Brighton Backgammon

About Us

Brighton Backgammon began life as the Brighton Backgammon Premier League (BBPL), founded in March 2019 with the aim of bringing together backgammon enthusiasts from Brighton & Hove and the surrounding areas. The club quickly gained momentum by welcoming players of all experience levels—including members of other clubs seeking more regular and competitive play.

The inaugural league launched in July 2019 with 32 players, randomly drawn into four groups of eight. Each player played a single match against the others in their group, completing seven matches by the end of September.

Following the group stage, players were placed into ranked divisions of four based on performance: group winners entered Division 1, second-place finishers entered Division 2, and so on. This marked the beginning of Season 2, which ran from October to December 2019.

Since then, the league has continued with quarterly seasons, adapting as needed during the COVID-19 pandemic, when online play temporarily replaced face-to-face matches. While participation dipped during that time, numbers have steadily grown again as live play returned to full strength.

In August 2025, the league officially adopted the simpler name Brighton Backgammon—a change reflecting the broader scope of the club, which now includes not just the league but also local events and two annual international tournaments.

Today, Brighton Backgammon is a 100% live league, with all matches played within Brighton & Hove, unless both players agree to meet elsewhere. Alongside league fixtures, we host casual play sessions, fostering a vibrant and welcoming community.

We’re always open to new members—whether you’re a seasoned player or just getting started. Come join us and be part of Brighton’s thriving backgammon scene.

Club Committee

The founding members of the committee was formed by Tim Parfitt, Rich McQuillan and Daniel Silve.

The current committee are:

Tim Parfitt GOD – Membership Administrator

Mike Grabsky Committee member

Karl Simpson Committee member

All club members may stand for committee status; players may at any time ask that one member of the committee stand for re-election for the start of the following season against another selected candidate / member willing to take on the roll. In the event of a tie the current member will retain his/her position. As founding members, the original committee will still have involvement in the club. Committee are volunteers, there will be no allowance for income / expenses as committee member unless valid.

Brighton Backgammon Premier League is run in conjunction with the UKBGF and all matches are included in the ratings system.

Venue:

We are now back to live meetings every week at

The Fitz Regent Pub

Castle Square. North Street, Brighton

Meeting dates:

Weekly on a Tuesday evening from 6pm onwards or earlier by arrangement.

Current schedule: 1st April, 8th April, 15th April etc

Additional venues or dates may be added so please keep an eye out.

Summer Sunday’s @ Fortune of War Pub

Chouette at the beach from midday.

About the league

How to join

The league is by invitation or application; the committee have total discretion on all invites and applications. New members will pay a £10 joining fee along with seasons subscription.
The entry subscription per quarterly season will be £11 until further notice. All player subscriptions are to be paid no later than 28^th of the month prior to new season commencing. Payment is to be made to committee treasurer. Pre-payments will be accepted.
No Payment – No Entry
Any newcomers to the league will join at the start of a season in the lowest division. There may be 3 or more players in lowest division and prizes will be adjusted accordingly.
In lowest division the number of relegated players will depend on new entries to the league the following season. All divisions will be 6 players where possible.
There will be two promotion and two relegation places from divisions unless someone leaves the league for any reason, in which case divisions will be adjusted accordingly.
Players in the league may play additional matches against any opponents however these will not count towards league positions or points. All matches in divisions will be automatically UKBGF rated. Only matches based on a random draw can be added to the UKBGF ratings system.
Any player in the divisions who plays less than 50% of league matches in a season maybe suspended for at least one season and be required to join from the bottom once suspension lifted by committee.
All players will need to provide the following details: Name, Address, Phone number, Email address (and if possible, Facebook messenger ID and online play ID. Any relevant details will be given to each division’s respective players at the start of season.
Default contact should be by WhatsApp group chat for each division where possible.

How it works

Division tables will be organised using “League Republic” online platform.

