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Beste speelsters, beste spelers,

Op deze 1ste september begint er een nieuw hoofdstuk voor het backgammon. Onze federatie is geëvolueerd naar een federatie van clubs, die rechtstreeks wordt beheerd door de verantwoordelijken van jullie clubs.

Wat er verandert in onze organisatie:

• Het lidmaatschap: De voorbije twee jaar waren jullie rechtstreeks lid van de federatie. Vanaf vandaag zijn de spelers lid van hun club, en zijn het de clubs die lid zijn van de federatie. Het is niet langer mogelijk om rechtstreeks lid te zijn van de federatie.
• Een gedeeld bestuur: De clubs beheren de federatie, met een roterend voorzitterschap om een eerlijke en dynamische vertegenwoordiging te garanderen.

Opstartperiode:
We moeten nog enkele overgangspunten afronden en de praktische vragen rond deze nieuwe organisatie moeten nog hun definitieve vorm krijgen. We zullen dus een beetje tijd nodig hebben om alles in handen te nemen, maar we zullen zeer snel volledig operationeel zijn.

Hartelijk dank aan Alf en Sonja:
We willen Alf en Sonja uitdrukkelijk bedanken voor hun inzet en het werk dat de voorbije jaren is verricht. We hopen dat we op hun aanwezigheid en steun kunnen rekenen voor het geval we vragen hebben tijdens deze inwerkperiode.

We kijken er erg naar uit om deze nieuwe collectieve dynamiek in te zetten en we komen zeer snel bij jullie terug met het vervolg.

Een uitstekend nieuw seizoen gewenst aan iedereen rond het bord!

Sportieve groeten,

Het team van clubverantwoordelijken
BGFed

Chères joueuses, chers joueurs,

En ce 1er septembre, une nouvelle page s’ouvre pour le backgammon. Notre fédération a évolué vers une fédération de clubs, gérée directement par les responsables de vos clubs.

Ce qui change dans notre organisation :

•	L'affiliation : Ces deux dernières années, vous étiez directement membres de la fédération. À partir d'aujourd'hui, les joueurs sont membres de leur club, et ce sont les clubs qui sont membres de la fédération. Il n'est plus possible d'être membre direct de la fédération.
•	Une gouvernance partagée : Ce sont les clubs qui gèrent la fédération, avec une présidence tournante pour assurer une représentation équitable et dynamique.

Période de démarrage :

Nous avons encore quelques points de transition à finaliser et les questions pratiques liées à cette nouvelle organisation doivent encore trouver leur forme définitive. Il nous faudra donc un peu de temps pour tout prendre en mains, mais nous serons très vite pleinement opérationnels.

Un grand merci à Alf et Sonja :

Nous tenons à expressément remercier Alf et Sonja pour leur engagement et le travail accompli ces dernières années. Nous espérons pouvoir compter sur leur présence et leur soutien au cas où nous aurions des questions durant cette prise en main.

Nous sommes très enthousiastes à l’idée d’impulser cette nouvelle dynamique collective et nous reviendrons vers vous très rapidement avec la suite.

Excellente rentrée à toutes et tous autour des tabliers !

Sportivement,

L’équipe des responsables de clubs

BGFed

Dear players,

On this 1st of September, a new chapter begins for backgammon. Our federation has evolved to become a federation of clubs, managed directly by your local club leaders.

What changes in our organisation:

• Membership: For the past two years, you were direct members of the federation. As of today, players are members of their club, and the clubs are members of the federation. Direct membership to the federation is no longer possible.
• Shared governance: The clubs run the federation, with a rotating presidency to ensure fair and dynamic representation.

Startup period:
We still have a few transition points to finalise, and the practical details of this new structure are still taking shape. It will take a little time to get fully up to speed, but we will be completely operational very soon.

A big thank you to Alf and Sonja:
We would like to express our sincere thanks to Alf and Sonja for their dedication and hard work over the past years. We hope we can count on their presence and support should any questions arise during this handover period.

We are very excited about this new collective momentum and will get back to you very soon with further updates.

Wishing everyone a great start to the new season at the boards!

Best regards,

The Club Leaders Team
BGFed

Great News: BGFed has set up the BGFed You Tube channel. Matches, Live streams, commentary and highlights from Belgian leagues and tournaments, including Red Beaver League.

Subscribe for top-level backgammon action.

First stream will be  Saturday 24/01 at 13.00h.
RBL Quarter Final: Marc Van Damme – Johan Huyck.

All credits to Firat for arranging this.

