COVID-19 UPDATE 30/6/20: While the physical UK Clubs Championship 2020 has been cancelled, we will be running an Online Clubs Championship on the same weekend. Read on for more details!
On another positive note, the 2021 Clubs Championship will be part of the UK Festival of Backgammon, and will be held at the Liner Hotel, Liverpool on Sunday, 18th April 2021. Full details will appear here in due course.
Date: Saturday/Sunday 15th-16th August 2020, starting at 2pm prompt each day (with plenty of breaks), finishing by early evening Sunday
Venue: Online
Tournament Directors: Keith Gill, Julia Hayward
The Clubs Championship will be taking place online as a free event this year.

Clubs Championship team members need not be UKBGF members, but the captain must be. If you are not yet a UKBGF member, you must join by 31st July 2020 to qualify. Click here to join or renew online now. If in doubt about whether your membership is still current, first check the ratings where members’ names are in bold (enter your name, or part of it, in the Filter box). If your name is not in bold and you think that you are a member, please email contact@ukbgf.com for clarification.
You can find past winners here.
Who’s Coming?
With an online event there’s no limit to the number of teams of five players, representing as many clubs and groups as possible from all corners of the UK. Teams should represent recognised clubs (including leagues and other backgammon-related groups), that are associated with specific geographic areas within the UK. Participants must be current members of the relevant club. At the TDs’ discretion we will admit teams formed of players who are located geographically close if no formal club exists – what better time to seed a new club!
The following teams have registered:
- Aberdeen (x2)
- Amersham CATS
- Ayr
- Brighton (x2)
- Bristol (x3)
- Cambridge
- Citygammon, London (x2)
- Coventry
- Ealing (x2)
- Glasgow (x2)
- Harrogate
- Holland Park, London
- Liverpool
- Manchester
- NEBA (x2)
- North West League
- St Albans (x2)
- The Union Club, London
- Wanstead (x2)
- Worcester (x2)
What do we need to bring?
Nothing! But you will need accounts on Gridgammon, Backgammon Galaxy or Backgammon Studio Heroes. Players should each have at least two accounts so that they have a platform in common with every opponent.
Registration
You may register a club by emailing ukcc@ukbgf.com.
Format and Schedule
Teams should represent recognised clubs or groups. At the start of the event, team members are randomly assigned numbers 1-5; then for every team match, the each player will always play the same numbered player in the opposing team. Each team will nominate a captain to take part in any playoffs that are necessary.
In the first phase, teams play in up to six groups of four teams, playing five-point matches. The top teams and highest scoring runners-up from each round robin progress to the main knockout phase comprising eight teams; all other teams progress to a consolation knockout.
So that we don’t have people stuck in front of screens for too long in one go, matches will be spread out, with the group stage on Saturday afternoon, the early knockout stages on Saturday evening and the final knockout stages on Sunday afternoon. More precise timings will be notified when we know the number of teams and how many group and knockout matches that will be required.
Entry Fees
For this year, as it’s an experimental event, the Clubs Championship is entirely free.
Mementoes will be awarded to the members of the main flight winners, who will also receive the Tutchings Trophy to hold for 12 months. The winning team is responsible for the trophy’s safe keeping and return for the following year’s competition.
A side pool or side pools will be available for individual prizes.
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