Women Can Talk Backgammon Too!
Backgammon commentary isn’t just the guys' domain anymore! Women are slowly but surely making their mark behind the microphone, and honestly, it’s about time. Just like seeing more women playing inspires others to join, hearing women on commentary does the same—it tells the next generation, Hey, you can do this too!
It takes courage to step up to the plate and be a backgammon commentator! Congratulations to the growing number of women who are responding to the challenge. They bring a lot to the joy of watching and learning from a backgammon match. The secret sauce? Losing the fear of being wrong, because we don’t have to be right all the time (though, let’s be honest, it does feel amazing when we are). The best commentators are engaging, personable, and eager to share their knowledge with others. They keep their eye on the game—not only spotting the best options for this move but also seeing how the game is evolving and how the players plan to win going forward. They never forget that backgammon is fun—sharing the joy of a lucky roll or a move that works. And they are kind—sharing the anguish that comes from an opponent’s double sixes or that 1 in 18 shot that turned the tables around.
Merrin Rose has featured as a commentator in several events, and here’s what she has to say:
"I fell into commentating by chance at the 2024 Swedish Open. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and many people have told me it’s so refreshing to hear a female voice. I think the best commentators are entertaining as well as knowledgeable—I can talk underwater with a mouth full of rocks, so hopefully that covers the entertaining part, and I’m always working on the knowledge! Thinking about the viewers is key too—being clear and concise, interacting with questions. It’s a privilege to be able to give back to the backgammon community
in any way I can."
Like anything else, practice makes perfect. The more experience we get, the more confident and insightful we become, and we’re already bringing plenty to the table—different ages, personalities, language skills, and levels of shyness/confidence. Take 13-year-old Hanna Derosier—she’s already been on the mic multiple times and has quite a fan club. Or Merrin Rose, who brought a refreshing voice to the WBGF Championship in Stockholm. Julia Hayward and Irina Litzenberger took charge during the WBIF Women’s Semi-finals between Anna Price and Karen Davis for the WWB watch party. In Charlotte, Lynn Ehrlich joined Dennis Culpepper, while Irina teamed up with Rory Pascar at the streaming table. And let’s not forget the WWB Invitational Cup—where every single match had at least one woman commentator. Some players even jumped in to cover other matches. What unites us? A shared passion for the game and evaluating plays.
Of course, a BIG shoutout to the men who share the stage and help us feel at home behind the mic. This isn’t about replacing anyone—it’s about making room for more voices. And the more, the merrier!
So, to all the women thinking about giving it a shot… the backgammon world is ready for you!
A special thanks to all the WWB Cup commentators to date:
Lynda Clay, Tim Cross, Kent Goulding, Julia Hayward, Denise Kaiser, Marcy Kossar, Irina and Roberto Litzenberger, Rory Pascar, Cecilia Rogers, Merrin Rose, Steve Sax, Phil Simborg, Albert Steg, Chris Trencher, Joe Urso, Antoinette-Marie Williams
Announcement of the 2025 WWB Doubles Tournament
We’re delighted to invite interested women to play in the 4th Online WWB Doubles Event. Having tried various combinations of man-woman, woman-woman teams, and Open division-intermediate division teams, the 4th Online WWB Doubles Event welcomes women playing with either a man or another woman. We will have one division and encourage intermediate-level women to team up with an Open-level man or woman! Let us know if you need help finding a suitable backgammon partner!
The team entry fee is $100, which will be returned 100% to the top four winning teams, along with an additional $1,000 in prize money donated by WWB (50% to the winning team; 25% to 2nd place; and 12.5% to the 3rd/4th finishing teams).
Registration is now open. Register now by emailing Karen Davis, WWB Co-Founder, at karen.davis@jhu.edu, letting us know of your interest and including your contact information (email; WhatsApp or phone number).
Your $100 team entry fee should be sent to Karen via PayPal (kd@cmwf.org), Venmo (Karen-Davis-419; phone 917-488-5364), or Zelle (karen.davis@jhu.edu; phone 917-488-5364). Karen will be attending the WBGF World Teams/3rd Greek Grand Prix in Kamena Vourla, Greece, April 7-13, and the Nordic Open 2025, April 17-20, in Copenhagen, Denmark, and may be paid in person in Euros or U.S. dollars at those events.
The deadline for registering is April 24. All entry fees must be paid no later than April 24.
Irina Litzenberger (plata2020@yahoo.com) is the tournament organizer. Questions about the event may be directed to her. Nano Cabrera (flnano@gmail.com) is the Tournament Director.
The online matches will be 9-point games, played on Heroes.BackgammonStudio.com in the WWB Tournament Room. The format is single-elimination with buy-backs for first-round losing teams if space is available. We anticipate a maximum of 32 participating teams. Clock settings are 15 seconds per play plus 27 minutes of reserve time. Communication is via Zoom, and brackets are managed through Challonge. The tournament follows U.S. Backgammon Federation Rules.
