2025 WSOP Bracelet Winner Conquers Notable Backgammon Tournament
Multi-skilled poker player Zdenek Zizka, a 2025 World Series of Poker (WSOP) champion, won the Ultimate Backgammon Championship (UBC) in Monte Carlo on July 28.
The Czech bracelet winner, a grandmaster in backgammon, earned the title after defeating his Danish opponent, Thomas Myhr, 14-10 across 12 matches over three days.
Poker Player Does it Again
Zizka, or "ZZ," won the final four matches on Day 3 to win a close battle and defend his title. He won the 2024 UBC against Masayuki Mochizuki ("Mochy"), a Japanese supergrandmaster and top-ranked UBC player in the world.
Mhyr entered the final session of four matches with a 10-6 lead, but couldn't finish it off. Poker pro Martin Kabrhel said of his friend, ZZ, that the comeback was "insane" and "top-level action."
"It's insane," Zizka said about winning four matches on the final day.
When asked how he felt coming into Day 3 down four points, he answered, "not good."
"So, I had a plan. I planned to win three matches and three PR's. Oh, no, no, four matches and four PR's. Luckily, today was extremely lucky," Zizka said on the livestream upon winning the title. He then praised his opponent for "playing so amazing the whole series."
Kabrhel and Zizka have something in common other than hailing from the Czech Republic. They both won a 2025 WSOP bracelet. Kabrhel took down Event #75: $1,000 Mini Main Event for $843,140, while his backgammon pal won Event #84: $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em for $232,498.
Zizka defeated Shaun Deeb heads-up to win the bracelet, denying Deeb from unofficially wrapping up the WSOP Player of the Year award. He'd still go on to win it, however. Kabrhel finished in fourth place.
Zizka was presented with a medal for his second UBC title, adding to his jewelry collection, which includes a World Series of Poker bracelet. The multi-game champion has been playing backgammon since he was five and traveling to tournaments since his teenage years.
Poker was kind to Zizka this summer as well. He cashed in 16 WSOP events and won his first bracelet while playing in events ranging from $300 to $25,000. The backgammon pro finished 10th in the WSOP Player of the Year standings in his first year of competing in poker's biggest festival.