Divisions are currently made up of 6 players in each.
Each season will last for 13 weeks commencing on the 1^st of the month and ending on the 25^th of the month (dates: 1^st January – 25^th March, 1^st April – 25^th June,1^st July – 25^th September, 1^st October – 25^th December,).
Only matches played and reported by the end date of each season will be counted in points total
The deadline will not be altered for any reason.
Each player will arrange to play one 11-point match against all other players in their division. (5 matches)
All matches are to be played using shakers (and precision dice where available). Baffle box may be used by one or both players if desired.
Clock use will be preference in divisions 1, 2, 3 and 4 until further notice, if one player desires. Time settings (22 mins + 12 second delay). In lower divisions Clock is optional by mutual agreement only. If a player’s clock time runs out, the match will be stopped and the score before applies as final result.
Legal moves only.
The UKBGF rules of play and conduct must be adhered too.
The scoring for/against for each match must be reported. (winning score truncated to 11 points)
Three points will be awarded for a match win; 1 point will be awarded for a match loss.
League tables will be updated as soon as possible and at least once a fortnight.
There will be two Promotion spots from each of the lower divisions with the bottom two relegation.
The winner of each division will receive £35, runner up will receive £20 from the entry fees (This will be adjusted in divisions with less than 6 players.

Playing matches

It is both players responsibility to arrange matches; this will be via group chat or email.
Seasonal division group chats will be monitored by administrator where applicable. If both players can’t work out a suitable date over a three-month period they may both be deducted 1 point. If administrators find that one player has made every effort to arrange a suitable date / venue then that player maybe awarded 1 point and the other deducted 1 point. Only mitigating circumstances will be accepted.
Players can arrange matches at venues and times of their choice; both matches will be deemed home fixtures, the default venue / time being the arranged fortnightly club nights.
No shows – If a player does not turn up for an arranged match on time or without 3 hours’ notice, the stood up player should provide evidence of arrangements, Match will be rearranged – Two strikes and out!
It is not permissible to play matches online, unless administrators are convinced that circumstances have meant that there was no other option to play during the three-month season.
All match results must be reported usually, by the winning player immediately in group chat.
Whilst playing matches and to maintain the integrity of the competition, onlookers are respectfully asked not to make any comment on running matches until after completion, unless prior arrangement as referee.
Weaker players may make prior request that any onlookers intervene to pick up unnoticed illegal plays. This request may be indicated in some manner.

Division Tie-breaks.

If two or more players are equal on league points on completion of divisional matches, the following criteria are applied to determine the rankings (in descending order):

Superior score difference from all divisional matches (For – against=?)
Higher number of match points (Score for) scored from all divisional matches played.
Higher win rate (wins/matches ratio from all divisional matches played)
Higher number of head-to-head fixtures won in the divisional matches or total aggregate match score
The final result of the most recent head-to-head match played by the two players in question.
Lastly current higher UKBGF ranking

Additional information.

The committee will be allowed to participate in the league, they will rule on any incidents not involving them. There will be a subordinate nominated at the start of each season who will stand in if a ruling is required which involves a committee member. All decisions will be made in the interest of sportsmanship and gamesmanship.

The league committee can change the rules and format of the league competition with at least 1 months’ notice. This would only ever been done to evolve the competition to everyone’s benefit and no-one will purposely be disadvantaged by any changes.

Players who drop out of the league for any reason will be able to re-enter at the start of another season however they will enter at the bottom and will be limited to winning second place prize money in any division below the level where previously placed or Division 2 whichever applicable, this is to ensure that weaker players are given a chance to win whilst that player progresses with promotion back up the league structure.

This is to be a fun league – the prize fund should be seen as secondary. Any player losing sight of this will not be invited back at the discretion of the ruling committee.

The type of clock used must be a dedicated and approved device with delay feature, this may be a smart-phone or tablet device.

Dice used must be 4 precision dice where possible, if clock used only 2 dice are required.

In the event of a player specific disability an alternative dice rolling system will be approved by committee with the automatic acceptance of opponent.

