The Sound of the Dice: Inside Forest Hills’ Biggest Nardi Tournament / THE BUKHARIAN TIMES

The Largest Backgammon Tournament Takes Place in Queens

On March 1, 2026, Forest Hills became the center of one of New York’s most vibrant gaming events. The organization Play Nardi Inc. held its largest tournament yet, bringing together 64 players competing for a $10,000 prize pool—and perhaps something even more valuable: the right to be proud of their victory for the rest of their lives.

The event was organized by two passionate enthusiasts of the game, Igor Borukhov and Mike Nektalov. For them, backgammon is not just a board game. It is a ritual, a tradition, and a connection to cultural heritage.

Like many players in the Bukharian Jewish community, Igor and Mike first encountered backgammon in their youth. It began simply: long matches with friends, endless conversations about strategy, and growing respect for a game that combines skill, luck, and psychology.

Over time, they began organizing small tournaments for eight players.

These gatherings became more frequent. Word spread.

And after several years, Play Nardi Inc. hosted a 64-player tournament in the heart of Queens.

But the question arises: why is backgammon—an ancient game centuries old—still popular in America?

A Game That Traveled Across Continents

When Bukharian Jews emigrated to the United States from the Soviet Union—and later from Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Israel—they brought with them not only jewelry and memories of difficult times. They brought culture and traditions that had taken root in the Jewish mahalla, the neighborhood communities of Central Asia.

They brought recipes from their rich cuisine.

They brought their beautiful music, dances, and songs.

They brought their religion.

And of course, they brought backgammon, which had long been part of everyday life and leisure.

In cities such as Samarkand, Bukhara, Shahrisabz, Tashkent, and Dushanbe, backgammon was everywhere. Games were played on street corners, in barbershops, and in courtyards where matches could last until late at night. The sound of dice striking wooden boards echoed through neighborhoods—and no one complained about the noise.

Today, that tradition continues in New York.

Walk through MacDonald Park on Queens Boulevard, or any park in Queens, or along Saunders Street at the corner of 63rd Drive, near a barbershop where tables are set up—and you will almost certainly see a familiar scene: two players leaning over a board, taking turns rolling dice, surrounded by spectators offering unsolicited advice.

The game has not disappeared.

It simply moved to another continent.

The Birth of Play Nardi

Recognizing the cultural power of this game, Igor and Mike founded Play Nardi.

Their slogan is simple:

Play Nardi Anytime / Anywhere

The idea was straightforward but effective: hold tournaments in New York restaurants.

“Players could eat, socialize, meet new people, and compete all in one place. It became a winning formula. Restaurants gained customers. Players gained a community. And backgammon gained new popularity,” summarized Igor Borukhov.

With the help of local sponsors, Play Nardi began gaining momentum and laying the groundwork for larger events.

The Tournament That Almost Didn’t Happen

Even the most carefully planned events can encounter unexpected challenges. This tournament nearly fell apart.

The original venue, One Banquet Hall, was destroyed in a fire shortly before the tournament. At the last moment, Millennium Catering Hall offered its space and saved the event.

There were also financial challenges. A tournament of this scale required sponsors, equipment, food, prizes, and logistics. Entry fees helped cover costs, but community support played the decisive role.

And then there were the boards.

The organizers wanted the tournament to be special.

“We ordered exclusive handmade boards from Armenia—magnificent walnut sets created for true lovers of the game. These weren’t ordinary park boards. These were boards fit for kings,” Mike Nektalov said proudly.

The Night Before the Tournament

Mike and Igor, together with Igor’s wife Vera and their children Joshua, Shlomo, and Alexander, worked late into the night preparing banners, registration badges, the tournament bracket, trophies, and prizes.

Players were assigned randomly using a bingo-number generator to ensure fairness.

There was only one exception: a father and son could not face each other in the first round.

Even family rivalry has its limits.

The Game Begins

By noon on tournament day, the hall was already buzzing. Players arrived wearing “Nardi Champion” T-shirts. Sponsor banners decorated the walls, and a large screen displayed the companies supporting the event.

There was anticipation in the air.

Then the moment came.

Mike stepped forward and announced:

“Let the game begin!”

Immediately, the hall filled with the rhythmic sound of dice striking wooden boards.

Food, Friends, and Strategy

Between rounds, players relaxed and enjoyed traditional Bukharian dishes—plov and manti—while drinks flowed freely.

The atmosphere was both competitive and warm, family-like and mahalla-style—exactly as the organizers had hoped.

The goal of the tournament was not only victory.

It was community.

Nine Hours Later

The tournament began at 12:30 p.m.

By 9 p.m., after nearly nine hours of intense play, only four players remained.

Fatigue could be felt everywhere.

But it is in moments like these that champions are made.

The Final Battle

The match between GavroshYushuvaev and Simon Yakutiev quickly became the most dramatic final in Play Nardi history.

Gavrosh started strong. He won the first two games “mars”—a doubled victory—bringing the score to 4–0. He needed only one more point to become champion.

Simon stood up from the table. His tension was visible. He stepped outside.

Five minutes later he returned—calm, focused, and determined.

And the real battle began.

Game after game, with powerful strikes of the dice against the board, Simon tied the score: 4–4.

The final game.

Winner takes all.

Spectators surrounded the table in complete silence.

At one moment Simon needed to bear off only four pieces. His only chance to win required a specific roll: double sixes.

He paused.

Slowly shook the dice cup.

Rolled.

The dice slid across the walnut board.

Five–five.

Not enough.

But the room still erupted in applause—the battle had been legendary.

GavroshYushuvaev became champion.

The Champion’s Generosity

After the match, Simon shook Gavrosh’s hand and the two players embraced—a moment of genuine sportsmanship.

Gavrosh received the gold trophy and $4,000 prize.

Simon Yakutiev finished in second place, receiving $3,000.

Joseph Koptiev, one of the game’s veterans, took third place and $2,000. He began playing backgammon in Samarkand nearly 70 years ago.

Roman placed fourth, winning $1,000.

But the story did not end there.

GavroshYushuvaev—now a two-time champion—donated his entire prize to the Samarkand Fund, which works to preserve Jewish cemeteries in Samarkand. Simon Yakutiev also joined this mitzvah, donating part of his prize.

The champion also made another announcement:

“After winning Play Nardi 32 (2024) and Play Nardi 64 (2026), I’ve decided to retire to give younger players a chance,” Yushuvaev said.

The Next Generation

Two of those younger players—ManasheLeviev and Nathaniel Benyaminov—were recognized for reaching the third round.

For the youngest participants in the tournament, it was an impressive achievement.

Both ultimately lost to the future finalists—Gavrosh and Simon.

But their performance showed that the future of backgammon is already here.

What Comes Next

Play Nardi is not planning to stop.

In 2026, the organization intends to host four smaller “caravan” tournaments across New York, followed by an ambitious 128-player tournament.

If the Forest Hills tournament proved anything, it is that a game with centuries of history can still ignite an entire hall.

All it takes is a wooden board, a pair of dice, and a community unwilling to forget its traditions.

The Sound of the Dice: Inside Forest Hills’ Biggest Nardi Tournament