Mastering Your Craft
Mastering Your Craft
Masayuki “Mochy” Mochizuki
Masayuki “Mochy” Mochizuki
For the third chapter of our Mastering Your Craft series, we are excited to highlight Masayuki “Mochy” Mochizuki, the two-time backgammon world champion and current top-ranked player in the world. Backgammon has long been a core piece of the Thom Sweeney brand, making it a natural fit to sit down with Mochy to learn more about his approach to the game and his philosophies on what backgammon can teach us as human beings.
For the third chapter of our Mastering Your Craft series, we are excited to highlight Masayuki “Mochy” Mochizuki, the two-time backgammon world champion and current top-ranked player in the world. Backgammon has long been a core piece of the Thom Sweeney brand, making it a natural fit to sit down with Mochy to learn more about his approach to the game and his philosophies on what backgammon can teach us as human beings.
Q: "Can you tell us about your journey into the world of backgammon and what initially drew you to the game? And how did you develop your skills over time?"
A: "So I started backgammon when I was 19 years old. I used to play Japanese chess a lot in high school, then one of the senior students told me about a new game, which was backgammon. I almost instantly got hooked and since then I only play backgammon. I went to university, but then I quit university because of backgammon."
Q: "Can you tell us about your journey into the world of backgammon and what initially drew you to the game? And how did you develop your skills over time?"
A: "So I started backgammon when I was 19 years old. I used to play Japanese chess a lot in high school, then one of the senior students told me about a new game, which was backgammon. I almost instantly got hooked and since then I only play backgammon. I went to university, but then I quit university because of backgammon."
Q: "What drew you to backgammon in the first place?"
A: "Well first of all, backgammon looks cool. You know, appearance and atmosphere is more important when I was very young and I liked those things and also I liked the fact that I could beat strong players. Because of the luck involved in chess or Japanese chess, you can't really beat strong players, because of the nature of the game."
Mochy wears a Navy Wool Single Breasted Weighhouse Suit and a White Cotton Stretch Fly Front Shirt.
Q: "What drew you to backgammon in the first place?"
A: "Well first of all, backgammon looks cool. You know, appearance and atmosphere is more important when I was very young and I liked those things and also I liked the fact that I could beat strong players. Because of the luck involved in chess or Japanese chess, you can't really beat strong players, because of the nature of the game."
Mochy wears a Navy Wool Single Breasted Weighhouse Suit and a White Cotton Stretch Fly Front Shirt.
"Most people think a game is a game...just a fun game, right? But for me, it is a chance to think and explore."
"Most people think a game is a game...just a fun game, right? But for me, it is a chance to think and explore."
Q: "What inspires your approach to strategy and mastery in backgammon?"
A: "Well, I have done many many different things. Like I read a lot of books, I use AI...nowadays everybody uses AI and I learn from it, but the most efficient tool is still discussing with strong players.
Like...I have a training coach, and we play very often and we discuss positions. And I also discuss positions with other professionals and we exchange ideas and different approaches to the game. That is the most important way...to you know, run the game, I guess."
Q: "What inspires your approach to strategy and mastery in backgammon?"
A: "Well, I have done many many different things. Like I read a lot of books, I use AI...nowadays everybody uses AI and I learn from it, but the most efficient tool is still discussing with strong players.
Like...I have a training coach, and we play very often and we discuss positions. And I also discuss positions with other professionals and we exchange ideas and different approaches to the game. That is the most important way...to you know, run the game, I guess."
Backgammon Event at Sol's, The Townhouse, London.
Backgammon Event at Sol's, The Townhouse, London.
“...after you practice hours and hours and hours, what do you find...you find yourself. You find your weakness that you thought you had overcome. It's still there..."
“...after you practice hours and hours and hours, what do you find...you find yourself. You find your weakness that you thought you had overcome. It's still there..."
Q: "How do you define mastering one's craft in the context of your own journey?"
A: "So, I practice alot. I practice to beat my opponent and I practice to find the truth of the game...what is backgammon? But then, after you practice hours and hours and hours, what do you find...you find yourself. You find your weakness that you thought you had overcome. It's still there...or you find improvement that you didn't expect. So that's quite fun, you know, it's yourself after all."
Q: "How do you define mastering one's craft in the context of your own journey?"
A: "So, I practice alot. I practice to beat my opponent and I practice to find the truth of the game...what is backgammon? But then, after you practice hours and hours and hours, what do you find...you find yourself. You find your weakness that you thought you had overcome. It's still there...or you find improvement that you didn't expect. So that's quite fun, you know, it's yourself after all."
Miami Store, Design District, Miami.
Miami Store, Design District, Miami.
Q: "As an expert in your field, what advice would you give to those who play or are interested in playing backgammon?"
A: "Backgammon should be very fun. So for players who have just started, I recommend they play more. But after a while, maybe you want to play against a computer. A computer gives you advice and that's the easiest way to get better, if you want to get better. Or nowadays there are many, many online sites that you can play on and learn the game. They are also good if you want to play and improve your game."
Q: "As an expert in your field, what advice would you give to those who play or are interested in playing backgammon?"
A: "Backgammon should be very fun. So for players who have just started, I recommend they play more. But after a while, maybe you want to play against a computer. A computer gives you advice and that's the easiest way to get better, if you want to get better. Or nowadays there are many, many online sites that you can play on and learn the game. They are also good if you want to play and improve your game."
Q: "Are there any specific habits, mindsets or practices that you find essential?"
A: "Well, specific mindset...I don't know, over the years I was trying not to get emotionally up or down. Whatever happens in the game, I will not get down too
deeply and I'm not gonna get too high. Even when I win a tournament, I try to remain flat.