July 16–22, Aachen, Germany — The Belgian backgammon community can be proud of a remarkable showing at the 2025 Aachen Backgammon Festival, with several players delivering standout performances across multiple events.

Read the full article here.

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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!

(Nederlands beneden)

On April 27th, you can enjoy a backgammon meeting in the Folk Museum while passersby get to know our beloved game.

Do you like to share your passion? Or show the game for a while?

All played matches count for the rating, and there will be a treat waiting for you.

Combine your hobby with a day trip to Bruges and bring your friends or family. Do they like to do (also) something else? The Folk Museum is open for free, to travel back to the childhood of the 1950s and 60s in the brand-new exhibition ‘Children of the past’.

The youngest visitors can have fun at the various play stations.

Let us know if you will play all afternoon or just for a while. We will reserve a chair for you.

https://forms.gle/VQo3fxuxdtJ4P2Th7

Speel op een unieke locatie op Erfgoeddag 27/04/2025: Backgammon Brugge nodigt je uit

Op 27 april kan je in het volkskundemuseum vrij genieten van een backgammonontmoeting in alle mogelijke vormen: een korte of een lange match, double consultation,… terwijl toevallige passanten onze geliefde bezigheid leren kennen.

Breng jij graag je passie over? Of kom je graag eventjes meespelen?

Alle gespeelde matchen tellen voor de rating en er zal een traktatie voor je klaar staan.

Combineer je hobby met een daguitstap in Brugge en breng je vrienden of familie mee. Doen zij graag (ook) iets anders? Het Volkskundemuseum is gratis open. Daar reis je terug naar de kindertijd van de jaren ‘50 en ‘60 in de gloednieuwe opstelling ‘Kinderen van toen’.

De jongste bezoekers kunnen zich uitleven aan de verschillende spelstations.

Laat weten of je heel de namiddag of slechts eventjes meespeelt, dan houden we een stoel voor je vrij.

A Backgammon Battle!

What a day! The Gent Open XVIII shattered records with 39 passionate players battling it out in a thrilling, all-day backgammon marathon. From the first roll of the dice at 11 AM until the final showdown, every match was a clash of wits, strategy, and a bit of luck.

With seven intense rounds ahead, competitors fueled up on coffee and cake before diving into the action. No matter their level—beginner, intermediate, or master—every player was thrown into the same Swiss tournament, ensuring unpredictable matchups and fierce competition.

Round-by-Round Action
Round 1:
Steven Segaert gets the bye, the camera, and a free point. Meanwhile, Michel claims victory in the Bierbeekse Derby against Sonja.
Round 2:
Kalin Stefanov takes down Michel Lamote, Sonja beats Ed Baars, and in the Brussels showdown, Vincent Hubert prevails over Chantal Lensen. Sverre enjoys a bye—and some photography duties.
Round 3:
Bert secures his third point, defeating his angstgegner Paul van Koningshoven, while Alf buries Marc Van Damme. Sonja snatches another win, and Ed gets the bye.
Round 4:
Five players remain undefeated at 3-0: Alf Martin, Bert Van Kerckhove, Nick De Ruyck, Kalin Stefanov, and Jürgen Schettler. Bert, Nick, and Jürgen emerge victorious, standing as the last three perfect-score players.
Round 5:
The pressure mounts! Nick edges out Jürgen, while Bert barely escapes with a win against Arthur Braacx. Alf, Sonja, Riza Yalçin, and Steven Segaert all secure crucial victories.
Round 6:
The battle at the top intensifies! Bert remains unstoppable, defeating Nick to stand alone at 6. Alf and Jürgen bounce back, keeping their hopes alive. Meanwhile, Linsey Van Campen remains unlucky, still searching for a win.
The Grand Finale – Round 7!
With three players dropping out, an odd number remains. Linsey takes the final bye.

• Bert (6) vs. Jürgen (5) – A high-stakes duel for the Masters title!
• Nick (5) vs. Alf (5) – Who will take the Intermediates?
• Sonja (5) vs. Kalin (4) – A last shot at glory!

In the end:
🏆 Bert defeats Jürgen to claim the Masters title!
🏆 Alf outplays Nick and shares the Intermediate title with Sonja! (Alf takes home the trophy on resistance points.)
🏆 Riza Yalçin emerges as the best beginner, overtaking Hubert Verstraeten in the final rankings!
Jürgen and Horst Büchner share 2nd and 3rd place in the Masters, while Sverre, Steven Segaert, and Kris Claeys tie for third in the Intermediates.

A Tournament to Remember!
After the prize ceremony, players stayed on to celebrate, unwind, and relive the day’s biggest moments.

