Online World Women's Team Champions!!
Winning Women Around the World
Women are increasingly placing in national and international events.
Women placing in events in mid- February 2025 to mid-April include:
WWB Invitational Cup (16) January 1 – March 21, 2026 Heroes.BackgammonStudio.com
1-Martha Gjelseth (Norway); 2-Hanna Thorsen (Norway); 3-Kara Schultz (USA); 4/5-Karen Davis (USA), Eva Zizkova (Czechia)
FMBGT: 24th CYPRUS OPEN BACKGAMMON TOURNAMENT
April 3-5, 2026; Nicosia, Northern Cyprus
LADIES TOURNAMENT (6): 1-Marianne Snarheim Husum (Norway).
SPECIAL PLAYER AWARD: Josefin Bichler (Germany).
UKBGT: WEST YORKSHIRE BACKGAMMON OPEN
March 27-29, 2026; Bradford, United Kingdom
INTERMEDIATE (35): 1-Michelle Sykes, 2, 2C-Sarah Jolliff;
FRIDAY WARM-UP I (32): 1-Becca Bell,
FRIDAY WARM-UP II (36): 1 2-Becca Bell.
DOUBLES: 1-Hazel Harper & Tim Line, 2-Rowena & Stefan Paliwoda.
FFBG: 4th FRENCH RIVIERA OPEN BACKGAMMON CHAMPIONSHIP
March 19-22, 2026; Beaulieu-sur-mer, France
INTERMEDIATE (34): 2-Carla Doumard, 2LC-Laurence Sinitzky.
LIMITED JACKPOT (16): 1-Tania Klimova, 3/4-Carla Doumard / Patrice de Sainte Marie.
DOUBLE CONSULTATION (18 teams): 1-Rune Færvåg (Norway) & Karina Langhoff de Thurah (Denmark), 3/4-Philippe Quiboef & Laurence Sinitzky.
LADIES (8): 1-Laurence Sinitzky.SENIORS (32): 1-Carla Doumard,
11th CORK BACKGAMMON OPEN
February 28-March 1, 2026; Clonakilty, Ireland
OPEN (63): 2C-Rachel Rhodes (United Kingdom); 2LC-C.J. Uttley (United Kingdom).
FRIDAY NIGHT WARM-UP (36): 1-Rachel Rhodes (United Kingdom), 2-Ann Maher (United Kingdom).
ABT: 2026 ATLANTA BACKGAMMON CLASSIC
February 26-March 1, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia
ABT ADVANCED (51): 1-Laura Granger (MI), 2-Ann Major (TX); 2LC-Karen Janowsky (NY), 3LC/4LC- Maggie Sweeney (MI).
NOVICE (8): 1-Debbie Quinn (IN).
PLAYERS CUP ATLANTA BMAB (24): 2/4- Karen Davis (FL) PR winners: 4-Irina Litzenberger (VA) at 5.56.
DOUBLES (27 teams): 3/4-Molly & Pete Anderson (NM) /
JUNIORS (24): 3-Amy Latek (WI).
SENIORS (24): 3-Jeanna Kish (TX).
DMP (16): 2-Amy Latek (WI).
$50 JACKPOT (8): 1-Samra Hadden (GA).
Laura Granger
ABT: 31st OHIO STATE BACKGAMMON CHAMPIONSHIPS
March 26-29, 2026; Canton, Ohio
ABT CHAMPIONSHIP (37): 2-Lynda Clay (CO), 1C-Irina Litzenberger (VA)
ABT ADVANCED (34): 2C-Patty Knapp (MA).
OHIO PLAYERS CUP BMAB (26): 2/6 Irina Litzenberger (VA).
SENIORS (8): 1-Bonnie Rogoff (OH).
Lynda Clay
MUNKEBJERG BACKGAMMON TOURNAMENT 2026
February 20-22, 2026; Vejle, Denmark
LUCKY LOSERS (32): 2-Kirstine Jensen,
BEGINNER (15): 2-Lenette Tribini.
