A major national tournament celebrating one of the oldest board games in the world will be played at a historic Warwickshire venue.
Competitors will be going head to head in the 2017 UK Backgammon Open Championships at Coombe Abbey Hotel.
Although this is the 4th UK Backgammon Open, it is the first time that the Brinklow-based venue has hosted the tournament, which is set to take place from September 1 to 3.
Around 150 players are expected to attend this annual event which has gained a huge following in the last four years. Staff at the hotel are now looking forward to welcoming contestants and spectators from all parts of the UK as well as from overseas.
The event has once again been organised by the United Kingdom Backgammon Federation (UKBGF) in collaboration with Tallyho Events, and there are plans to live stream selected matches on the internet for fans across the globe.
Peter Bennet, Vice-Chair of the UKBGF Board, said: “One of our goals when the UKBGF was founded four years ago was to launch an annual tournament to attract a large number of players of all abilities.
“The unique fascination of backgammon is the combination of great skill with the luck of the dice, which makes it such an exciting game, whatever your standard of play. We cater for all players from novices to Grandmasters with different competitions to cover the ability spectrum. There are also many side events, with great prizes for all the winners.
“For our 4th UK Open it will be a terrific experience to see this 5,000-year-old game played in such a historical setting. Coombe Abbey is the perfect venue for a backgammon event.”
Many of the best players in the UK, as well as several from overseas, will be travelling to Coombe Abbey for the tournament.
Participants include the current Ladies World Champion, Anna Clarke, World Doubles Champions Jon Barnes and Eric McAlpine, and World Junior Champion David Broomfield.
David Penn, Coventry and Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce Vice President, and Partner at Bromwich Hardy, is the 2016 UK Backgammon Champions League winner and he will be among the players representing the region at the tournament.
Competitors will be facing each other in a number of separate competitions or ‘flights’ during the three days including Masters, Super Jackpot, Advanced and Swiss Social.
Ron Terry, general manager of Coombe Abbey Hotel, said: “We are thrilled that Coombe Abbey is hosting the UK Backgammon Open this year.
“Over the past four years that it has been taking place, it has built up a huge following and we are pleased that the hotel can part of this growing competition.
“Coombe Abbey is an extremely versatile venue and hosting an event like this demonstrates that we are fully prepared to stage any activity or event.
“The history and heritage that surround Coombe Abbey also makes it a perfect and unique backdrop for any event that is taking place. We wish the UK Backgammon Federation the best of luck with the 2017 competition and beyond.”
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