My emotions...of course, I get down a little bit inside, but this is how I shaped myself over the years and I think this has also shaped my life in general. I am trying to see things in two ways. You know, not only one way."
Mochy wears a Grey Flannel Single Breasted Wool Suit and a Charcoal Merino Wool Extrafine Crew Neck Sweater.
Q: "Are there any specific habits, mindsets or practices that you find essential?"
A: "Well, specific mindset...I don't know, over the years I was trying not to get emotionally up or down. Whatever happens in the game, I will not get down too
deeply and I'm not gonna get too high. Even when I win a tournament, I try to remain flat.
My emotions...of course, I get down a little bit inside, but this is how I shaped myself over the years and I think this has also shaped my life in general. I am trying to see things in two ways. You know, not only one way."
Mochy wears a Grey Flannel Single Breasted Wool Suit and a Charcoal Merino Wool Extrafine Crew Neck Sweater.
"...if you are deep into it, this is close to meditation. Actually, you will forget the time. You forget where you are. And you are just in it and you are with yourself all the time. Nothing else."
"...if you are deep into it, this is close to meditation. Actually, you will forget the time. You forget where you are. And you are just in it and you are with yourself all the time. Nothing else."
Q: "What role does self-reflection play in your journey to mastery? Do you have any regular practices like journaling or meditation to help you analyse and improve your game?"
A: "Well, as I said earlier, we play the game, we record the game and we replace the game with the help of a computer and with the help of other players.
Also, I think the game itself...if you are deep into it, this is close to meditation. Actually, you will forget the time. You forget where you are. And you are just in it and you are with yourself all the time. Nothing else."
Q: "What role does self-reflection play in your journey to mastery? Do you have any regular practices like journaling or meditation to help you analyse and improve your game?"
A: "Well, as I said earlier, we play the game, we record the game and we replace the game with the help of a computer and with the help of other players.
Also, I think the game itself...if you are deep into it, this is close to meditation. Actually, you will forget the time. You forget where you are. And you are just in it and you are with yourself all the time. Nothing else."
“I have played many famous people...I have played an actress, I played a billionaire, and I have played normal people...I played a gangster, I played bad people, criminals etc. But over the board, the game, we are all equal. We are human.”
“I have played many famous people...I have played an actress, I played a billionaire, and I have played normal people...I played a gangster, I played bad people, criminals etc. But over the board, the game, we are all equal. We are human.”
Q: "What would you like people to know about Backgammon that they might not already realise?"
A: "Backgammon is a super fun game and Backgammon existed 5,000 years ago. It's played by 300 million people...there are a lot of people playing Backgammon, from low level to high level.
The beauty of the game is that over the board, everybody is equal. I have played many famous people...I have played an actress, I played a billionaire, and I have played normal people...I played a gangster, I played bad people, criminals etc. But over the board, the game, we are all equal. We are human. There is nothing else."
"I can see in the game if he is really a bad person or a good person. It doesn't matter what his background is...if he is a criminal or a billionaire. I can see who he really is in the game. I think that is the beauty of the game."
Q: "What would you like people to know about Backgammon that they might not already realise?"
A: "Backgammon is a super fun game and Backgammon existed 5,000 years ago. It's played by 300 million people...there are a lot of people playing Backgammon, from low level to high level.
The beauty of the game is that over the board, everybody is equal. I have played many famous people...I have played an actress, I played a billionaire, and I have played normal people...I played a gangster, I played bad people, criminals etc. But over the board, the game, we are all equal. We are human. There is nothing else."
"I can see in the game if he is really a bad person or a good person. It doesn't matter what his background is...if he is a criminal or a billionaire. I can see who he really is in the game. I think that is the beauty of the game."
“Even the weak players can beat the best players sometimes. The point is that when you lose, you have to get up and fight again. That's the most important thing.”
“Even the weak players can beat the best players sometimes. The point is that when you lose, you have to get up and fight again. That's the most important thing.”
Q: "Looking to the future, what are you most excited about in your journey as a player and as a teacher?"
A: I have done many things in my career. I won the World Championship twice. I ranked number one in the world many times.
In the future, I would like to put more effort and energy into promoting Backgammon because Backgammon is such a fun game and people should know about it. Also, I would like to promote Backgammon to young players. I think Backgammon is a good education tool for teenagers or even younger. It's probably better than chess, because chess doesn't resemble life, because in life, you cannot always win. Even the best players, you lose sometimes. Even the weak players can beat the best players sometimes. The point is that when you lose, you have to get up and fight again. That's the most important thing.
There are a lot of things you can learn from Backgammon as a young person. You can learn logic, mathematics, you can learn pattern recognition, you can learn how to behave when you win or when you lose. I think Backgammon is really good for education."
Q: "Looking to the future, what are you most excited about in your journey as a player and as a teacher?"
A: I have done many things in my career. I won the World Championship twice. I ranked number one in the world many times.
In the future, I would like to put more effort and energy into promoting Backgammon because Backgammon is such a fun game and people should know about it. Also, I would like to promote Backgammon to young players. I think Backgammon is a good education tool for teenagers or even younger. It's probably better than chess, because chess doesn't resemble life, because in life, you cannot always win. Even the best players, you lose sometimes. Even the weak players can beat the best players sometimes. The point is that when you lose, you have to get up and fight again. That's the most important thing.
There are a lot of things you can learn from Backgammon as a young person. You can learn logic, mathematics, you can learn pattern recognition, you can learn how to behave when you win or when you lose. I think Backgammon is really good for education."