2026 ENGLISH RIVIERA BACKGAMMON CONGRESS
February 20-22, 2026; Torquay, United Kingdom
RIVIERA CUP MASTERS (63): 3/4-Becca Bell
TORQUAY CONSOLATION CUP: 3/4- Rosemary Whitehouse; 5/8 Michele de Havilland
PAIGNTON CUP INTERMEDIATES (31): 1-Sarah Jolliff, 5/8 Pamela Wright
BRIXHAM CONSOLATION CUP: 3/4 Catherine Seale/Cynthia Roberts; 5/8 Yas Turan.
REW LAST CHANCE CUP: 1-Olive Acastern 2-Fenella Haffenden; 3/4 Samantha Tierney
SUPER COMBINED LAST CHANCE (27): 1-Pamela Wright
IBF: ASIAN GRAND PRIX 2026
March 22-29, 2026; Tashkent, Uzbekistan
MAIN TOURNAMENT – BACKGAMMON (322): 19/30-Maggie Diamantidis (USA) / Janette Hodgkinson (South Africa) / Olga Ivanova (Russia)
MAIN TOURNAMENT – LONGGAMMON (116): 5/7-Elena Gromenkova (Russia)
BACKGAMMON DOUBLES (131 teams): 4-Hasret Bekar (Türkiye) & Gulderen Gucavli (Türkiye).
BACKGAMMON 1-POINT (256):, 3-Janette Hodgkinson (South Africa),
BACKGAMMON WOMEN'S (64): 1-Alexandra Knupfer (Switzerland), 2-Olga Ivanova (Russia), 3-Gulderen Gucavli (Türkiye), 4-Farzona Bobonazarova (Russia).
IPSL TEAM CUP TOURNAMENT (67 teams): 4-Raj Jansari (United Kingdom) / David Wells (Australia/USA) / Akiko Yazawa (Japan).
Maggie Diamantidis
FMBGT: 4th GRAND PASHA OPEN BACKGAMMON TOURNAMENT
April 1-2, 2026; Nicosia, Northern Cyprus
CONSULTING DOUBLES (44 teams): 4/5 Abdullah Ser & Kemal Erdem (Türkiye) / Marianne Husum & Dagfinn Snarheim (Norway).
SPECIAL PLAYER AWARDS: Marianne Husum (Norway).
Marianne Husum
2026 SAN DIEGO PLAYERS CUP BMAB
March 14, 2026; San Diego, California
OPEN (48): 1-Melissa Shin, 3/12- Kara Schultz. PR winners: 13-Kara Schultz (4.46), 4- 7/8-Melissa Shin (5.80). Melissa Shin won Iron Star #015.
Melissa Shin
NOTTINGHAM ROBIN HOOD OPEN
March 6-8, 2026; Nottingham, United Kingdom
MASTERS: 5/8 Rachel Rhodes
LAST CHANCE: 1-Julia Hayward
FRIDAY WARM-UP: 1-Anna Price
Rachel Rhodes
Upcoming Events
April 14-18, 8th Merit Grand Prix, Splendid, Budva, Montenegro, [email protected], director
Ladies Tournament, 17 April 13:00
https://www.wbfturkey.com/doc/etkinlik/montenegro2026/montenegro2026flyer.pdf
April 15-19 Cherry Blossom Championship, Hyatt Dulles, Herndon, VA Ben Friesen, Director 810-348-1695
WWB Cup starts Thursday 4/16 at 4 pm
https://cherryblossombackgammon.weebly.com/
April 30-May 3 Charlotte Invitational, Hilton, Charlotte NC, Paul Horton Director, 704-651-2949
WWB Cup starts Sunday May 3, 1:30 pm
https://www.charlottebackgammon.com/home
May 20-25 Chicago Open, Hyatt Centric O'Hare, Rosemont, IL, Rory Pascar, Director 617-699-9100
Women's National Championship begins May 21 at 3:00 pm
June 3-7 Wild West Shootout Embassy Suites, Denver, CO, Dan Minardi, Director 303-356-3679
Annie Oakley Women's Jackpot begins June 4, 3 pm
July 1 Deadline for Registration for WBIF Women's World Championship
July 1-5 51st Michigan Summer Championship, Sheraton Novi, Michigan, Ben Friesen, director 810-348-1605
WWB Fireworks Cup begins July 5, Noon
https://michiganbackgammon.com/
27 July – 2 August 57th World Championship,
Fairmont Hotel, Monte Carlo, Monaco
Women's World Championship
https://www.backgammonworldchampionship.com/
24-30 August World Backgammon Federation, Mercure Earls Hotel, London, UK
