BackGammon TV series due to air this Autumn on Eurosport

As the growth of live match-play and online gaming continues apace, the next sport tipped to explode in international popularity is backgammon, backed by an eight hour TV series on Eurosport due to air this Autumn.

Up to 100 million households through Europe will have access to the Eurosport series, where they will be able to witness the excitement of intense match-play from the opening two WSOBG events due to take place in Cannes, France, this summer.

The series, named The World Series of Backgammon - will feature action from The Riviera Cup, now in its 4th year and one of the most thrilling tournaments on the circuit, attracting many leading players in the world game. The second event is to be shown as part of The World Series of Backgammon is the Nations' Cup, a high stakes event with teams of 3 players from more than 20 countries partaking.

Filming will occur from other events later in the year and above as The World Series of Backgammon progresses.

"The Riviera and Nations" Cups are the initial events to join The World Series of Backgammon. They will kick start what is planned to be a long running series that will in 2007 film up to 6 events from existing worldwide events. "we have every intention of developing the franchise - and the game - by attracting the best players around the world to this high profile series of events," said Executive Producer Eric Guedj, who is teaming up with the French production company, Sogimage and UK producer 8mm Pictures to make the programme.

The series, which will be shown in 8 x 60' episodes, will be presented by Kara Scott, a Canadian presenter who introduced the action for the pilot series, High Stakes Backgammon, produced last year. Commentary is led by Britain's John Clark, one of the world's most valued players, with guest commentary and insights to be given by a number of the game's leading competitors.

The team was the first to present match-play backgammon to television last year with the production of High Stakes Backgammon for UK digital channel Pokerzone.

"With this series, we will be presenting a compelling and powerful mix of match-play and backgammon insights. Just as poker has been reinvented using the medium of television, we'll be using graphics, and exciting timed elements to ensure an exciting and watch-able series," commented Series Producer Andy Bell.


Read about a differnet backgammon TV series