2025 was another eventful year for the backgammon world, and I’m sure you all have particular personal highlights. Somewhat belatedly, we’d like you to look back on the the 2025 season and all the great achievements both over the board and in running the community, and tell us who in the backgammon world has made a real difference to the game.
The British Backgammon Awards 2025 cover the calendar year 2025 plus the Tour Winners’ Invitational early this year which brought the tournament year to a close. Backgammon wouldn’t be what it is without the tournament directors, the club and league organisers, the unseen helpers, and the players – some of whom may never even have won a trophy but whose presence makes an evening session a highly enjoyable experience – and we particularly want to acknowledge those who have tirelessly kept things running and given us so much enjoyment.
There is also the Most Improved Player of the Year award; Julia’s laptop will be crunching a lot of ratings data to come up with the winner of that one…
Nominations are being accepted in the following categories:
- British Player of the Year – Live
- British Player of the Year – Online
- Most Promising Newcomer of the Year
- Club Organiser of the Year
- Tournament Director of the Year
- Most Significant Contributor to British Backgammon of the Year
To nominate those who you think deserve an award, simply go to our nomination form with a list of your nominees and what categories you are nominating them in. The person who you’re nominating need not be a UKBGF member. Joint nominations are allowed, for example where there are groups of two or three who organise significant events together. You can nominate more than one person in each category if you wish – and yes, you are allowed to nominate yourself! Please include a brief reason why you’re nominating them and what makes them stand out – it need only be a few words to encourage support for your nominee! Nominations close at midnight on 24th April 2024. The shortlists will be considered by a panel from the Board, and we will be announcing the results and holing a presentation at the UK Open in late May.
If you feel there’s someone exceptional who doesn’t fit into any of the above categories, please do also let us know – there is always scope to include an extra award for someone really special.
As a reminder, our winners in 2024 were:
- British Player of the Year – Live: Oliver Squire
- British Player of the Year – Online: Reece Hodges
- Most Improved Player: Robert Breen
- Tournament Director of the Year: Keith Gill
- Chairman’s Award for Outstanding Contribution: Mark Calderbank
- Special award of Honorary Membership: Ufuk Bozkurt
New for this year: We’ll be leaving the nomination form live permanently from now on – the above link will work, or check the menu at the top of the UKBGF website – so that you can make nominations for 2026 at any point rather than waiting until the new year. If you submit them before 24th April, please do make a note so we consider them in the correct year.
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