We are delighted to recognize the standout players from the American Backgammon Tour (ABT) and the Online Tournament Series who have demonstrated skill and dedication in 2023. Players will be honored at our annual USBGF Awards Dinner, in partnership with the New York Metropolitan Open, on Jan 6th, 2024.
John O’Hagan: 2023 ABT Player of the Year
John O’Hagan (Indiana) secures the coveted and prestigious title of American Backgammon Tour (ABT) Player of the Year. His notable wins include 1st place at the Cherry Blossom Championship, 1st place at the Viking Classic, 3/4th place at the Texas Championships, 3rd place at the Wild West Shootout, 4/7th place at the St. Louis Gateway Open, 3/4th Consolation at the Las Vegas Open, and 4/5th place at Ohio State.
Top 10 ABT Points 2023
| # | Player | Points |
| 1 | John O’Hagan | 59.17 |
| 2 | Kit Woolsey | 51.73 |
| 3 | Victor Ashkenazi | 47.35 |
| 4 | Mike Horri | 37.19 |
| 5 | Saba Bejanishvili | 36.51 |
| 6 | David Winn | 30.96 |
| 7 | Max Stockslager | 28.00 |
| 8 | Greg Lilley | 27.40 |
| 9 | Al Hodis | 24.47 |
| 10 | Fernando Braconi | 23.33 |
Will Reeves: Top Spot in the ABT Advanced Intermediate Division
Claiming the #1 spot in the ABT Advanced Intermediate division, Will Reeves (Colorado) stands out with a 1st place victory at the US Open, 1st place Consolation in New York and Ohio, 1st place Last Chance in Texas, and a commendable 3rd place at the Wild West Shootout, participating in a total of 15 tournaments throughout 2023.
Top 10 ABT Points, Advanced/Intermediate Division 2023
| # | Player | Points |
| 1 | William Reeves | 18.15 |
| 2 | Tiffany Van | 16.03 |
| 3 | Boris Shafransky | 12.87 |
| 4 | Laura Granger | 11.97 |
| 5 | PJ Macali | 11.26 |
| 6 | Joshua Posthuma | 11.09 |
| 7 | Tom McEvoy | 10.04 |
| 8 | Steve Klesker | 8.41 |
| 9 | Andy Plat | 8.20 |
| 10 | Robert Hathaway | 8.13 |
Blake Sorem: #1 in ABT Online!
Blake Sorem (Washington) takes the lead in ABT Online by attending seven events of The Big Freeze-Out in 2023 and placing in all but three. His consistent performance includes a notable 1st place finish in the June event.
Top 10 ABT Online! Points 2023
| # | Player | Points |
| 1 | Blake Sorem | 23.45 |
| 2 | Rodryk Schönfeld | 16.90 |
| 3 | Art Benjamin | 14.03 |
| 4 | Mario Savan | 13.27 |
| 5 | Joel Montgomery | 12.28 |
| 6 | Jeff Schwarz | 11.00 |
| 7 | Gary Koscielny | 9.88 |
| 8 | David Rennie | 8.65 |
| 9 | Ilia Guzei | 8.00 |
| 10 | Charlie Stewart | 6.40 |
Mary Morse: Leading the USBGF Online Master Point Standings
Players earn Online Master Points by placing in Online Tournament Series (OTS) events. Securing the #1 position in USBGF Online Master Points for 2023, Mary Morse (Texas) impressively participated in 40 OTS events, including, Monthly OTS, Rapid Rounds, Divisional-Masters, and Women’s Monthly.
Top 10 USBGF Online Master Points 2023*
| # | Player | Points |
| 1 | Mary Morse | 66.60 |
| 2 | Bill Lonergan | 56.02 |
| 3 | Roberto Litzenberger | 54.18 |
| 4 | Ilia Guzei | 53.81 |
| 5 | Ted Chee | 53.75 |
| 6 | John Gamalielson | 47.77 |
| 7 | Lynda Clay | 46.34 |
| 8 | John Brown | 44.81 |
| 9 | Kara Schultz | 41.02 |
| 10 | Karen Davis | 39.57 |
View all USBGF Online Master Points
Congratulations
Congratulations to the 2023 Point Leaders and Players of the Year. May your commitment to the game and remarkable performances serve as inspiration for others. As we recognize the accomplishments of our top performers, we express gratitude to all participants who played a vital role in the success of the 2023 backgammon season. Your passion and dedication inspire us and motivate us to excel in fulfilling our mission.
