Prince Alexis Obolensky, regarded by some as the “The Father of Modern Backgammon,” was the first person to define, organize, and popularize tournament play in the United States and internationally. As chronicled by Hall of Fame member Bill Robertie, Alexis Obolensky developed a three-pronged strategy to popularize the game: 1) develop a tournament circuit, 2) involve “glamour—not just the rich, but the rich, famous, and beautiful,” and 3) reach the public via the media. He accomplished all three.

Beginning with a victory in the World Amateur Championship (544 players) in Las Vegas in 1983, at the age of twenty-one, Joe Sylvester was generally considered to be the best tournament player in the game for at least the next twelve years. Playing in the pre-bot era, he was an early theorist of the game, sharing his opinions, insights, and experience as an author, teacher, and mentor. He was a forerunner in understanding and explaining match equity. He was the first to use the PRAT (Position, Race, and Threats) system for doubling. Blessed with a photographic memory, his recall of played matches facilitated discussion, analysis, and the resolution of occasional disputes.

Ray Fogerlund is one of the most accomplished tournament players in modern backgammon history. Known as an intense competitor, he is also recognized for having a heart of gold beneath the occasionally rough exterior. As an accomplished writer and popular auctioneer, his quick wit and self-deprecating style is widely recognized and appreciated — his articles are eminently readable and entertaining.

For over thirty years, Joe Russell has been an outstanding player, an international ambassador of the game, and a significant contributor and promoter of backgammon through his work with the U.S. Backgammon Federation. Well recognized for his mathematical and strategic acumen as a player, Joe Russell is also noted for his respectful, personable, low-key demeanor and his thoughtful, intelligent perspective in all endeavors. He has also demonstrated a particular interest in youth and collegiate backgammon activities in the promotion and growth of the game.

Mike Svobodny is one of the most internationally well-known backgammon players and one of the few true celebrities of the game. In addition to a significant tournament play history, he is regarded as the most successful money and proposition player in backgammon. Mike Svobodny is a citizen of the world, travelling far and wide to play. He has sponsored the development of dozens of promising players over the years. As a director/promoter, he has been involved in hosting events in Cancun and other exotic locales. He is one of seven Diamond Founding Sponsors of the U.S. Backgammon Federation. He is one of the most personable and well-liked players ever.

Known as the quintessential tournament director, Patrick Gibson has gained widespread affection and universal respect for his fairness, integrity, and dedication. He has directed 76 Los Angeles Open and California State Championships, over 3,600 weekly tournaments in the Los Angeles area, and, beginning in 2000, sixteen Vietor Cup tournaments in La Jolla (the oldest tournament in the U.S.). He has served as co-director of numerous tournaments — including a number of start-up tournaments — and is a trusted source of advice to tournament directors across the U.S. He established the Gammon Associates Club in 1978, and nurtured its growth into the largest USBGF Prime Club today.

The first modern backgammon superstar, Tim Holland won three World Championships and three International Backgammon Championships — more major backgammon championships than anyone else in the history of the game. Tim was also a successful author and renowned teacher. He opened the Park 65 Backgammon Club in New York City in 1978 and introduced many to the glamour of high-stakes backgammon. His three popular books, Beginning Backgammon (1973), Better Backgammon (1974), and Backgammon for People Who Hate to Lose: The Psychology of Playing a Winning Game (1977), helped trigger the backgammon boom of the 1970s.

Backgammon’s first mathematical theoretician and analyst; Danny Kleinman’s insight, wit, and satire entertained and educated backgammon players for decades. He was a prolific author and a renowned, beloved columnist. Danny was the first to use mathematics to explain correct checker play and cube decisions.

For over thirty years, Howard Markowitz has put his own unique stamp on backgammon tournaments, with his high payouts attracting the largest number of entrants and drawing top players from around the world. He directed the PartyGammon Million in the Bahamas in 2007, and between 2009 and 2012 co-directed the Monte Carlo World Championships.

Regarded as a consummate gentleman, Nack Ballard is one of only seven players to have been voted onto every Giants of Backgammon listing since its inception in 1993. He has also distinguished himself at Scrabble, Go, and Color Lines.

Widely regarded as the Queen of backgammon in the United States, Carol Joy Cole is revered and beloved by all. She founded the Flint Area Backgammon Club in 1978, publishing the Flint Area Backgammon News. She has directed the Michigan Summer Championships and the Fleet Underwood Charity Tournament since 1982 and served on the staff of numerous tournaments. She has played a pivotal role in maintaining U.S. backgammon tournament events and results on the Chicago Point website since 1993, and created and maintains the Giants of Backgammon website.

Named by Sports Illustrated as “the father of modern backgammon,” Barclay Cooke was renowned for his fairness and generosity and was eulogized by Les Levi as “perhaps backgammon’s most gracious ambassador and eloquent spokesman.”

Bill Davis is widely respected for his contributions, innovations, and promotion of the game. He is the founder of the American Backgammon Tour, has directed the Chicago Bar Point Club since 1983, directed the Midwest Backgammon Championships from 1984 thru 2009, and has directed the Central States Invitational since 2010. He has published the Chicago Point newsletter, website, and the Facebook page reaching thousands of backgammon players around the world.

The epitome of a gracious gentleman, Malcolm Davis is one of only seven players to have been voted onto every Giants of Backgammon listing since its inception. One of the first to videotape and analyze his matches, he has been a consistent winner of Championship and Masters Jackpot events.

An innovative force in the game, Kent Goulding is esteemed as a backgammon player, publisher, director/organizer, witty auctioneer, and raconteur extraordinaire. He introduced the first U.S. backgammon rating system, and as director of the World Cup, he instituted the use of clocks and recorded matches.

One of the preeminent gamesmen of the twentieth century, Oswald Jacoby was regarded both as a leading backgammon player and co-author of the first analytic book on backgammon. He is also a member of the American Contract Bridge League Hall of Fame (1965).

Noted for his brilliant analytical mind, Neil Kazaross is famous for inventing “Neil’s Numbers,” a short-hand method of calculating match equities over the board, and coauthor of the Rockwell/Kazaross MET (Match Equity Table). He is one of only seven players to have been voted onto every Giants of Backgammon listing since its inception.

Author of the “Bible” of backgammon, the name Paul Magriel has been synonymous with backgammon since the publication of his groundbreaking book Backgammon in 1976, still viewed as backgammon’s leading text.The original backgammon celebrity, he helped popularize the game.

A gifted and prolific author, publisher, and promoter/director widely respected for his intelligence and insight, Bill Robertie is a two-time World Champion. He is one of only seven players to have been voted onto every Giants of Backgammon listing since its inception.

Master chess player, Scrabble legend, backgammon champion, and mainstay of the New York games scene for four decades, Mike Senkiewicz raised the level of backgammon play since the early 1980s with his insightful analyses of the game. He is one of only seven players to have been voted onto every Giants of Backgammon listing since its inception.

Backgammon’s preeminent mathematical theorist, Walter Trice is known for development of the Effective Pip Count and his best-selling book, Backgammon Boot Camp.

Noted bridge and backgammon author, Kit Woolsey is one of backgammon’s leading experts on the doubling cube and tournament play. Kit has been on the vanguard of the computer revolution – writing his own programs for analysis in the early 1980s, and running the First Internet Backgammon Server (FIBS), created by Andreas Schneider. He is editor of the first online backgammon magazine GammOnLine (53 issues) on the GammonU website. He is one of only seven players to have been voted onto every Giants of Backgammon listing since its inception. He was inducted into the American Contract Bridge League Hall of Fame in 2005.