Gaming Embraces Gammon As The Oldest Game Hits The Small Screen

n a world where it seems everyone has perfected his poker face, discerning gamers have started looking for a new challenge.

The Game of Kings - or backgammon as it is more commonly known - the world's oldest game is now seeing an unprecedented revival in popularity, spurred on in part by the rapid growth of Online Poker.

And with thousands of poker players now looking to make a living gaming online or from live tournaments, some of the big boys are hedging their bets by turning their attention to backgammon.

For the first time, a pan European TV audience will experience match-play backgammon as the WORLD SERIES OF BACKGAMMON is aired on Eurosport in 37 countries.

Players from more than 30 nationalities competed head to head in the Riviera Cup whilst teams of players representing 21 countries played in the Nations' Cup, both filmed at the Groupe Partouche Palm Beach Casino, Cannes on the French Riviera.

Producer Andy Bell said "there's a very definite pull for this sort of content from within the gaming community, but it's also wider than that. TV audiences are familiar with gaming action and we think they're ready for the excitement backgammon competition brings."

WSOBG spokesperson Eric Guedj "We've worked hard to get the TV concept right to capture the World Series of Backgammon events. The complexities of the game require a careful focus but the resulting programme mixes exciting action with an educational slant, brought to life by expert commentators".

Spokesperson for PartyGammon.com, the event sponsor, takes up the story: "backgammon appeals to much the same kind of brain as poker does. Players who excel at risk management succeed in both games. We've been looking for games to bring to the masses which offer significant growth potential; we think we've found it with backgammon; TV is the next logical step in its growth curve."