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On Saturday, July 12, the Leuven backgammon team travelled to Ghent for their next 4 Cubes encounter, hosted at the beautiful Sandeman venue.
Leuven showed up strong with Toon, Michel, Johan S, Ronny, and Odette.
Ghent fielded Nick, Steven S, Alf, and Antonio.
On paper, Ghent was the clear underdog, with their top-ranked player sitting only at #15 on the national rating list — while Leuven boasted three players in the top 5. This had all the markings of a “walk in the park” for Leuven.
But Ghent came with a different mindset — think Mel Gibson in Braveheart.

Round 1

• Nick loses to Toon.
• Steven S falls to Michel.
• Alf and Antonio, channelling their inner warriors, beat Johan S and Ronny.

Leuven’s captain switches things up and gives Odette a chance to play in round 2, replacing Ronny. Is he overplaying his cards?

Score: 2 – 2

Round 2

• Nick loses a key point to Odette.
• Steven S and Alf keep Ghent’s hopes alive by beating Michel and Toon.
• Antonio goes down to Johan S.

Score: 4 – 4
The final round will be decisive — unless it ends 6–6, in which case a dramatic double consultation match will settle it all.

Round 3

• Alf finds himself in a decisive position: 65% winning chance, cube on 4, ready for bear-off. Ronny is on the bar. The only number that could save Ronny is a 3…
  Lightning strikes. Alf loses.

Score: 4 – 5 Leuven pulls ahead.

• Nick recovers and beats Michel.
  Score: 5 – 5

Two matches remain…

• Antonio is ahead against Toon, 6–4 Crawford. Ghent is close…
  Lightning strikes again.
  Score: 5 – 6

Only one match left. Ghent needs a win to push for the double consultation.

No problem — Steven S is in a near-certain winning position in the bear-off: 95% equity.
Only a 6–1 or 6–2 roll could cause trouble.
 A 6–2 is rolled. It leaves a blot on the 4-point.
If Johan S rolls a 4 from the bar…
(You can finish the story yourself. I’m feeling a bit sick right now.)

The Winner Takes It All

Final Score: Leuven wins 7 – 5

Ghent fought valiantly, but Leuven holds firm.

Next Encounter: Brussels 2 vs. Leuven
Deadline: End of September

Read the full report here.

Read the report here.

Read the report here.

The Red Beavers were on the move.

As several planes lifted off from Zaventem toward Athens on the first April weekend, seven determined Belgians were heading for Kamena Vourla, Greece—a picturesque battlefield where the world’s best backgammon nations would collide. The mission? Represent Belgium at the World Championship Backgammon for national teams, and fight for a place among the elite.

Our group was no walk in the park: reigning giants Denmark, alongside evenly matched opponents from Austria, Georgia, and Switzerland. Ukraine rounded out the pool—technically the underdog, but in backgammon, luck doesn’t read rankings.

DAY 1: A Roaring Start, A Narrow Miss

We came out swinging, dispatching Ukraine with a commanding 4–1 victory that set the tone for a thrilling campaign. Confidence was high. Then came Austria—a key duel for group supremacy. After four fierce boards, the score was tied 2–2. The decider? Michel Lamote, razor-sharp and battle-ready, stepped into the spotlight. He played a brilliant match… but the dice had their own story to tell. Austria edged us 3–2.

The drama didn’t stop there. Switzerland awaited in Round 3, and once again, it came down to a final board. And once again, the dice denied us by a hair’s breadth. Another 2–3 loss. Tension high. Stakes higher.

DAY 2: Firepower and Frustration

With qualification on the line, Day 2 was do-or-die.

First up: Denmark, the top dogs. The Beavers came armed with world-class play, posting a blistering team Performance Rating of 3.55—elite by any standard. But when the dust settled, the deciding board slipped away once more. The cruel poetry of the game repeated itself.

Our last group match, against Georgia, had become a formality—but not for our team. We fought. We bled. We fell, 2–3. Three heartbreakers in one tournament. It happens. Not often. But it happens.

Pride, Potential, and a Promise

Despite the results, there was so much to be proud of. Our level of play was exceptional, driven by the presence and mentorship of Belgium’s very first Grandmaster—Marc Van Damme.

Newcomers Firat Tekil and Csaba Daday brought youthful fire to the team and proved they belonged on the international stage. Every member—Geert, Guy, Marc, Michel, Firat, Csaba and our Team Captain Johan Huyck—battled hard, backed one another, and wore the Red Beaver badge with pride.

Backgammon is a game of skill, nerve, and sometimes… a little heartbreak. You can love the dice. You can hate them. But ultimately, you must meet them with a smile.

Thank you, Team Belgium.
You made us dream, you made us proud—and next year in London…

Written & Edited : Johan Huyck / Alf

On Wednesday 23/05, the first showdown of the 4 Cubes backgammon season ignited the board as Antwerp 1 faced off against Gent 2. The venue was charged, the dice were hot, and the tension could be sliced at moments. Representing the teams were: from left to right

Antonio (G), Inge (A), Steven (G), Rachid (A), Kris (A), Yani (A), Mundo (G), Alf (G) — and keeping the fire under control, tournament organizer Guy Van Middelem.

🎲 Round 1: Fireworks from the First Roll
Inge struck first blood, taking down Steven. Yani outmaneuvered Mundo in a tense game peppered with disputes over moves and dice values. Meanwhile, Antonio powered past Rachid, and Alf pulled off the comeback of the round — down 0-4 after a doubled gammon, he slipped through a vault keyhole to beat Kris and clinch the draw for Gent. Score: 2 – 2

💥 Round 2: Lightning Strikes and Spinach Power
Inge was unstoppable, toppling Mundo. Kris snatched victory from Steven in a DMP thriller after a miraculous double hit from the bar — lightning, literally, from the cube gods! Alf, once again, was deep in the trenches at 0–6 against Rachid, but cracked open a can of spinach and fought back tooth and nail to claim another unlikely win. In the round’s headline match, Antonio narrowly edged Yani in a high-octane battle filled with emotion, controversy, and flaring tempers. Accidents in paradise and blood on the dancefloor…… Yani exited the building — and Antwerp, down a soldier, faced round 3 short-handed. Score: 4 – 4

🏁 Round 3: Gent Closes the Deal
With only three Antwerp players left standing, the odds tilted. Mundo worked his way past Rachid and comeback-king Alf crawled out of a deep pit once more against Inge with a cube on 8 and sealed the deal, delivering Gent 2 their first 4 Cubes victory of the season!

If this opening match was any indication, we’re in for an explosive season.

Read his report here.

Congratulations to Inge who won the April edition of the Brussels Monthly!