Select matches will be featured in Zoom WWB Learning Sessions, where interested observers can watch and listen as doubles partners discuss their thinking about checker and cube decisions over the board.
Teams will be responsible for scheduling matches with their opponents by the round deadlines. Please inform the tournament organizer, Irina Litzenberger, and tournament director, Nano Cabrera, of the date/time the match will be played 2-3 days in advance so that WWB can arrange to have the match featured on Zoom and inform interested observers.
Close of Registration – April 24
Random Draw – April 25
Start of Play – April 30
Deadline for completion of Round 1 – May 8
Deadline for completion of Round 2 – May 18 (buy-backs and Round 1 winners)
Deadline for completion of Round 3 – June 1
Semi-final matches – June 3-9
Final Match – June 17 or 18
We look forward to this event every year with great anticipation. It’s an opportunity to watch excellent backgammon and get to know players around the world.
Don’t miss out on the fun!
Amanda Shires:
Country and Western Singer Turns to Backgammon
Country and western singer and fiddler Amanda Shires was having a difficult personal year. She told The Nashville Scene( November 7, 2024)
“I was finding it to where I couldn’t paint or do music,” Shires tells The Scene. “I was like, ‘I need a hobby, something to get me out of the house.’”
She Googled backgammon and found the Nashville (TN) Backgammon Association and its organizer, the colorful Rollow Mickle. After some lessons from Mickle and reading a couple of books, she began playing at the local club HiFi Clyde’s on Tuesday nights. She also discovered several people in the Nashville music community who played.
From Hobby to Mental Expansion
Shires didn’t just play backgammon—she embraced it. She established the Amanda Shires Cup backgammon tournament, creating a space for others to explore the game’s intellectual and social benefits.
One of the participants, Kristin Westerman, a former math teacher, was particularly drawn to the probability and strategy behind backgammon. She finished second in the first Shires Cup, which boosted her confidence to compete in the Women’s World of Backgammon Cup in Charlotte, NC, in January 2025—where she won the Consolation tournament.
“It’s so fun—it’s addictive,” Westerman says. “I’ve been trying to now make my game better, learn more, and study it here.”
For both Shires and Westerman, backgammon became more than a hobby—it became a path to mental growth and renewed self-confidence.
Shires’ Advice: Find Something That Challenges You
Shires encourages others to embrace new challenges—especially when facing personal struggles.
“I encourage people, if they find themselves in the f… worst pit of their lives, find something to do,” Shires says. “Get yourself some friends! Do something different!”
But beyond social connection, Shires highlights an important lesson about learning:
“It probably took me five months to feel decent at it, but that’s because I’m hard on myself,” she admits. “I mean, I don’t have to be good at everything. We don’t have to be good at it. We just have to enjoy it.”
A Game for the Mind and the Soul
Amanda Shires found backgammon at a time when she needed something to stimulate her mind and lift her spirits. What she discovered was a game that trains the brain, sharpens thinking, and fosters a sense of community.
For those looking for a way to expand their mental abilities—whether through strategy, probability, or the joy of learning something new—backgammon offers a timeless, rewarding challenge.
Winning Women Around the World
Women are increasingly placing in American Backgammon Tour and international events. In January – February 2025 they included:
ABT - CHARLOTTE BACKGAMMON INVITATIONAL
Women were well represented at the Charlotte Backgammon Invitational tournament held in Charlotte, NC January 23-26, 2025, with twenty-seven women competing, 21% of all entrants, 13% of Open players, 23% of Advanced players, and 35% of Novice players.
Marcy Kossar, who finished second in the 2024 Cherry Blossom Open division, won the Women’s World of Backgammon Charlotte Cup. Sabine Brinkman, a member of the German Women’s Backgammon Team, finished second. Kristin Westerman from Nashville won the Consolation. WWB has donated lessons from expert backgammon coaches to the three. Congratulations!
A couple of women competed in the Open division for the first time including Donna Lafferty who finished 4th/7th. Donna entered the Open division after being advised by Grandmaster Gerry Tansey that “he would rather learn the game from better players than he was, and playing against them in tournaments was a good start.”
In the Advanced division, women claimed 2nd (Carol Kerr); 3rd (Marianne Bowen); and tied for 4th-7th (Lynn Ehrlich). Jennifer Zorek-Pressman won the Novice event and Cassandra Bennett tied for 2nd-5th. 10-year old Ariana Litzenberger, granddaughter of Irina and Roberto Litzenberger played in the Novice event.
Irina did well in the Players Cup BMAB-Charlotte with a 6.36 PR, ranking 7th out of 24 players. Kelsey Rose finished 2nd in the Dogwood Royale Advanced Jackpot. Marcy Kossar and her backgammon partner Garry Kallos won the Hornets Nest Doubles.
Congratulations all!