The final results can be found here.

Final Thanks
A huge shoutout to:
🎲 Alf Martijn for the fantastic catering!
🎲 Nick De Ruyck for top-notch assistance!
🎲 Toon Van Herreweghen for the smooth ludite tournament software!
🎲 Liva & team for keeping everyone refreshed at the bar!
🎲 And most of all—YOU, the players! Thank you for making this event such a success!
See you all at the next Gent Open!

BGFed is looking into create a new website in the future. Something a bit sexier and more attractive. In order to do this, we would like to get as many people as possible involved and get ideas and feedback of how it should look and be constructed. You do not need any knowledge on website development. Only ideas of how it should be set up/structured and laid out.

Should you wish to participate in this project, please send an email to bgfed.be@gmail.com (mention “website” in the subject line) and once we find 5 – 6 volunteers, we can get this ball rolling. The target is to get this online in the next 12 months.

BGFed.be invites you to the yearly BIC, 2025 edition. See the trilingual flyer attached for more information!

TL;DR: 9 rounds Swiss (without any elimination) with 5 rounds on Saturday 31.5 and 4 rounds on Sunday 1.6.

The 4 Cubes challenge started in a very fun way on 4/4/2009.

Those who were there, will recall memories when reading this piece of Belgian Backgammon history.

Reclaiming that title and the accompanying set of cubes became a matter of honor and the reason for several meetings between Ghent and Leuven. The title went back and forth several times.

In the meantime, we are proud to say that Belgian Backgammon has grown (with a federation). This gradually made the title of Best Belgian Backgammon Club even more prestigious.

The formula has been adapted over the past 16 years so that new clubs could compete and it remained pleasant to play for large, small, new or old clubs.

The holder of the 4 Cubes bears the title “Belgium’ Best Backgammon Club”. At the moment this is Brussels.

In order to honour history, we ask each Belgian Club to agree with one of the two statements.

• Backgammon Club Brussels is indeed the BBBC: the Best Belgian Backgammon Club. We silently accept that.
• Or: we are convinced of the opposite and are prepared to prove it: not they, but we are the BBBC.

A club that wants to challenge the BBBC must first prove itself in the preliminary rounds against the other Belgian Clubs. The winner becomes the Challenger and may challenge the BBBC.

Registrations can only be done by club representative. Deadline 31/03. Registration link and format will be mailed to club representatives.

• Brugge: contact: Line Vandamme, linevandamme@gmail.com
• Brussels: every Wednesday evening at 19h, at Au Bassin, Baksteenkaai 74 Quai Aux Briques, 1000 Brussels
• Ghent: every Tuesday evening, at 19h, at Union-Sandeman, Kantienberg 5, 9000 Gent
• Leuven Monthly, Sunday, October 16, at 12h45, at Squash Club De Vaart, Kolonel Begaultlaan 15, 3012 Wilsele

Looking ahead

• 13th Leuven Open: Sunday, November 13, Abdijmolen Heverlee
• Gent Open Backgammon XV: Sunday, November 20, K.A. Club Union Sandeman, Kantienberg 5, 9000 Gent. Contact: Bert Van Kerckhove, bert.vankerckhove@skynet.be, +32 (0) 474 237 656
• Vlissingen Masters: January 14-15, 2023

After a long break, the monthly Leuven club gatherings will resume again: Mark your calendar on Sunday September 19, October 24, and November 28, 2021, each time in Squash Club de Vaart (Wilsele), from 1pm to 6pm. Format: five 5-point matches.

Moreover, the 12th Leuven Open will take place on Sunday November 21, 2021, in de Abdijmolen (Heverlee). Maximum 24 participants, preregistration required.

Info and registration: backgammon-leuven.be

In preparation for the WBGF World Team Championship (8-10 April), Belgium’s four highest ranked players sparred in the Montenegro Challenge. Marc Van Damme, Geert Van der Stricht, Johan Huyck and Michel Lamote played six 13-pointers against each other in a round robin for a total of eighteen matches each. Here is how they did:

Geert Van der Stricht won the Montenegro Challenge in convincing fashion with this excellent performance.

After years of persistent study, weekly practice and in-depth analysing, Geert has made it to the top of the BMS Grading Table with a PR of 4,34 (600 EP). Fantastic achievement!

Marc Van Damme won most matches, but came in second for the PR prize (which was what this Montenegro Challenge was all about). Still, this is a solid performance, more than good enough to compete confidently with the best in the world.

