The Chaos of the Dice
Raffi Khatchadourian profiles Falafel—real name, Matvey Natanzon—the highest-ranked backgammon player in the world.
Falafel can make ten thousand dollars in half an hour playing backgammon—and lose it all just as easily. He has no home, no driver's license, no cell phone. Everything he owns fits in a large black suitcase. Still, he allows himself certain luxuries: he hires a car rather than sit in a jitney.