Rambunctiousness Wins The Day

What an amazing weekend! The inaugural Backgammon Boot Camp in September, held at the Clissold Arms in London, was a massive success. My company, Jangler Ltd, organized the two-day intensive event and even provided £3000 of sponsorship for twelve attendees who had been part of the UKBGF Doubles development league. For the 30 players who gathered, the feedback has been clear: it was a game-changing experience that left everyone feeling “tired but exhilarated”. We set out to create an incredible event, and based on the reviews, this was the must-attend event of the year.

World-Class Coaching That Changes Your Game

The heart of the weekend was the coaching, and I’m proud to say the verdict was that it was truly exceptional. We had a team of four renowned experts: Julian Fetterlein, Chris Bray, Dan Rovira, and Justin Nowell. They delivered sessions that were thoughtful, educational, and perfectly pitched, bringing a great mix of skills and personalities to the table.

Participants were immersed in advanced concepts that made a real impact. For instance, Justin’s session on “Prime vs Prime” left one player feeling like it had “rewired my brain”. Attendees also recalled memorable lessons by Chris Bray on match play and Dan Roveira’s humorous breakdown of game plans. Julian Fetterlein’s insight into his 3-state solution certainly delivered a great impact. The quality was so high it inspired players to understand the game on a new level.

The Perfect Formula for Hands-On Learning

We really wanted to move away from long, sleepy lectures. The structure was simple but brilliant: a short, 20-minute presentation immediately followed by 55 minutes of hands-on practice in small groups with the experts. This cycle of ‘theory-then-practice’ was the ideal way to make sure the new information truly sank in.

The intimate setting also led to some priceless, unscripted moments. A spontaneous highlight for many was watching Dan and Chris play a doubles match at the end of the first day, where attendees could discuss the moves with the experts in a live-game scenario—an invaluable learning experience we’ll be adding to future boot camps.

A Social Vibe and Unbelievable Value

The Clissold Arms provided the perfect backdrop, creating a relaxed and social atmosphere. This wasn’t a stuffy conference; it was a gathering of “wonderful people all really interested in the same thing”. The event even gave some players who had been away from the circuit more confidence to enter competitions. And the food? It was a standout success, with multiple attendees declaring it the “best that I’ve ever had at a BG event”.

Over and over, participants raved about the incredible value. Considering the hours of elite instruction and top-quality catering, one attendee stated they “would have paid up to £500 for this”. The overwhelming success has already sparked plans for the future. We have a great initiative to potentially take the Boot Camp nationwide, so don’t miss the next one!

We will be attempting to organise 3 boot camps next year around the country. But, if you are a club organiser and you would like a club based event for either an evening, a day or whole weekend then please get in touch: Jangler@ukbgf.com