Coming out of hibernation, I could not find my best form and have to be satisfied with this average PR… Hopefully I can lift my game a bit in Montenegro…

Johan would have loved to play below-5, but made just one or two errors too many. Looks like Belgium will soon have a confident quartet of below-5 players.

We had set it as our goal to play collectively below 4,5 PR, but narrowly missed the mark.

The WBGF World Team Championship starts on Monday 8 April and will be played over three days in Budva, Montenegro. 27 countries have entered, with Japan, Denmark, Germany and the USA as the teams to beat. Belgium will be represented by a team of six “Red Beavers”: the four players mentioned above together with Johan Segers and Guy Van Middelem. Also Paulus Van Rooijen and Paul Van Dijke will be present, but sadly they could not find enough teammates to form a team for the Netherlands. They will compete in the 4th Merit Open Montenegro Grand Prix, however, which starts on Wednesday 10 April and finishes on Sunday 14 April.

Over the past weeks, Geert Van der Stricht and Robin Bilderbeek played, recorded and transcribed eight 9-point matches. Here is how they did:

A very strong statement by Robin, whose diligent work with XG are bearing fruit. Robin’s sometimes virtuoso checkerplays combine imagination with accuracy, but his cube-handling is still erratic. All in all an encourageing performance.

Geert could not find his best form in this Master Series and as a consequence fails to improve his standings on the BMS GT.

The BMS Committee (Geert Van der Stricht, Johan Huyck, Paulus Van Rooijen) announce that two major changes will be implemented. Johan Huyck, who is responsible for the BMS Grading Table (registering applications, re-analysing XG-files, processing the data, updating the GT, etc.) explains :

Johan: On 1 February 2019 , the Rolling EP was reduced from 750 to 600. This means that the published overall PR of a player is now based on his performances in the most recent 600 matchpoints.

M: Why this adjustment?

Johan: Well, 600 is still a lot of course. It is the equivalent of forty-seven 13-point matches. This relatively high number is needed to reduce volatility and maximise reliability. On the other hand, it gives players the opportunity to shed a bad PR a little more quickly than before. With 750 EP, it could take a player one or two years to leave a bad result behind, a prospect which could potentially have a demotivating effect. With 600 EP a moderately active BMS player should be able to shed a horrendous PR within 10 to 12 months.

M: Makes sense. Has this adjustment caused major changes on the BMS GT?

Johan: Not at all. The impact of this recalibration has been fractional. The maximum deviation has been 0,10 PR.

M: OK. What is the second change?

Johan: Well, as of 1 April 2019 the BMS Committee will charge a processing fee for BMS GT matches.

M: Fair enough. How will that work?

Johan: First of all, there will be no fee for BIC and Four Cubes matches, nor for matches played for the national team at international team events. For other matches, there will be a 2€ fee, regardless of match length. If both players are applicants they would each have to pay 1€ per match.

M: Sounds very reasonable. So, if I play a Master Series of six 11-point matches against Geert, we would each have to pay a 6€ processing fee?

Johan: Correct. Let me give a couple of other examples. Let us say that Player A plays a tournament abroad and applies for BMS validation [known as a Master Series 2]. If he then plays four 13-pointers in the Main, three 9-pointers in the Consolation, and two 5-pointers in the Last Chance, his fee would be 18€.

Sometimes, however, there can be duplication. If players A, B and C apply for BMS validation for the Gent Open (seven 7-point matches), this does not automatically mean that each player has to pay 14€. If, for instance, A has a bye, and A and B have a mutual encounter (= duplication), then the fees would be: A 11€, B 13€ and C 14€.

In case of a BMS event, the Xmas Trophy for instance, ALL matches are duplicated since ALL the participants are BMS applicants. This would mean that the fee would be 1€ per player per match or 5€ , since the event consists of five 9-point matches.

M: And what with BMS GT players who encounter a BMS applicant during an event, but have not filed an application themselves?

Johan: They do not have to pay, of course. Only the applicants have to cough up the fee.

M: Right. And how are players supposed to know what they owe and when to pay?

Johan: To keep it simple, players will not be charged per event, but over a 6-month period. I will send them a mail with an overview of the costs and expect them to pay one way or another within a reasonable timeframe.

M: Sounds good. Thanks for the information, Johan. And for the all the time and effort you put into this.

On Saturday 29 December 2018, fourteen players competed in the Sandeman Club in Gent for the 3rd BMS Xmas Trophy. Almost the complete top-12 of the BMS  Grading Table was present to try and play as best they could.

