Foundation and activities of Greek Backgammon Federation

Τhe Greek Backgammon Federation was founded in the fall of 2007, thanks to the devotion and commitment of certain players, namely Michael Strato Liberopoulos (a Canadian journalist of Greek origin and backgammon player himself, who has devoted his life in promoting backgammon worldwide), Manos Mastorakis (the former director) and Giorgos Kleitsas (the current director).

In 2007, invited and hosted by Alexandros Kolonias, Strato came to Greece in order to help promote backgammon and organize the first tournament of GBgF. The Greek Backgammon Championship has had a great success ever since: 65 (one or two-day) tournaments have been organized so far in a monthly basis, in Athens, in Thessaloniki, in Ioannina, in Methana and at Plastira Lake, including entrants not only from Greece but from other countries as well. More Greek cities are expected to host backgammon events in the future. Starting from February 2012, a new institution, the Annual Greek Cup, will run in parallel with our monthly tournaments. In April 2012, Greek Backgammon Federation in collaboration with Games Festival organized the second Open International tournament in Halkidiki (the first was held back in 2005 with Manos Mastorakis as organizer and director, again in collaboration with Games Festival).

Elections were held in September 2012 and, as a result of them, the new Game Directors are Kostas Chiotinis, Haris Christidis, Kostas Mitrelis, Michalis Proukakis and Giorgos Tsiris. In January 2013, after Tsiris' resignation, Giorgos Kleitsas fills the Game Directors scheme.

This article would be incomplete without making a special reference to Antonis Maltezopoulos [1927-2007], who in the early 80's published books in Greek about both the three traditional greek tavli cubeless variants (portes, plakoto, fevga) and backgammon. Books about backgammon in Greek did not exist and this timely attempt combined with  the foundation from his part of C.T.P. [Club of Tavli Players], attracted many new players to backgammon. Τhe greek backgammon players started to get organized and weekly tournaments started taking place, culminating in a  big international tournament held in Athens in 1994. In this vein, Antonis Maltezopoulos is considered to be GBgF's first President and, as a tribute to his commitment anf efforts, every year GBgF entitles one of the fall monthly tournaments the "Antonis Maltezopoulos Cup" in his honor.