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Backgammon NewsApril 8, 20082007 Giants of Backgammon Results"Falafel" Natanzon of Israel is the 1st Giant of Backgammon for 2007. Nack Ballard, the number 1 backgammon giant of 2005, reached number 2 in 2007. François Tardieu of France has maintained his 3rd position for the second year while Sander Lylloff of Denmark made the largest leap in the 2007 Giants list by progressing from the 44th spot straight to number 4. The fifth place in the 2007 Giants of Backgammon is occupied by American Neil Kazaross, the 2005 runner-up. The top 32 Giants of backgammon will be awarded in a large backgammon tournament in Las Vegas. Falafel Natanzon life story can be read like a true Cinderella tale. Born in Russia to a single mother, Matvey (Michael) Natanzon had immigrated to two countries before he was 10. Aged 21 with a college degree in accounting, Natanzon was kicked out of his mother home in Buffalo, New York for his refusal to get in line and find a decent job. Natanzon then made his home at a New York park and the innocent tourist who were willing to challenge him for a game of chess to his source of income. Since the money he earned could only suffice for Falafel meals (a Middle Eastern fast food made of deep fried chickpeas), Natanzon gotten his moniker which got stuck to him since then. Soon after, Falafel realized that his backgammon skills are far better than his chess ability could ever be, and so backgammon turned into his main occupation. Falafel was assisted by the backgammon software Snowie in improving his backgammon expertise and started making his way in professional backgammon tournaments in Europe and the United States. About the same time he made his home in Israel (where he lived between age 3 to 10), where Falafel and backgammon games can be found in every street corner. And the rest, as tales such as this often end, is written in backgammon history.
Falafel at the Israeli backgammon championship |
