Backgammon tournaments in the UK
The UK has one of the best-organised backgammon scenes anywhere: the UK Backgammon Federation runs a full national Tour of around twenty dated events each year. Here's the 2026 calendar, the annual series that returns every season, and the international majors worth travelling for.
Scottish Open
1–3 May 2026 · Holiday Inn, Westhill, Aberdeen
An open event capped at 64 players and part of the UKBGF Tour — the anchor of the Scottish backgammon year.
WBGF World Championships
24–30 Aug 2026 · Mercure Earls Court, London
The World Teams & Individual Championships come to London in 2026, alongside the 30th Mind Sports Olympiad.
2026 dates
| Date | Event | City | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23–25 Jan | Scarborough Grand | Scarborough | Grand Hotel |
| 13–15 Feb | Newcastle Intermediates | Gateshead | Masonic Hall |
| 20–22 Feb | English Riviera Backgammon Congress | Torquay | Livermead House Hotel |
| 6–8 Mar | Nottingham Robin Hood Open | Mapperley | Mapperley Golf Club |
| 27–29 Mar | West Yorkshire Open + Intermediates | Clayton, nr Bradford | Clayton Village Hall |
| 11–12 Apr | London Intermediates | East Finchley | Clissold Arms |
| 25–26 Apr | St Albans Open Major | Wheathampstead | Marford Memorial Hall |
| 1–3 May | Scottish Open Scotland | Westhill, Aberdeen | Holiday Inn |
| 15–17 May | Harrogate Open | Harrogate | Manhattan Club |
| 22–25 May | UK Open + Intermediates Major | Leamington Spa | Woodland Grange |
| 12–14 Jun | Blackpool Imperial Cup + Intermediates Major | Blackpool | Imperial Hotel |
| 27–28 Jun | Cambridge Open Major | Cambridge | Novotel Cambridge North |
| 11–12 Jul | Liverpool Open | Liverpool | Christ the King Parish Centre |
| 7–9 Aug | Worcestershire Open | Lickey | Hillscourt |
| 20–23 Aug | Brighton Summer Open | Brighton | Leonardo Waterfront Hotel |
| 24–30 Aug | WBGF World Teams & Individual Championship Major | London | Mercure Earls Court |
| 18–20 Sep | Midlands Open + Intermediates | Birmingham | Weoley Castle WMC |
| 9–11 Oct | Newcastle Open Major | Gateshead | Masonic Hall |
| 7 Nov | Worcester Intermediate Open | Worcester | Claines RBL Club |
| 12–13 Dec | London Open Major | London | Cecil Sharp House |
Also provisional in 2026: the rebranded Bristol Open (“3 Zeroes”, date to be confirmed). Dates follow the official UKBGF Tour and are refreshed each year.
Annual series
These return every year — handy for planning ahead even before the next calendar is published.
| Event | Usually | Where |
|---|---|---|
| UK Open Major | Annual, spring | Leamington Spa |
| Scottish Open | Annual, early May | Westhill, Aberdeen |
| London Open Major | Annual, December | London |
| Blackpool Imperial Cup Major | Annual, June | Blackpool |
| St Albans Open Major | Annual, April | Wheathampstead |
| Cambridge Open Major | Annual, late June | Cambridge |
| Newcastle Open Major | Annual, October | Gateshead |
| Harrogate Open | Annual, May | Harrogate |
| Midlands Open | Annual, September | Birmingham |
| Brighton Summer Open | Annual, August | Brighton |
| English Riviera Backgammon Congress | Annual, February | Torquay |
| Scarborough Grand | Annual, January | Scarborough |
| Nottingham Robin Hood Open | Annual, March | Mapperley |
| West Yorkshire Open | Annual, March | Clayton, nr Bradford |
| Liverpool Open | Annual, July | Liverpool |
| Worcestershire Open | Annual, August | Lickey |
International majors
The big events worth travelling for. These recur each year — the month shown is the usual slot, not a confirmed 2026 date, so check each event's own site before booking.
| Event | Usually | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Backgammon World Championship Major | Each July | Monte Carlo, Monaco |
| Nordic Open | Easter (April) | Copenhagen, Denmark |
| Merit International | November | Kyrenia, Cyprus |
| Swedish Open | Early July | Stockholm, Sweden |
| BG Festival | July | Aachen, Germany |
| Michigan Summer Championships | Early July | Michigan, USA |
| Las Vegas Open | Annual | Las Vegas, USA |
Playing your first tournament
A UK open is a friendlier place to start than it sounds. Most events run an Intermediates section alongside the main draw, so newcomers play at their own level rather than against seasoned champions. Matches are played to a set length with the doubling cube in use, so the match-play guide and the match-equity table make a natural warm-up. Turn up, introduce yourself, and you will usually find someone glad to explain the format over a first game — the UK scene is sociable by habit, and every champion started at their first event too.
Common questions
What is the UKBGF Tour?
A season-long series of around twenty dated events run by the UK Backgammon Federation across the country, from which national rankings are drawn. Most of the opens listed here are part of it.
When is the Scottish Open?
It runs each spring, usually in May, as part of the UKBGF Tour, and recent editions have been held in the Aberdeen area. Check the calendar above for the current date and venue.
Do I need to be a member to enter?
Most events are open to everyone; some award Tour ranking points to UKBGF members. Entry details and any membership requirement are set by each individual tournament.
Are there sections for less experienced players?
Yes. Many UK events run an Intermediates section alongside the main open, so newer players compete at their own level rather than against seasoned champions.