Backgammon Champions: The Greatest Players in World Championship History
Published on April 8, 2026
The Backgammon World Championship has been held since 1967 – initially in Las Vegas, then for a few years split between the Bahamas and Monte Carlo, and exclusively in Monte Carlo since 1979. You can find the complete list of all title holders on our World Champions overview page. Here, we introduce the players who managed to win the title more than once.
Tim Holland – the first world champion
Tim Holland won the very first Backgammon World Championship in Las Vegas in 1967, then took the title two more times, in 1968 and 1971. That makes him one of only three players with three world titles. His name is also linked to the so-called “Holland Rule,” a rule widely used in tournament backgammon.
Jörgen Granstedt – titles spanning 17 years
Swedish player Jörgen Granstedt won the World Championship in 1999, 2001, and 2016 – remarkably, the 17-year gap between his first and last title shows just how long-lasting top-level skill in backgammon can be.
Bill Robertie – champion and renowned author
Bill Robertie won the World Championship twice, in 1983 and 1987. Besides his tournament success, he’s also known as an analyst: he was among the experts who assessed the playing strength of early backgammon computer programs like TD-Gammon in the 1990s.
Paul Magriel – world champion and thought leader of the game
Paul Magriel won the World Championship in 1978 in the Bahamas. He also became known as an expert witness in the 1982 US court case State of Oregon v. Barr, where he argued that backgammon is a game of skill requiring strategic thinking – not pure chance. His backgammon book is still considered a classic today and is recommended in our own strategy article.
Laura Monaco – dominance in the women’s competition
In the women’s division of the World Championship, Laura Monaco won four consecutive titles between 2012 and 2015 – one of the most dominant streaks in the tournament’s history.
The players behind key rules
Two central rules in modern tournament backgammon are named after well-known players: the Jacoby rule (after Oswald Jacoby, 1972 world champion) and the Crawford rule (after John R. Crawford). Both rules are now a standard part of tournament play and affect things like how the doubling cube can be used toward the end of a match.
For all the years, locations, and every other title holder, see our complete list of world champions.
About the Author
Ulf Mayer
I love backgammon in all its forms – whether it's a quick match on my smartphone to pass the time, or a glass of wine alongside a beautiful wooden board with family and friends. As the founder of backgammon-meister.de, I share my passion, tactics, and tips to help both beginners and ambitious players dominate their next match. Dice cup ready? Let's master the game!
backgammon-meister.de has been online since 2008.
