Tournaments

The Australian Backgammon Championships is produced by Ben Phillips.

All tournaments directed by Simon Woodhead and Sharne Dyett.

BMAB tournament directed by Andy Liepins.




ANZBGF ranking points will be awarded to finalists in the Open, Masters, Speed and Doubles Championships.




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• 2025 Australian Backgammon Open




• $100 entry + optional $50 and $100 side pools. Field limited to 128 players.

The most coveted crown in Australian backgammon - the one everybody wants to win!

Two entry options - Friday night or Saturday morning. Depending on the final number of entries, there may be limited rebuys for players who lose the first round on Friday night.

The Open format is DOUBLE ELIMINATION with a progressive "Fighters" bracket - losers in the main rounds all the way up to the semi-final will still have a chance of winning the tournament.

Players may enter none, one or both side pools. The highest placed player in each side pool will win that pool. In the event of ties, the pool will be split evenly between the tied players.

Top 8 in the main tournament will cash, 1st, 2nd and 3rd/4th will receive trophies.




There will also be a Ladies Prize - a trophy for the highest placed female in the Open.




NEW!! All Open players knocked out before Sunday will be in the draw for a prize board, supplied by our friends at Gammon Stuff - retail value $2000! And here it is...

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• 2025 Australian Backgammon Masters




• $300 entry + optional $200 side pool. No rebuys. Field limited to 64 players.

The high rollers tournament, not for the faint-hearted. After a day of backgammon in the Open and Speedgammon, those with stamina, fortitude and deep pockets will get the Australian Masters under way.

Note: Masters registration closes at 2.30PM Saturday for a 3PM start.

Masters satellites will be run all day Friday, $75 entry to field of four.

Top 4 will cash, 1st and 2nd will receive trophies.

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• 2025 Australian Speedgammon




• $50 entry, rebuys available until field is full. Field limited to 64 players.

Fast and furious, this tournament is for quick thinkers.

Note: This year, matches will be 5 points, with clocks at 2 minutes + 10 second delay.

Top 4 will cash, 1st and 2nd will receive trophies.

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• 2025 Australian Backgammon Doubles




• $100 entry per team. No rebuys or single entries. Field limited to 32 teams.

A pre-tournament event, the Doubles Championship has proved to be immensely popular. Can anyone take the trophy away from the Gold Coast teams? Teams must be available to play from 11AM Friday.

Top 4 teams will cash, 1st and 2nd will receive trophies. NO rebuys, byes will be awarded if necessary.

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• BMAB




• $150 entry which covers transcription fees and recording equipment hire.


BMAB (Backgammon Masters Awarding Body) events are recorded, transcribed and analysed by XG to determine Performance Rating (PR) and then entered into the BMAB system. For more information about BMAB, see about BMAB.
The BMAB tournament is limited to 12 players. BMAB participants must be available to play from 11AM Friday. Eligibility is at the discretion of TD Andy Liepins. Tournament winner will receive $150 and a trophy.

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• The Greg Ash Memorial




• Starts Sunday. $20 entry with FREE re-entry until field is full.

You played all day and haven't made the finals. One last chance for redemption - the Greg Ash Memorial Tournament. Top 4 will cash, 1st and 2nd will receive trophies.

Online satellites

ONLINE SATELLITES HAVE CLOSED

Masters satellites will be available all day Friday 14th November for those not playing BMAB or Doubles.

Satellite winners

Schedule

NOTE: the schedule is subject to change and will be refined as needed.

All times are QLD (EST). Please set your phones/clocks/watches accordingly.

Venue, Accommodation, Travel

• Venue



The Twin Towns Conference and Function Centre is part of the Twin Towns Clubs + Resorts complex. Located right on the border of NSW and QLD, it is a 10 minute drive from Coolangatta Airport. Consider becoming a member to receive discounted food and drink. Just $10 per year.




The Sebel and Mantra hotels are connected to the function centre by a covered walkway.

Players who book the hotels via the link provided below will receive a 10% discount.




The 2025 Australian Backgammon Championships will be held in the River Room on the 3rd floor of the conference centre over 3 days - 14th, 15th and 16th November 2025.

Link to map (opens new page)




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• Accommodation




To secure discounted accommodation, please download the PDF provided by the Sebel and Mantra hotels:




2025 Sebel & Mantra TwinTowns Accommodation Flyer




As with all hotel deals, prices are subject to change and the availability of rooms. The earlier you book, the better. The conference centre has also provided a handy map to help you find your way around the complex:




2025 TTCFC Twin Towns Delegates Map




There are numerous hotels within walking distance to suit all budgets.




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• Travel




Travel by air

The Gold Coast Airport at Coolangatta (OOL) is a few minutes drive away. Taxis or Ubers will transfer you between the airport and your accommodation.




Travel by road

From north or south take the M1 and exit at Tweed Heads on to Kennedy Drive heading east. Bear left onto Mingjungbal Drive then follow Wharf St until you reach Twin Towns.




Parking

Free parking is available at Twin Towns. A multi-level underground car park is located below Mantra Twin Towns, across the road from Twin Towns main building. Access to this car park is via Stuart Street. Use the covered overhead walkway to enter the Club's reception. The Mantra car park opens at 6am daily and closes at 12am. There is also undercover parking and some outdoor parking spaces on the ground level of the Twin Towns main building; entry via Boundary Street.




