The Rise in Turkish Backgammon, WBF-Turkiye...

Historical files prove that the game of backgammon was invented by ancient Persians in the region called Mesapotamia which is the eastern lands of today`s Turkiye. So it wouldn`t be wrong to say Turks met this game when they arrived at Anatolia in 1000`s AC. Over the centuries the ancient game of backgammon was played by Turkish people in those lands and the game turned into a phenomenon in Turkish culture.

Today in Turkiye nearly every house has a backgammon board and the game is taught by fathers to their children. According to a survey made in 2002, there are about 30 million people living in Turkiye who know and play backgammon.

The game of backgammon spread to the whole world over the centeries and after the doubling cube entered the game, it started a new era in this game’s history after the 1960`s. Unfortunately, even during the past 50 years, this new model of the game started to find its new masters, Turkish backgammon failed to accept the doubling cube into its traditional way and as it is a very important tool in the game, Turkish players who have a very high level of checker play because of their practice in the game for centuries, couldn’t get a good place in modern backgammon.

Some international events were held in Turkiye after the 1990`s but those events could only reach no more than 100 local players who couldn’t practice the modern game as they couldn’t find good opponents in their territories who are used to the doubling cube. With the advent of internet to daily life, some more Turkish players met the modern way but still that was not enough.

In the year of 2000, a young backgammon addict Arda Findikoglu who was a university student those days took his files with him and started visiting traditional backgammon cafes in Istanbul with the aim of teaching modern backgammon to traditional game masters in the country. The mission was not easy to achieve as he was in need of changing the look to the game in minds. His most efficient tool was his title as the agent of Worldwide Backgammon Federation, WBF operating since 1980`s under the leadership of Alberto da Pra and Marco Fornasir who organised many 100% clean events for over 20 years.

After one year of preparation, Arda was ready to organise his first event. This first event was not a real success though. Total of 18 volunteers to participate in the opening event, 13 of them participating as they were very close friends and they didn’t want Arda to fail in the beginning of a tough quest. The date was 28th of October 2001.

But backgammon is an addiction... Young Arda didnt stop, he opened an organisation company, visited more cafes everyday, traveled to other cities of the country, organised some closed events for companies like Renault, FIAT, Pirelli, etc. He traveled to international events to meet international backgammon community too.

Very slow but with strong steps, the organisation called WBF-Turkiye grew....

Today is the year of 2009... WBF-Turkiye reached the total of 1600 members from 33 different cities of the country. There is a national backgammon tour formed of 9 annual traditional backgammon tournaments played in different cities attracting about 100 players each from all around Turkiye and a big national modern backgammon league, being played 365 days a year in 5 different cities, all organised by an experienced staff educated by Arda in years. The winners of all events are put together in annual Grand Finals and the winner is sent to that year`s European championship with all of his expenses covered by the organisation.

This year in Istanbul annual tourney, there were a total of 199 players in the Main and 39 pairs in Doubles Consultation and everything started and finished in 2 days; a good success no?

The organisation has run more than 80 individual events in the past 9 years and turned into a phenomenon in Turkish backgammon history ... Arda`s cooperation with da Pra and Fornasir continues as Turkiye has turned into one of the strongholds of WBF today.

Most importantly, Turkish players who started their career in WBF-Turkiye chairs, started to show their skill in international arena. The 2008 European Championship was the masterpiece. Consolation Winner in Masters, Main Winner in Champions and Intermediates, winner in Doubles Consultation, and many other titles, all were taken by the WBF-Turkiye delegation. Many other titles in different events too, Quarter Finals in Main of Monte Carlo 2007 is one of the most important ones though.
 

So, a dream has come through.... It’s taken 9 years, but today, Turkish backgammon is on the rise and it is not hard to say it will be more powerful every passing day. WBF-Turkiye events welcome international players from time to time as well and the staff are always very friendly and helpful. Playing backgammon in Turkiye is something like doing Thai-box in Thailand... Worth a try one day no?

In case your way passes Turkiye, here is the list of WBF-Turkiye`s 2009 tournaments...

Published 10th March 2009