WBGF World Team Championship 2025: Team Selection Red Beavers

In 2025, the World Team Championship will take place during the 3rd Greek Grand Prix in Kamena Vourla – Greece from April 7th to 9th, 2025, and will be followed by the individual tournament from April 9th  to 13th.

The selection of a team can consist of up to 10 players, but only 5 players need to play a match each round.

All players interested in being part of the Belgium team can send their candidacy to Johan Huyck (Johan.Huyck@wiskin.be) before January 10th, 2025.

Belgium’s selection is based on PR strength and will be announced by January 15th at the latest.

This means that in order to join the national team, PR data must be available for your matches. Relevant PR data can come from the international BMAB rankings or from the national RBL rankings.

— Johan Huyck

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Brussels Backgammon Monthly on Sunday, January 5, 2025

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BGFed.be membership confirmation and invitation to General Assembly on January 19

[Nederlands: zie beneden. Français: voir ci-dessous]

Dear BGFed.be member,

The aim of this message is two-fold:

  1. To check and confirm your BGFed.be affiliation.
  2. To invite you to our General Assembly on Sunday, January 19, 2025.

1. Your affiliation to BGFed.be

As a member, you currently enjoy a number of benefits, such as a spot on the rating list and the right to participate in tournaments and competitions reserved to members.

If you are interested in staying a member, please complete the following short online form:

https://forms.gle/7v5aUoGVYpbtaH6C9

2. General Assembly

Hereby we wish to invite you cordially at the BGFed.be General Assembly on Sunday, January 19, 2025 at 11:00 in Sport & Squash Club de Vaart, Kolonel Begaultlaan 15, 3012 Wilsele. The assembly will be followed at 13:00 by the Leuven Monthly tournament organised by the Backgammon Club Leuven.

At the meeting, we will present ourselves and our project for backgammon in Belgium. An agenda and registration form will be sent later to members who completed the form above.

Kind regards from the (ad interim) BGFed.be team

Johan Segers (coordinator)
Odette Vanhorenbeek (treasurer)
Alf Martijn (communication)
Chantal Lensen (tournament planning)
Sonja Custers (member administration)

________________________________________

[Français: voir ci-dessous]

Beste BGFed.be lid,

Het doel van dit bericht is tweeledig:

  1. Om je aansluiting bij BGFed.be te controleren en te bevestigen.
  2. Om je uit te nodigen op onze Algemene Vergadering op zondag 19 januari 2025.

1. Je aansluiting bij BGFed.be

Als lid geniet je momenteel van een aantal voordelen, zoals een plaats op de ratinglijst en het recht om deel te nemen aan toernooien en competities die voorbehouden zijn aan leden.

Als je geïnteresseerd bent om lid te blijven, gelieve dan het volgende korte online formulier in te vullen:

https://forms.gle/7v5aUoGVYpbtaH6C9

2. Algemene Vergadering

Hierbij willen we je van harte uitnodigen op de Algemene Vergadering van BGFed.be op zondag 19 januari 2025 om 11:00 uur in Sport & Squash Club de Vaart, Kolonel Begaultlaan 15, 3012 Wilsele. De vergadering zal om 13:00 gevolgd worden door het Leuven Monthly  toernooi georganiseerd door de Backgammon Club Leuven.

Op de bijeenkomst zullen we onszelf en ons project voor backgammon in België voorstellen. Een agenda en inschrijvingsformulier zullen later verstuurd worden naar de leden die bovenstaand formulier ingevuld hebben.

Vriendelijke groeten van het (ad interim) BGFed.be team

Johan Segers (coördinator)
Odette Vanhorenbeek (penningmeester)
Alf Martijn (communicatie)
Chantal Lensen (toernooiplanning)
Sonja Custers (ledenadministratie)

________________________________________
Chère et cher membre de BGFed.be,

Vous recevez cet e-mail parce que vous êtes affilié à BGFed.be, la fédération belge de backgammon.

L’objectif de ce message est double :

  1. Vérifier et confirmer votre affiliation à BGFed.be.
  2. Vous inviter à notre Assemblée Générale du dimanche 19 janvier 2025.

1. Votre affiliation à BGFed.be

En tant que membre, vous bénéficiez actuellement d’un certain nombre d’avantages, tels qu’une place sur la liste de classement et le droit de participer aux tournois et compétitions réservés aux membres.

Si vous souhaitez rester membre, veuillez remplir le court formulaire en ligne suivant :

https://forms.gle/7v5aUoGVYpbtaH6C9

2. Assemblée générale

Par la présente, nous souhaitons vous inviter cordialement à l’Assemblée Générale de la BGFed.be le dimanche 19 janvier 2025 à 11h00 au Sport & Squash Club de Vaart, Kolonel Begaultlaan 15, 3012 Wilsele. L’assemblée sera suivie à 13h00 par le Leuven Monthly tournoi organisé par le Backgammon Club Leuven.

