Tuesday, 5 August 2025

Welcome home, Doron. You’ve inspired a nation!

Doron Claxton, from Cape Town, has firmly placed South Africa on the entire global backgammon community!

Excitement mounted like never before in anticipation of the Backgammon World Championship final in Monte Carlo, as Doron Claxton, of South Africa, prepared to make further inroads into the history books. Word spread rapidly among friends, family, and the backgammon community as more and more people tuned in to watch the action unfold.

In Cape Town, a watch party turned into a roaring, electric event — shouts of joy and disbelief, loud clapping when Doron found the right play, whoops and hollas when the dice delivered, with kids running wild around the action, the room was enthused with Claxton-fever. And Doron delivered on everyone’s wishes.

The full match can be seen on: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zndiQmd15B8

He started strong, outplaying his Finnish opponent, Timo Vaatainen, with poise and confidence. In a thoughtful and relaxed manner, Doron raced ahead to a 4–0 lead. Slapping the doubling cube on the felt with his signature flair, it was suddenly 8–3. Timo called for a five-minute break.

Doron, calm and composed, stepped out of the room and recorded a cheerful and contented video message to his supporters back home. The momentum continued: 10–3, then 12–5, and soon 14–6, with Timo playing a desperate 1-4 backgame and his clock slipping dangerously low.

At that point, a South African victory felt almost inevitable.

But backgammon is a game of sharp turns. One wrong roll, one cruel bounce, and everything can shift. After more than two and a half hours of play, Timo’s backgame found with a hit. Doron, with seven checkers already borne off, faced a critical decision as the cube came back at 4. He “snap”-took it instantly — and entered a race for the win.

Agonisingly, the race was lost. The score shifted to 14–10 instead of what could have been 18–6.

Unshaken, Doron played on. He clawed back another 2 points, moving ahead 16–10, while Timo’s time bank dropped to just two minutes. Then, a twist: Doron played brilliantly but luck turned against him, and Timo claimed four points, bringing the score to 16–14. The players paused for a second break, after three gruelling hours, with Timo’s clock now down to just 46 seconds.

The final stretch was unforgettable. Doron reached 17–14, just two points from glory. Then came the decider: 17–17, the cube on 2, both players deep into the bear-off to decide the champion.

Doron hit one of Timo’s exposed checkers — victory nearly in hand — but Timo rolled one of his few winning numbers. With just six seconds left on his clock, he brought all his checkers home.

The room erupted. Finnish cheers filled Monte Carlo. Doron, drained and stunned, dropped his head in disappointment and slunked out to hugs and consolation from his team. A heroic journey had ended just short of the ultimate prize.

But this is not a story of loss. It is a story of arrival.

Doron Claxton has left his mark — not only on the World Championship — but on the entire global backgammon community. His courageous, impulsive, and human style of play is a breath of fresh air in a world dominated by robotic, memorised patterns and overly calculated lines. Doron’s run captivated thousands. He showed that there is room for flair, instinct, and fearlessness on the biggest stage. The live broadcast of the match drew a record 2,500+ viewers, making it the most-watched backgammon match ever streamed on YouTube!

And back home, the impact of this incredible debut international performance is just beginning.

Doron’s journey has reminded us of what makes backgammon special — its drama, its unpredictability, and its community. More than anything, he’s shown the world that South Africa belongs in the upper echelons of this ancient and beautiful game.

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Sunday, 3 August 2025

Backgammon: South African Player Reaches World Championship Final in Monte Carlo

Doron Claxton, from Cape Town, deep in thought in his semi-final match at the Backgammon World Championship.

For many South Africans, backgammon might conjure nostalgic memories of a game played on a coffee table, dice clattering on wood, and moments of triumph or despair in a race to bear off the final checker. But backgammon is more than a casual pastime—it's a globally respected mind sport with international competition, elite rankings, and now, a South African in the final of the World Championship in Monte Carlo.

Yes, you read that correctly!

Doron Claxton, a long-standing and much-loved player in the Cape Town Backgammon scene, has just accomplished what no South African has done before : he's reached the final of the Backgammon World Championship.

What makes Doron's run even more remarkable is the way it started - on a bit of a whim. Spurred by instinct and opportunity, Doron entered the tournament and received a bye in the first round. From there, the road to the final was anything but easy. Facing a lineup of world-class competitors, Doron strung together a series of stunning wins, including a victory over fellow Capetonian, Dirk Howsley, and Lebanese Grandmaster Toni Bernaba.

In the quarterfinal, Doron came up against Chris Rogers, falling behind 8–13 in a match to 17. What followed was a display of tenacity and strategic mastery. He clawed his way back to win the match, showing grit and resilience under pressure.

After a short rest, Doron faced Christoph Wagener in the semi-final. This match was streamed live on the Backgammon Galaxy YouTube channel, with expert commentary from Justin Nowell and legendary Japanese pro Masayuki "Michi" Mochizuki. Once again, Doron found himself trailing. But with calm under fire and a superbly timed use of the doubling cube, he shifted the dynamics and closed the match 17–14, booking his seat at the final table.

On Sunday, 3 August 2025, Doron will face Finland’s Timo Vaatainen in the championship match, streamed live on YouTube at 3:00 PM (Monaco time – which is also SA time). You can catch it on the Backgammon Galaxy YouTube channel, and we encourage every South African mind sport enthusiast to tune in and support. The site is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zndiQmd15B8

This moment marks not only a personal triumph for Doron but also a milestone for South African backgammon. While the game has long had a passionate following in pockets across the country, formal structures under the Mind Sports South Africa umbrella are just starting to take shape. To date, no backgammon clubs are officially affiliated with MSSA—but that is about to change. Cape Town Backgammon is preparing to become the first affiliate, with Johannesburg Backgammon also showing strong signs of interest.

Backgammon is a mind sport that blends mathematical probability, psychological intuition, and high-stakes decision-making. It rewards focus, strategy, and risk management. As such, it sits proudly alongside other disciplines already recognized by MSSA and SASCOC.

With Doron Claxton now representing South Africa on the world’s biggest stage, there has never been a better time for players—new and experienced—to pick up the dice, join a club, and roll their way into this exciting global community.

Watch the Final

📅 Date: Sunday 3 August 2025

🕒 Time: 3:00 PM (SA/Monaco time)

📺 Live on: Backgammon Galaxy YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zndiQmd15B8

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