World Team Championship
Women's World Team Championship
Recent WWB YouTube Videos
WWB Invitational Cup Matches Available at https://www.youtube.com/@WomensWorldOfBackgammon/playlists:
Final
Martha Gjelseth v Hanna Thorsen
Round 6:
Kara Schutz v M Artha Gjelseth
Round 5:
Hanna Thorsen v Karen Davis
Martha Gjelseth v Eva Zizkova
Round 4:
Kara Schutz v Pia Jeppesen
Eva Zizkova v. Gulderen Gucavli
Melissa Shin vs. Hanna Thorsen
Round 3:
Akiko Yazawa v Kara Schultz
Hanna Thorsen vs Martha Gjelseth
Pid Jeppensen v. Irina Litzenberger
Round 2:
Melissa Shin v Martha Gjelseth
Kara Schultz v Cecilia Rogers
Akiko Yazawa v Merrin Rose
Pia Jeppesen v Hanna Thorsen
Katja Sophie Svendsen v Gulderen Gucavli
Eva Zizkova v Mirando Moulton
Round 1:
Miranda Moulton v Maya Peycheva
Merrin Rose v Pia Jeppensen
Melissa Shin v Katja Sophie Svendsen
Gulderen Gucavli v Karen Davis
Martha Gjelseth v. Akiko Yazawa
Eva Zizkova v. Kara Schultz
WWB Learning Sessions
Peer Coaching: Briliiances and Blunders based on January 31, 2026 WWB Peer Coaching Tournament. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=auDD2gCFqjg&t=460s
Studying with a Backgammon Buddy Irina Litzenberger and Kara Schultz discussed played checker and cube decisions as they played a 7-point match Consulting Doubles match against the neural net software eXtreme Gammon on October 24, 2025. It illustrates how players preparing for a major backgammon tournament can study with a backgammon buddy partner to sharpen their game. The YouTube video of their live commentary can be found on the Women's World of Backgammon YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANHEb3sZIkg
Additional Informational Sessions:
WWB Special Learning Session with Michy Kageyama – Improving Your Cube Decision Skills Premiered July 18, 2025
WWB Learning Session – Playing eXtreme Gammon to Improve Your Game with Steve Sax April 18, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j6WIVYcjXbk&list=PLolfHyIVeeOQ5-U6Na6zpNNJUzlrDQRpT&index=3
WWB Learning Session – Using Anki Flashcards to Improve Your Game with Julius High https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXHiY7QdnN4&t=22s April 11, 2025
Newsletter, Social Media, and WWB Website
In 2026, WWB anticipates a major upgrading of its website and social media outreach, with greater emphasis on hosting WWB tournaments, marketing women's events, and highlighting women player achievements.
WWB is a nonprofit organization with modest resources provided by its Inner Circle of Sponsors and the financial contributions and professional volunteer efforts of its Board. It's a labor of love. We'd like to thank, especially, those of you who have generously donated to WWB. We simply couldn't do what we do without you.
We try to leverage our resources by encouraging and supporting others sharing a common interest in seeing women thrive – including worldwide and national organizations, tournament directors and organizers, men and women coaches and playing partners sharing their expertise, and the community of women players. We welcome your ideas, participation, and support as we move forward together.
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