Lors de l’assemblée, nous nous présenterons ainsi que notre projet pour le backgammon en Belgique. Un ordre du jour et un formulaire d’inscription seront envoyés ultérieurement aux membres qui ont rempli le formulaire ci-dessus.

Salutations cordiales de la part de l’équipe (ad interim) de BGFed.be

Johan Segers (coordinateur)
Odette Vanhorenbeek (trésorière)
Alf Martijn (communication)
Chantal Lensen (planning)
Sonja Custers (administration des membres)

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Live Backgammon in December

Weekly club evenings

  • Antwerp: every Wednesday evening, 19h, in Spéciale Belge Taproom, Pakt | Régine Beerplein 1, 2018 Antwerpen. Contact: Inge van den Dorpel, inge.van.den.dorpel@gmail.com
  • Brugge: every Thursday eveningSports bar Extra Time, Nijverheidsstraat 113, 8310 Assebroek. Contact: Line Vandamme, linevandamme@gmail.com
  • Brussels: every Thursday evening at 18h15, at Café Lutgarde, Chaussée de Waterloo 393, 1050 Ixelles
  • Ghent: every Tuesday evening, at 19h, at Union-Sandeman, Kantienberg 5, 9000 Gent

Tournaments

  • BBBB-Sports Monthly, Sunday, December 8, 2024, from 10:00 AM, at B.SPORTS, 14 rue de la Basilique, Sint Agatha Berchem.
  • Leuven Monthly: Sunday, December 15, from 12:45, at Sport & Squash Club De Vaart, Kolonel Begaultlaan 15, 3012 Wilsele

Looking ahead

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Brussels Backgammon Thursday: New Venue

Brussels Backgammon Thursday on the Move! From November 28th on, we play at:

Café Lutgarde
Chaussée de Waterloo 393
1050 Ixelles

— Chantal Lensen

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BGFed.be governance: interim team and general assembly

Dear Backgammon enthusiasts,

At the BGFed.be general assembly held on June 7, 2024, it was explained that a two-person board, as it has been existing de facto in recent years, has become inadequate to meet the federation’s needs.

Since then, a number of people have been exploring new structures for the federation. Guy Van Middelem has been our figurehead for many years, and with his natural charisma, he was BGFed.be’s leader. When the board became smaller, he remained steadfast. He has flawlessly organized countless competitions, maintained membership lists, managed international contacts… We want to explicitly thank him for founding the federation, his leadership over the past years, and for passing the torch to a team—now five members strong—that will continue his work.

The search for new structures, initiated in June, has ultimately led to a team of five backgammon players familiar with the federation: Johan S., Sonja, Odette, Alf, and Chantal.

As an interim team, we have the following mission for the coming two months:

  • to complete the formalities related to a non-profit association;
  • to develop a plan to further shape the federation.

At the general assembly on January 19, 2025, at 11:00 am, in Sport & Squash club de Vaart in Leuven (Kolonel Begaultlaan 15, 3012 Wilsele), we will present the plan to all members, with a vote on whether to continue with this interim team.

All players who are BGFed.be member are therefore warmly invited to this general assembly. Please mark January 19 in your calendars – a formal invitation will follow.

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Live Backgammon in November

Club events

  • Antwerp: every Wednesday evening, starting on October 16, 19h, in Spéciale Belge Taproom, Pakt | Régine Beerplein 1, 2018 Antwerpen. Contact: Inge van den Dorpel, inge.van.den.dorpel@gmail.com
  • Brugge: every Thursday eveningSports bar Extra Time, Nijverheidsstraat 113, 8310 Assebroek. Contact: Line Vandamme, linevandamme@gmail.com
  • Brussels: every Thursday evening at 18h15, at The Black Beard — La Barbe Noire, Lakensestraat 166 Rue de Laeken, Brussels 1000
  • Ghent: every Tuesday evening, at 19h, at Union-Sandeman, Kantienberg 5, 9000 Gent
  • Leuven: Sunday, Nov 17, Dec 15, from 12:45, at Sport & Squash Club De Vaart, Kolonel Begaultlaan 15, 3012 Wilsele

Tournaments

Leuven Backgammon Open XV, Sunday, November 10, 2024Squash Club De Vaart, Wilsele.

Looking ahead

  • BBBB-Sports Monthly, Sunday, December 8, 2024, at B.SPORTS, 14 rue de la Basilique, Sint Agatha Berchem.
  • Vlissingen Masters, Saturday and Sunday 11–12 January, 2025, in Fletcher Hotel-Restaurant Arion, Vlissingen.
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4 Cubes 2024 Gent vs BBBB

On Tuesday 22nd October, eight backgammon players battled it out over twelve matches. Four players from Gent against four from Brussel Black Beard Backgammon (BBBB), each playing three rounds to 7 points. Location: Union Sandeman, home of the Gent Backgammon club. At stake: to gain the opportunity to challenge the current 4 Cubes holder, Brussels.

From Gent, Geert, Bert, Firat and Alf were summoned to face off Maurits, Daniel, Vincent and Hubert from BBBB.

