Summer Format and costs

Brighton Summer Open Backgammon Tournament > Summer Format and costs

***Main flight registrations will be increased by £5 for last minute entries after 1st August 2025)

Registrations for all events close 2 hours before official draw times scheduled so please register for all events in advance where possible.

Players may enter one or any two adjacent side pools only, Pay-out only for side pools entered 65% / 35%  furthest progression in main events.

Pay-out for all other events and side pools will be 65% / 35%

Additional Prize money / prizes to be announced dependent on Sponsorship

Backgammon Tournament Format

The Tournament is to be over 4 days in August 2023 @ The Old Ship Hotel, Brighton.

There will be a number of different parts of the tournament held over the 4 days using a number of different formats. The main events will be over the Friday, Saturday and Sunday and split into 2 different levels to encourage participation for everyone who wants to play.

Times are approximate and are dependent on actual lengths of matches. Players should be aware that matches may go on after midnight.

The rules of the tournament will be as per UKBGF rules of play and etiquette with the one exception:

Baffle boxes may be used by one or both players. Where a player does not wish to use a baffle box he/she will roll dice using cup as standard. Baffle box use does not require use of a cup, dice can be dropped directly into baffle box. 

For blind players the use of a random dice generator app will be used as long as approved by TD.

Main categories.

Masters

Anyone can enter this level primarily aimed at the top UK and international players.

  • Main Matches will be played to 9 / 11 points
  • Consolation rounds will be played to 7 points
  • Final will be played to 11 or 13 points depending on available time.

(Clock allowance will be 90 secs/point + 12 sec delay)

The format will be a Double Elimination continuous Swiss draw with a single Final (The last Undefeated player gets a 5% bonus).

There is no fighters bracket in this format, all players remain playing in the swiss draw until losing twice. After 6/7 rounds there will be one undefeated player, this player will then sit out and wait for the last fighter standing to play in the overall final.

5 places pay-out – 1st 33%, 2nd 18%, 3rds 8% 4/5ths 3% each

There will be additional side pools available, players may enter one or two adjacent side pools, the winners of each pool will be the two players who progresses furthest in the main tournament 65% / 35%

Players losing their first two matches will be entered into the Unlucky losers knockout for a £100 prize. All players losing twice will enter the progressive Consolation.

The Consolation will be a straight knockout 7 point matches. Pay-out for finalists 1st 10%, 2nd 5% and 3rds 2.5% each of prize pool. Additional side pools will be available for consolation.

Intermediate

This level of entry is aimed at Intermediate players only.

Any player whose rating is less than 1600 on the Tournament Eligibility Rating System is eligible to play in the Intermediate Flight of a Tour Tournament. A player’s Tournament Eligibility Rating is calculated by averaging their rating on the last day of October, November and December of the previous year”

The format of this category will be the same as for the Masters.

  • Matches will be played to 9 / 11 points
  • Consolation rounds will be played to 7 points
  • Final will be played to 11 points

(Clock allowance 90 secs/point + 12 sec delay)

Beginners

This level of entry is aimed at those that have limited experience in playing.
This category will be played without the doubling cube.

Matches will be played in “Round Robin” format. Matches will be played to 3 points.
Winner takes all.

Additional Side Events.

Over the 4 days of the tournament there will be a number of additional side events. These are open to everyone and therefore beginners could end up playing the best players in the world (if they turn up).

Qualifiers

There will be a number of 4 / 8 player qualifiers for main events.

These will be available subject to interest for those that have already entered the Masters and Intermediate categories. The straight knockout will win back the Entry fee and Registration already paid.

There will also be online qualifiers commencing in January 2022 to be played on  Heroes Backgammon Studio 

Jackpots

5 point 8 player jackpots

On demand £10, £20, £50

Pay-out 87.5% to winner (Finalists can obviously do a deal)

Speedgammon

Drawn in 8’s. Entry £30

Speed-gammon will be played (on clock obviously) to 5 points as a straight knockout. (Clock allowance 2 mins + 10 sec delay)

Players may enter the Speed-gammon event as many times as they like during the first round. Draw positions will be determined by rolling of 8 sided dice.

