Zdenek Zizka
Backgammon Grandmaster and Coach, Creator of BackgammonCoaching.com
Zdenek "ZZ" Zizka is a highly accomplished Backgammon Grandmaster and coach, renowned for his strategic prowess in the ancient board game. He is the creator of BackgammonCoaching.com and the author of "The Zizka Method," a best-selling backgammon strategy book. His expertise in backgammon began at a young age, playing since he was five and competing professionally for over a decade.
Transitioning his strategic acumen to the poker world, Zizka has achieved significant success. He gained widespread recognition by winning his first World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet in a $1,000 No-Limit Hold'em event in 2025, overcoming a field of 1,873 players and defeating Shaun Deeb heads-up. This victory made him the first Backgammon Masters Awarding Body (BMAB) Grandmaster to secure a WSOP bracelet. He has also accumulated two WSOP Circuit rings and over $1.5 million in total earnings on the tournament circuit.
Beyond his individual playing achievements, Zdenek Zizka is an active member of the iGaming community. He is a member of the team at Pokerman.cz, a Czech website dedicated to global poker news, and is also a crypto enthusiast. Born in the Czech Republic, Zizka currently resides in Vienna, allowing him to maintain mobility for international tournaments and his coaching endeavors. At 27 years old as of 2026, he continues to be a prominent figure in both backgammon and poker.