After 5 rounds of play (9-point matches), Ronny Conaert was the last man standing with 5 victories, followed by Geert Van der Stricht and Johan Huyck with 4 wins:

Ronny has been a dedicated backgammon student and expert player  for years. Recently he has upped his efforts to improve by playing challenging Master Series against strong opposition. On Saturday, he proved his mettle by winning five medium-length matches in a row, showing stamina and will to win. Congratulations, Ronny!

The Xmas Trophy is also a BMS event. All 35 matches are recorded and XG-transcribed.  In this contest, Michel Lamote came out on top. Geert Van der Stricht and Marc Van Damme also managed to play below-5:

A good PR not only depends on skill, but also on circumstantial luck. There are easy matches and difficult ones, matches with a high DD (= degree of difficulty) and with a low DD. If you have the bad luck of finding yourself in backgames or notoriously difficult prime-vs-prime positions, you may well see your PR deteriorate quickly. This may explain  the reverse order of this top-3, where Michel played 0,5 PR better  and Marc 0,5 PR worse than their true PR.

Just behind this trio come 4. Misja Alma (N) (PR 5,06) and 5. Tilman Söhnchen (GER) (PR 5,16).

Then we find the four players who occupy places 4 to 7 on the BMS GT: 6. Paulus Van Rooijen (N) (PR 5,65), 7. Johan Segers (PR 5,70), 8. Paul Van Dijke (N) (PR 5,90) and 9. Johan Huyck (PR 5,91). These are excellent PRs by all four, indicative of significant progress and sustained focus on the day.

Also 10. Luc Palmans (PR 6,53) and 11. Ronny Conaert (PR 6,96) did not disappoint and can be proud of their performance. 12. Guy Van Middelem (PR 7,92) comfortably played at par, but somehow seems to have missed an opportunity to excel.

13. Robin Bilderbeek (N) (PR 8,70) appears to be the only player in the field who  failed to impress. Robin certainly made progress in recent months, but could not find his best form.

14. Steven Hoeylaerts (PR 9,39) certainly deserves praise for this performance. Having picked up the game less than a year ago, his learning curve has been steep and this below-10 PR is proof of that.

All in all, this field of ambitious students of the game played extremely well, achieving an average PR of 6,16 (35 x 13). Belgium’s top-3 were able to stave off a valiant assault by two accomplished Dutch and German competitors as well as by their four closest pursuers on the BMS GT. Below them, Luc, Ronny and the others confidently consolidated their top-10 status. Check the BMS GT in the black banner above to see the current standings.

The event was a great success. Guy Van Middelem, President of BgFed.be, thanked Geert, Johan Huyck and Paulus Van Rooijen for the hard work and magnanimously called the organsition “perfect”. That was the sign for all present to move from the  playing room to the more dyonisian bar area, where many a word was said in jest and otherwise…

 

 

 

 

The 2018 BIC Final between Johan Huyck and Paul Van Dijke (Brugge BC) started punctually at 6 PM. Johan won the first 13-pointer quite easily with a 7+ luck rate and an astonishing below-3 PR, but Paul managed to win the second match to draw level. The  third and decisive 13-pointer was again a one-sided affair with Johan coming out on top.

The encounter was filmed and transmitted on a screen in the adjoining bridge playing room, with commentaries by Geert Van der Stricht, Marc Van Damme, Paulus Van Rooijen and myself. Robin Bilderbeek transcribed live so the spectators (all five of them…) could enjoy immediate feedback by the computer programme Xtreme Gammon. To everybody’s astonishment, both players rose to the occasion and found their best playing skills. Here are their excellent PR’s :

Congrats to both for a well-played, high-level match. A video of the complete final (with XG and commentary) will soon be made available on YouTube thanks to the dedication and efforts of Robin Bilderbeek.

For the second time in two years, Johan Huyck (Gent BC) has reached the final of the BIC competition. Last year he lost to current BIC Champion Metin Ates, but he gets a second chance to take the title this year. His opponent is Paul Van Dijke (Brugge BC), who made it to the final after a long campaign which started in Division II.

The match will be played on Friday 21 December at the Sandeman in Gent. The first player to win two 13-point matches will be crowned BIC Champion 2018. Start of play is   6 PM. The players will play in the bar area and the match will be transmitted on a semi-large screen in the bridge area. Robin Bilderbeek will do live XG transcribing and the action will be commentated on by Michel Lamote, with Geert Van  der Stricht and Marc Van Damme as guest commentators.

Everybody is welcome to come and witness the climax of this prestigious competition. All spectators will have to take a seat in the bridge area, as no kibitzers will be allowed in the playing area. Income is free.