The Brussel Black Beard Backgammon team went off for a good start, winning 3 out of 4 matches. Only captain Bert managed to eke out a double match point (DMP) win against Daniel.

Round two was for Gent, 3-1, with only Maurits managing a win over Alf. So it became 4-4 and everything remained to be played for in the third and final round.

Focused players from Gent and Brussels Black Beard Backgammon during the 4 Cubes duel on Tuesday October 22, 2024, at the K.A. Union Sandeman, Gent.

Geert and Bert finished their matches first, both winning. Then Maurits mistakenly forgot to hit Firat’s checker while entering from the bar but realized it only after he pressed his clock—it was a legal move without hitting. At DMP this proved fatal and Firat took the win and the 7th victory point for Gent! Daniel won his match but this was not enough to keep Gent from winning from BBBB with a narrow 7-5.

Now Gent is in the position to challenge Brussels to regain the 4 Cubes trophy after a year of absence from its usual location 😉

To be continued…

— Bert Van Kerckhove

Results

GentBBBB75
Round 1
Geert Van der StrichtMaurits Pino01
Bert Van KerckhoveDaniel Rozenberg10
Firat TekilVincent Hubert01
Alf MartijnHubert Verstraeten01
Round 2
Geert Van der StrichtDaniel Rozenberg10
Bert Van KerckhoveVincent Hubert10
Firat TekilHubert Verstraeten10
Alf MartijnMaurits Pino01
Round 3
Geert Van der StrichtVincent Hubert10
Bert Van KerckhoveHubert Verstraeten10
Firat TekilMaurits Pino10
Alf MartijnDaniel Rozenberg01

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BBBB-Sports Monthly

Hello everybody,

Recently, I’ve been approached by a number of players with requests to organize a monthly tournament in Brussels.

The Black Beards are now launching BBBB-Sports Monthly as we’ve found a fabulous, accessible and bucolic place to play, with a terrace open in fine weather.

Sunday December 8, 2024 will be our kick-off tournament at B.SPORTS! Address: 14 avenue de la Basilique, Sint Agatha Berchem.

Reserve your place now so that we can book the right room. You can send me an e-mail at chantal.lensen@skynet.be.

Venue

The B.SPORTS club will welcome us once a month. This sports complex formerly belonged to the National Bank of Belgium and is located in Brussels near the ring and the highway exit from Oostende. The kitchen offers a full range of catering options at all times.

  • by bar: B.SPORTS is located at 14 avenue de la Basilique, Sint Agatha Berchem. You can easily park your car.
  • It’s also easy to reach by public transport: Trams 9 and 82, bus 20, Berchem Ste Agathe station, etc.

Format and schedule

We’ll play 5 rounds of 7 points. Pairings will be based on the Swiss system.

  • From 9 a.m.: Welcome. The bar will be open at 8.30 a.m., so you can enjoy a coffee as soon as you arrive.
  • Round 1: 10am
  • Round 2: 11:45 a.m.
  • Round 3: 1:30pm
  • Round 4: 3:15pm
  • Round 5: 5:00 pm

Registration

Reservations are mandatory: please send an e-mail to chantal.lensen@skynet.be.

Price for the day: €10 to be paid on site (+ membership fee for the Belgian Backgammon Federation for non-members).

In 2025, we’ll be playing on the first Sunday of every month. I’ll send out invitations the month before.

I hope to see many of you there.

Kind regards

— Chantal

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Marc Van Damme wins PR prize in Aachen

Twenty ambitious players showed up in Aachen to compete in a BMAB tournament. In these kinds of tournaments, all matches are recorded and transcribed by the organization and the players’ performance ratings (PRs) are tabulated to designate a specific title, such as Grandmaster (GM), Master, Expert, etc.

Belgium’s most proficient player and top Red Beaver, Marc Van Damme, stunned the global backgammon community with a stellar overall performance rating (OPR) of 3,51 (nine 9-point matches). This won him the PR prize, leaving a couple of certified GM’s slightly bemused. Marc is now edging closer and closer to a GM title.

Geert Van der Stricht also started off very well with a handful of SGM (= Super GM) PR’s, but sadly he could not sustain this high level of play ending with an OPR of 4,32 (4th place). Still a very solid performance by our undisputed number two.

Johan Huyck also excelled. He strung together 7 victories winning this tournament for the second time in a row. A remarkable back-to-back triumph embellished by a confidence-boosting 4,96 OPR.

Johan Huyck and Marc Van Damme, champion and PR champion, respectively, of the BMAB backgammon tournament in Aachen, Germany, October 2024

My personal performance pales in comparison. Although I shared second prize with Geert and two others (6/9) I could not be happy with a mediocre 5,56 OPR.

All-in all, this was a well-run tournament in a comfortable venue. Snacks and drinks were offered at player-friendly prices and the atmosphere was cordial and relaxed. The star of the show was Marc Van Damme, whose performance cannot have escaped the attention of the world’s established GM’s.

— Michel Lamote

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