Guy wins the February Brussels Monthly

Posted on February 5, 2025 by Csaba Daday

Guy van Middelem won all 5 matches in this month’s Brussels Monthly. Congratulations! Below you can see a picture of Chantal Lensen and the winner himself, as well as the final standings.

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4 Cubes Thriller in Brussels

Posted on January 27, 2025 by Csaba Daday

As 4 Cubes 2023 title holder, the team of Brussels had the advantage of hosting the final of BGFed.be interclub competition, the much-coveted 4 Cubes. On Friday the 17th of January, Tennis Club ‘Le Roseau’ was the scene of an epic battle against Ghent, winner of the semi-final. 3 rounds of 4 players against 4 in 7-point matches (12 encounters, first to 7 to win) were completed in the evening.

The first round ended 2-2 with wins from Steven Hoeylaerts (Ghent) against Guy Van Middelem, from Bert Van Kerckhove (Ghent) against Paul van Dijke, Itzhak Solsky (Brussels) against Firat Tekil and Kristoffer De Weert (Brussels) against Geert Van der Stricht.

The second round was again 2-2 (making it 4-4) with Steven beating Itzhak, Guy wins vs Geert, Bert wins vs Kristoffer, Paul wins vs Firat. The third round started around 11.00 PM and quickly Ghent was leading 4-6 (Geert beating Paul, Firat winning vs Guy) looming at the trophy.  But in a desperate effort to avoid bitterness, Brussels managed to come back at 6-6 (Kristoffer wins vs Steven and Itzhak wins narrowly vs Bert).

After midnight, it was all up for the last decisive encounter, a multiple consultation match to 5 points. It went double-pass (0-1 for Ghent), double-pass (0-2), double-pass (1-2), double-take – redouble-take and at the end, Kristoffer (Brussels) secured the 4 points, the match, and the encounter. Brussels’ dreams and joy, keeping the 4 Cubes, contrasted with Ghent’s nightmare and despair but a bottle of champagne brought both teams together around 01.30 in the middle of the night. See you this year for another final, who will take the gauntlet ?
– Guy Van Middelem

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Mutual Holding Game Strategy: When to Jump Out

Posted on January 18, 2025 by Johan

In a mutual holding game, the player with the lead in the race usually has the advantage, but they are often at a timing disadvantage. To deal with this, the race leader often considers jumping out from their anchor. If they succeed and avoid being hit, their advantage increases significantly because they’ll be playing a holding game with a race lead, which is a favorable position. However, jumping out isn’t risk-free.

To decide if the risk/reward ratio is in your favor, you need to consider a number of key risk factors. Read more about these and test your knowledge in a quiz in the article “Mutual Holding Game Strategy: When to Jump Out“ by Marc Van Damme.

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Belgian Backgammon Beach Day, Saturday September 13, 2025

Posted on January 17, 2025 by Johan

We are happy to invite you for part 3 of the Belgian Backgammon Beach Day, on September 13, 2025. The same nice venue, the same concept: see the report of the second edition. More info will follow later.

— Johan Brisaert

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Vlissingen Masters 2025

Posted on January 14, 2025 by Johan

Wrapping up the Vlissingen Blitz Masters International Backgammon Tournament that took place on January 10-12, 2025:

64 players of 11 different nationalities were present.

Championship Division (44):
– Winner: Tilman Söhnchen (Germany)
– Finalist: Geert Van der Stricht (Belgium)
– Semifinalists: Ray Joenoes (Netherlands), Arthur Braacx (Netherlands)
– Quarterfinalists: Jürgen Schettler (Germany), Csaba Daday (Romania), Daniel Rozenberg (Belgium), Michel Lamote (Belgium)

Advanced Division (20):
– Winner: Robert Vledderman (Netherlands)
– Finalist: Joseph Meyns (Belgium)
– Semifinalists: Miriam Wieck (Germany), Kris Claeys (Belgium)

Superjackpot (11):
– Winner: Steven Hoeylaerts (Belgium)
– Finalist: Bert Van Kerckhove (Belgium)

Speedgammon (7):
– Winner: Katalin Veszeli (Hungary)

Pro-Am Doubles (7 teams): Winners: Marc Friebe (Germany) & Rosie Flack (England)

Vlissingen Masters 2025 | Screenshot of the live stream of the Pro-Am double consultation match between Sonja Custers and Michel Lamote versus Anna S. Eysturstein and Olivier Squire; commentary by Gianlazzaro Sanna, livestream by Firat Tekil

Warm-up Doubles (8 teams):
– Winners: Team “Old School”: Jürgen Schettler & Rainer Jöller (Germany)
– Finalists: World Champions: Oliver Squire (England) & Anna Sofía Eysturstein (Faroe Islands)

Special thanks to:

Very special thanks to Oliver and Anna Sofía for being such ambassadors for the game we love so much.

— Paulus van Rooijen

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General Assembly, January 19, 2025

Posted on January 12, 2025 by Johan

All BGFed.be members are cordially invited to BGFed.be’s General Assembly that takes place on Sunday, January 19, 2025 at 11:00 AM in Sport & Squash Club De Vaart, Kolonel Begaultlaan 15, 3012 Wilsele.

Agenda:

  • Welcome
  • Roll call and appointment of minute taker
  • Presentation of the pilot team (members and roles) and values
  • Presentation of the Handbook
  • Explanation on membership procedure
  • Backgammon calendar 2025
  • Explanation on the charter
  • Finance
    • Result 2024
    • Budget 2025
  • All other business

— The BGFed.be Pilot Team

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Red Beaver League 2025-2026: New Format

Posted on January 12, 2025 by Johan

RBL will undergo a facelift in the coming season. Please find all relevant information in the attached file: RED BEAVER LEAGUE 25-26.

— Michel Lamote

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Renewal Membership 2025

Posted on January 9, 2025 by Johan

Dear backgammon players,

To become a member of BGFed.be, the Belgian backgammon federation, or to renew your current membership for 2025:

  1. Please fill in the membership form and
  2. Transfer the appropriate amount to the BGFed.be bank account BE83 3632 5199 3815, with your surname, first name and ‘BGFed.be membership 2025’ in the payment reference line:
    • Membership for 2025 is 20 euro.
    • Membership for new members is 10 euro for the first year.
    • Deadline for payment for renewal of your membership is January 31.

Should you have any further questions concerning payment, please feel free to send an email to bgfed.be@gmail.com.

We welcome you to BGFed.be!

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Gent Open Backgammon XVIII

Posted on January 6, 2025 by Johan

Dear Backgammon friends,

It is with great pleasure that I can invite you to the 18th edition of the Gent Open backgammon tournament on Saturday, March 22, 2025, in the K.A. Club Union Sandeman, Kantienberg 5, 9000 Gent. For details see the flyer.

Included will be, as always, ‘koffiekoeken’ at your arrival and a hot meal after the second or third round.

Important:  please register beforehand as the number of participants is limited to 44 and also in order to provide the correct amount of catering.

To register, just write to bert.vankerckhove@skynet.be.

Kind regards,

Bert Van Kerckhove

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Calendar

Posted on January 6, 2025 by Johan

A list of live backgammon events in Belgium (tournaments, club evenings) is collected in the calendar.

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