
 The Etan Ilfeld Podcast
 The Etan Ilfeld Podcast Masayuki "Mochy" Mochizuki: Backgammon and Life
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 Jan 17, 2025  Masayuki "Mochy" Mochizuki, a two-time Backgammon World Champion and acclaimed strategist, shares his passion for backgammon as a tool for learning and growth. He discusses the influence of AI on gaming and evaluates its role compared to human intuition. Mochy delves into balancing a nomadic tournament lifestyle with family commitments, highlighting their shared love of games. The conversation also touches on income sources for professional players and the importance of fitness and focus in tournaments, making for a captivating exploration of life both on and off the backgammon board. 
 Chapters 
 Transcript 
 Episode notes 
 1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8 
 Intro 
 00:00 • 1min 
 Balancing a Nomadic Lifestyle with Family 
 01:27 • 2min 
 The Joy of Games and AI's Impact 
 03:21 • 7min 
 The Joy of Dice: Luck and Rituals in Backgammon 
 10:09 • 6min 
 AI vs. Human in Backgammon 
 15:51 • 13min 
 Balancing Competition and Teaching in Backgammon 
 28:53 • 17min 
 The Income of a Backgammon Player 
 45:34 • 19min 
 Staying Sharp: Alcohol, Focus, and Fitness in Backgammon 
 01:04:50 • 3min 
