Japan’s Masayuki ‘Mochy’ Mochizuki has been crowned as the world’s best backgammon player after beating reigning champ Lars Trabolt in the final of the Monte Carlo World Championship over the weekend.
Sponsored by online skill games community CasinoRip.com, the week-long 34th annual Monte Carlo World Championship was held at the five-star Fairmont Hotel and featured 173 of the world’s finest backgammon players competing for a share of a €200,000 prize fund.
One of the pre-tournament favourites, 30-year-old ‘Mochy’ beat Denmark’s Trabolt 25 to 20 in Sunday’s final to collect the winner’s cheque for €62,280.
Although recording superstar George Benson greeted competitors including Gus Hansen, Matvey ‘Falafel’ Natanzon, Francois Tardieu and Neil Kazaross during an opening gala evening, this year’s event will be best remembered for crowning Japan’s first World Backgammon Champion.