It is not permissible to play a single match and count it as two results.

Only fully completed matches or where clock time ran out count towards final points totals.

League tables

League Republic website click here to view.

Divisions Home

Ladder Challenge

As it is impossible to please everyone all the time we have a second format running continuously to offer players the chance to play a wider variety of players in the league.

It is possible to enter the ladder even if you are not in the league divisions.

There is currently no fee to play in the ladder and no prize money on offer, it is purely for fun although all players are welcome to play each other for money (£5 or £10 a good wager) by mutual agreement.

Matches will all be 9 points.

The system is run on Wotscore, weblink: https://www.wotscore.com/competitions/9689

If you wish to join all that’s needed is an email address.

Players can challenge another player up to three places above, Players must accept challenges and arrange matches within 14 days.

results must be recorded on the website and notified in the results chat group.

This is the link to results and statistics

Annual League

How to join

The league is by invitation from existing member or application; the committee have total discretion on all invites and applications.

Contact can be via Facebook, Messenger or telephone Tim 07976264260

All new members from 1st October 2019 will have a one off lifetime joining fee of £10 to pay in addition to season entry fee (subject to change)

The entry subscription per season will be £10 until further notice. All player subscriptions are to be paid no later than 28^th of the month prior to new season commencing. Payment is to be made to committee treasurer. Pre-payments will be accepted.

No Payment – No Entry

Any newcomers to the league will join at the start of a season in the lowest division. There may be 3 or more players in lowest division and prizes will be adjusted accordingly.

In lowest division the number of relegated players will depend on new entries to the league the following season. All divisions will be 4 players where possible. There will only be one promotion and one relegation place from higher divisions unless someone leaves the league for any reason, in which case divisions will be adjusted accordingly.

Players in the league may play additional matches against any opponents however these will not count towards league positions or points. All matches in divisions will be automatically UKBGF rated. Any additional matches can be rated by mutual agreement before play commences.

Any player in the divisions who plays less than 50% of league matches in a season may be suspended for at least one season and be relegated or required to join from the bottom once suspension lifted by committee.

All players will need to provide the following details: Name, Address, Phone number, Email address (and if possible, Facebook messenger ID and online play ID. Any relevant details will be given to each divisions respective players at the start of season.

Default contact should be by group chat group on messenger where possible.

Additional information

The club committee:

Tim Parfitt Founding father

Mike Grabsky Committee Member

Karl Simpson Committee Member

Rich McQuillan Founding member (not currently on committee)

All players who sign up for first phase may stand for committee status, players may at any time ask that one member of the committee stand for re-election for the start of the following season against another selected candidate / member willing to take on the roll. In the event of a tie the current member will retain his/her position. As founding members the original committee will still have involvement in the league decisions. Committee are volunteers, there will be no allowance for income / expenses as committee member.

The league committee can change the rules and format of the league competition with at least 1 months notice. This would only ever been done to evolve the competition to everyone’s benefit and no-one will purposely be disadvantaged by any changes.

Players who drop out of the league for any reason will be able to re-enter at the start of another season however they will enter at the bottom and will be limited to winning second place prize money in any division below 1 – 4, this is to ensure that weaker players are given a chance to win whilst that player progresses with promotion back up the league structure.

This is to be a fun league – prize fund should be seen as secondary. Any player losing sight of this will not be invited back at the discretion of the ruling committee.

The type of clock used must be a dedicated and approved device with delay feature, this may be a smart-phone or tablet device.

Dice used must be 4 precision dice where possible, if clock used only 2 dice are required.

In the event of a player specific disability an alternative dice rolling system will be approved by committee with the automatic acceptance of opponent.

Players may agree prior to playing any league division match to “Double-up” the result of an 11 point match in another competition as a league result. This can be from another local league, UKBGF or BIBA tournament or even an international event as long as face-to-face and by Prior Mutual agreement.

It is not permissible to play a single match and count it as two results.

Only fully completed matches or where clock time ran out count towards final points totals.