Calling all intermediates:
Registrations are now open for the 2026 Newcastle Intermediate Open which will be held on the weekend of February 13-15.
If you wish to register for the event, please email northeastbackgammon@gmail.com (see note at bottom re the reserve list).
The Open will be open to 64 people and is part of the UKBGF tour. (To qualify for Tour points and be eligible for a Tour Winners Invitational place, you must be a UKBGF member before the event starts.)
Tournament director Keith Gill said: “After listening to the feedback for this year’s event, we have expanded the tournament across the whole weekend – running from the Friday to Sunday evening.”
The current list of registered players is below.
The event will be held at the same venue as the 2025 event – Gateshead Masonic Hall – 47 Alexandra Rd, Gateshead NE8 1RB. A bar will be open and a free buffet lunch will be available on both the Saturday and Sunday.
There will be a freeroll on the Friday night, with the main event on the Saturday and Sunday. There is free parking at the venue.
A full timetable for the event is below.
Registration is £35 and entry fee £50. The deadline for the payment of the full £85 is Monday, January 12.
Payments by bank transfer to North East Backgammon Association
Account number : 53170760
Sort code : 30-84-82
There will be optional side pools of £10, £20, £30. You can enter one or two pools (either the £10 & £20 or the £20 & £30). Payment for side pools will be taken at the event.
Waiting list/refunds: There will be a waiting list in effect. If a player needs to withdraw from the tournament any payments will be fully refunded if paid before the deadline and a player from the waiting list takes the place. After the deadline the registration fee is non-refundable unless there are extenuating circumstances and at the discretion of the tournament directors. The entry fee is fully refundable up to 48 hours prior to the event.
TIMETABLE:
Friday:
6:30-7:00 pm – registration
7:00 pm – Friday Warm-up
Free Entry (£100 to winner) – 5 point matches
Saturday:
9.30-10.30 – Registration/announcements
10.30 – Main Tournament begins – Swiss Format, 5 x 7-point matches
Play-offs for the final places in the last 16 (timing tbc)
Doubles Tournament (timing tbc)
Sunday:
9.30 – Registration for Consolation Tournament
10.00 prompt – Top 16 Qualifiers Knock Out – 9 points/11 points
10.00 – Consolation begins – 7 points
12:00 (approx.) – Last Chance begins – 3 points
Approximate finishing time 7pm
| Name | Payment received |
| Catherine Seale | |
| Graeme McPhee | |
| Sarah Joliff | |
| Aniel Ciobanu | |
| CJ Uttley | |
| Lawrence Jones | |
| James McDonald | |
| Denby Pettitt | |
| Warren Hendon | |
| Jonathan Backhouse | |
| Karen Slawek | |
| Mark Dunlop | |
| Richard Rowland | |
| Rosalie Johnson | |
| Richard Jones | |
| Tim Spring | |
| Jackie Spring | |
| Rikki Blythe | |
| David Kenyon | |
| Derek Murphy | |
| Jackie Murphy | |
| Eileen Mulvany | |
| Scott Burgess | |
| David Tingey | |