Groups of 8’s will be played to a qualifier, Finalist will win back 25% with 62.5% going to final combined knockout of all groups.  Overall winner and finalist will share prize pot 65%/35% split. (87.5% overall pay-out)

Flashgammon

Drawn in 8’s. Entry £15

Flashgammon is the same as Speedgammon other than the available clock time. (Clock allowance 1 mins + 7 sec delay)

Details as for Speedgammon

Warm-Up

The warm-up will be a straight knockout (7 points) with Multiple side pools.

Pay-out 65% / 35% on entry and side pools

Losers in first round of main knockout will be entered into a Bonus knockout (5 points) for an added prize of £50.

Warm-up knockouts  2 or 3 rounds to be completed Thursday evening, with other rounds finalised over the weekend.

Super Jackpot

The super Jackpot is for the high rollers entry fee will be confirmed by Camden Auction £150 – £250 or maybe more

Play will commence on Saturday as soon as players are free from main Swiss rounds. Planned for around 6pm with further rounds at in the evening after dinner for completion on Sunday.

(Clock allowance  90secs/point + 12 sec delay)

Matches will be played to 11 / 13 points in a straight knockout with the winner and finalist sharing the prize money 70%/30% split (same for side pools).

Side pools will be offered for those that want more action.

A second £100 entry Jackpot will be available for those who lose in the first round subject to demand.

Doubles

Consulting Doubles straight knockout (Clock allowance 3 mins/point + 15 sec delay)

Played over 5 / 7 point matches, two players per team are able to discuss moves and cube decisions. A single player is allowed to enter the doubles as some players prefer the challenge.

Only one player from each pair should roll the dice and touch the checkers, during each game usually swapping positions each game if loss, although this is not mandatory.

Winners and Finalists will share prize pot 65%/35% split.

Farewell

Sunday straight knockout open to everyone remaining who is not tied up playing in other events and anyone who just wants to attend on the Sunday.

Played to 5 points, random draw.

Entry free with Side pools available. £100 added prize money

Winner and finalist sharing the prize pot 65% / 35% split.

A second farewell knockout will be available on demand for those losing in first round (3 points).

Win a board for Charity

 

There will be a number of backgammon boards to be won during the tournament with multiple entries available in 32 player draws.

A Gunduz board, from Turkey (value £400) £15 entry.

A Cocoon board (Value £275) – £10 Entry.

And maybe others to be confirmed.

Starting on the Thursday there will be draws filled in groups of 8 using an 8 sided dice for positions until completed.

Side-by-Side Backgammon

 

Have you ever played the game sitting next to your opponent on a board with 24 points in a row? Confusing and mind-bending but its exactly the same game. £5 entry (Equity to charity) in groups of 8. Winner receives £50

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raystede Animal Charity

 

Will be the recipient of profits from these events

Gunduz Board

There will be other events during the 4 days of the tournament subject to interest including but not limited to:

 

Chouette

This will no doubt pop up all over the venue, some will be closed to cliques, but if you are interested in taking part we will get some lists up to group people together.  Hopefully from £1 per point to get everyone involved, these will not be part of the tournament and will be self organised. Players in tournaments will be expected to play matches not Chouette.

Poker

 

Texas Holdem Poker £50 entry (10% to charity) as long as at least 8 players interested.

Please note that all tournament events will be played to UKBGF / WBGF rules and any disputes will be adjudicated by the directors or selected tournament committee.  Penalty points will be imposed at the discretion of director where applicable for players not turning up for matches as scheduled. Does not apply to Round Robin groups, if a player does not complete all matches those not completed will be scored a 1-0 win.

All details subject to change at time of tournament including match lengths and clock times.