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Registration

Important Information

• General information



• 90% of Open, Masters, Speedgammon and Doubles entry fees returned as cash prizes. Satellites, side pools, side events and the Greg Ash Memorial Tournament will return 100%.
• All entry fees to be paid in cash on the day unless paid prior. EFTPOS terminals are available in the club.
• Please bring your own board and clock (or clock app on your phone) if you can. No boards with hard (ie noisy) surfaces please!
• Doubles teams and BMAB players must pre-register and be available to play starting 11AM Friday (QLD). Note that these two events are mutually exclusive - you can enter one or the other but not both.
• Sunday's Greg Ash Memorial Tournament is open to all players who have not cashed in the Open, Masters, Speed or Doubles tournaments. Jackpots ($100 & $50) will be provided on demand for all players not involved in the major championships.
• All tournament matches (except Doubles) will be entered into the ANZBGF ratings system.
• All tournament matches will be played using ANZBGF Rules. All players should familiarise themselves with the rules. Hard copies will be available at the tournament.
• Dress code is smart casual and the ANZBGF Code of Ethics applies. Unsportsman like conduct will not be tolerated and may result in disqualification.
• Precision Dice are Preferred in all tournaments. A set of precision dice consists of 4 dice, same size, 2 colours.
• Clocks are Mandatory in all tournaments except the Greg Ash Memorial tournament.
• Baffle Boxes are Preferred in all tournaments. Please bring your own Baffle Box or Dice Tower.
• Always check with the desk before leaving the playing area for any length of time. Penalty points may apply to players arriving late for a scheduled match.
• Breaks: One 5 minute break per player for matches of 7 or more points. No breaks (except essential comfort breaks) for shorter matches.
• A one-off $20 registration fee applies to all Open, Masters and Speed players who are not financial ANZBGF members. Join or renew your ANZBGF membership here.
• To register interest, please fill out the Registration Form or use the Contact Form if you have questions.

If this is your first major tournament, here's a nice little video to help you on your way: Playing In Our First Backgammon Tournament
And from the same team, help with clocks: What's the deal with backgammon clocks?



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• Match lengths and clock settings



• All clock settings are 90 seconds per point, rounded up, with a 12 second delay unless otherwise noted:
• Open Main Rounds 1-7: 11/11/11/11/11/13/13 point matches (17/17/17/17/17/20/20 minutes).
• Open Fighters Rounds: 7 point matches (11 minutes).
• Masters Rounds 1-5: 11/11/13/13/15 points (17/17/20/20/23 minutes).
• Masters satellites: 9 point matches, clocks preferred (14 minutes).
• Speedgammon: 5 point matches, clocks at 2 minutes total with 10 second delay.
• Doubles Tournament: 7 point matches, 9 point Final, clocks at 11/14 minutes with 20 second delay.
• BMAB Tournament: 11 point matches, clocks at 22 minutes with 12 second delay.
• Greg Ash Memorial Tournament: 5 point matches, 7 point final, clocks optional (8/11 minutes).
• Jackpots: 7/9 point matches, clocks preferred (11/14 minutes).



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Merchandise

Why are all these lovely players so happy?

It's because they're all wearing a 2025 Australian Backgammon Championships T-shirt!

Thanks Ben, Chloe, Alison, Gene, Grant, Mick and photographer Sharne @ ANZBGF Championships in Melbourne

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2025 Custom T-shirts

A limited number of 2025 tees are available, $35 each. We also have tees from 2024 ($10) and 2023 ($5).
T-shirts can be purchased now from Sharne Dyett. You can order and pre-pay:

Name: Sharne C Dyett
BSB: 650000
Account: 958325401
Ref: SIZE and your name.

Available sizes: M, L, XL, 2XL and 3XL

Tees can be can be collected at the Newcastle Open or the Queensland Championships in August and in Tweed Heads in November.

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Katgammon Backgammon Equipment

Katgammon produces a large range of custom designed backgammon equipment that everyone loves. Original designs and not just playing equipment but t-shirts, bracelets, caps, coffee cups and even mouse pads. Check out the full range here: Katgammon

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Gammon Stuff

Gammon Stuff are the reseller for FTH boards - top quality full size tournament boards at a reasonable price. They also sell a great range of precision dice in all three sizes plus cubes, cups and really nice board bags. They are supplying this year's prize board (A$2000 value!) which will be won by a random Open player who didn't make it to the finals on Sunday. Website: Gammon Stuff

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KWIKROLL

Kwikroll baffle boxes, made in New Zealand, were very popular last year. This year we have a few inscribed with "Australian Backgammon Championships" along with improvements in 3D print quality. Only 10 available at $25 (usual price $45) but more can be ordered if there is sufficient demand. Shop: KWIKROLL

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Backgammon: The 7 Point Match

by Simon Barget

Do you want to get super-good at the 7 point match? Do you want to rise up the Backgammon Galaxy rankings? One day play in the UBC tournament? The key is precise cube handling and this book is for you. You will learn how to adjust your doubling strategy for every possible score in the 7 point match. Each score is colour-coded in an easy-to-memorise ‘activity spectrum’. You’ll never have to guess again. To order, use the Contact form or email me. Price: $100. Can be collected before November from me at the Newcastle Open (17 Aug) or the Queensland Championships (29-31 Aug). Website: Backgammon: The 7 Point Match

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Rigged Dice: A Backgammon Adventure

by Mark Danburg-Wyld

Ever wished you could take back a move? Now you can! Explore alternative paths through the game, at every step of the way knowing how you got to this position. See how it all unfolds, learn from your mistakes, and discover what might have happened if you had played it differently. You have never played backgammon like this! To order, use the Contact form or email me. Price: $100 for the book and Solution Manual. Can be collected before November from me at the Newcastle Open (17 Aug) or the Queensland Championships (29-31 Aug).

Contact