ABT OPEN (45): 4/7- Donna Lafferty (IN)
ABT ADVANCED (64): 2-Carol Kerr (NC), 3-Marianne Bowen (VA), 4/9- Lynn Ehrlich (FL)
ABT NOVICE (17): 1-Jennifer Zorek-Pressman (CT), 2/5-Cassandra Bennett (NC)
DOGWOOD ROYALE ADVANCED JACKPOT (24): 2-Kelsey Rose (NY),
HORNETS NEST DOUBLES (22 teams): 1-Garry Kallos (Canada) & Marcy Kossar (MD),
PLAYERS CUP BMAB-CHARLOTTE (24): PR winners: 7-Irina Litzenberger (VA) at 6.36.
WOMEN'S WORLD OF BACKGAMMON CUP (12): 1-Marcy Kossar (MD), 2-Sabine Brinkmann (Germany); 1C-Kristin Westerman (TN).
HOTEL ROOM FREEROLL (71): 1-Laura Granger (CO).
$50 HAT TRICK (8): 1/2 split-Carol Joy Cole (MI)
8th GIBRALTAR BACKGAMMON CHAMPIONSHIP
Marianne Snarheim Husum (Norway), Antoinette-Marie Williams (USA), and Beverley Phillips (UK) racked up multiple victories at the 8th Gibraltar Championship held in Ocean Village, Gibraltar, January 29-February 2.
Marianne won the Speedgammon event in a field of 64 top players, as well as tying for 3rd in the 150£ Elite Jackpot. She had previously reached three finals in Master Class Speedgammon (Beaulieu 2022; Skjopje 2023; and Aachen 2024). She said it was extra fun to win this time. In addition, she won the Norwegian speed championship in 2022 and placed third in Gothenburg in 2016, which was the first time she had played Speed. She loved it!
Antoinette finished 2nd in the Last Chance in the Masters Division; won the Ladies event of 24 players; and finished 2nd in the 869 Backgammon Gibraltar Challenge. Beverley Phillips won 2nd in the Intermediate Last Chance; tied for 3rd in the 50£ Intermediate Jackpot; and finished 2nd in the Ladies event.
Congratulations all!
MASTERS (43): 2LC-Antoinette Williams (USA).
INTERMEDIATE (40): 12LC-Beverley Phillips (United Kingdom).
150£ ELITE JACKPOT (16): 3/4- Marianne Snarheim Husum (Norway).
50£ INTERMEDIATE JACKPOT (16): 3/4-Joanna Chorbala (Poland) / Beverley Phillips (United Kingdom).
DOUBLES CONSULTATION (22 teams): 2-Inja Myhr (Denmark) & Thomas Myhr (Denmark), 3/4- Patrick Gebelli (United Arab Emirates) & Diana Merlusca (Romania).
SPEEDGAMMON (64): 1-Marianne Snarheim Husum (Norway).
LADIES (24): 1-Antoinette Williams (USA), 2-Beverley Phillips (United Kingdom), 3-Rowena Paliwoda (United Kingdom).
869BG GIB CHALLENGE (32): 2-Antoinette Williams (USA).
Upcoming Events
February 27-March 2 – 15th Atlanta Classic and Players Cup BMAB, Sonesta Hotel, Atlanta, GA, Jonathan Hardigree, director, 706-372-2495
March 19-23 – 7th Merit Grand Prix, Hotel Splendid, Budva, Montenegro, Director: Arda Findikoglu
More details here.
March 20-23, 30th Ohio State and BMAB, Crown Plaza, Middleburg Hts, OH, Jonathan Hardigree and Joe Miller directors, 330-268-4610
Click here for details.
April 7-13, World Backgammon Federation World Teams Championships/3rd Greek Grand Prix, Kamena Vouria, Greece. Click here for details.
Sponsored by Women’s World of Backgammon: Uniforms for Team USA
April 9-13, Cherry Blossom and BMAB, Hyatt Regency Dulles, Herndon, VA, 810-348-1695.
Sponsored by Women’s World of Backgammon:
ALL Players - Recording and transcription services provided for every match! ($17 value per match played)
View details here.
Apr 15-16. 17-21 - *UBC Contenteder/ Nordic Open 2025, Scandic Sluseholmen, Copenhagen, Denmark. Click here for details.
April 23-27 – 17th Istavder Anniversary Feast, WOW, Istanbul, Turkey.
April 24 – DEADLINE: Registration for WWB Doubles Tournament; register on the WWB website or email karen.davis@jhu.edu
May 22-26, 43rd Chicago Open and BMAB, Hyatt Rosemont O’Hare, IL
617-699-9100. Click here now.
Sponsored by Women’s World of Backgammon:
Sponsored by Women’s World of Backgammon: 2025 U.S. Women’s National Championship -- $500 added money or WWB Backgammon Board; two Belaire watches valued at $250 each donated by Alan and Joan Grunwald Fund for Main 2nd place and 1st place Consolation
June 12-15, 48th Los Angeles Open, Hilton LAX, Los Angeles, CA; Candace Mayeron producer, 310-422-1646,contact here
June 19-22, St. Louis Gateway Open, Holiday Inn, St. Louis, MO, David Todd and Jim Feher directors, 314-749-9687, contact here.
Commentaires