Main page: BIC 2017. See also the link ‘BIC results 2017’ in the menu for pairings, results, and standings.
Main page: 4 Cubes 2017. See also the link ‘4 Cubes 2017 results’ for the tournament book, containing the calendar and the rules.
We wish you lots of fun playing live backgammon in 2017!
The fresh BIC 2016 champion Walter Meuwis has taken the exceptional step of sharing his knowledge and experience with the larger backgammon community. His insights in how a larger awareness of the volatility of a position and the application of a proper match strategy can make you a more succesful tournament player have been cristallized into the following article. Food for thought…
Match Strategy and Volatility – by Walter Meuwis (December 19, 2016)
Disclaimer: the views expressed in the article are purely those of the author and may not be regarded as stating an opinion of the Belgium Backgammon Federation npo nor of its members.
Walter Meuwis : BIC Champion 2016.
At Longchamp on Friday night, Walter became BIC champion for the second time in 4 years. He beat Sassan Kachanian in two 13-point matches.
Walter had to play 22 (twenty-two) 13-point matches to take this title. BIC titles apparently do not come easy.
Congratulations to Walter on a well-deserved title and to Sassan on a remarkable achievement and fine performance.
BIC 2017 is just around the corner. First matches are to be played in January.
I like going to these BMS (UK) tournaments in Nottingham. A plane can take you there in an hour or so and the Best Western is only a short cab drive from the airport. Moreover, the format is right up my alley : three 11-pointers on Saturday (between 11:30am and 6:00pm) and three on Sunday (between 10:30am and 5:00pm). All matches are filmed by Rick Janowski and his team. Participants can either transcribe 3 matches themselves or pay 30£ transcription fee and let others do the work. Entry into the tournament is also democratic : 30£.
In these BMS events, my approach is more academic than competitive. I aim to make the most optimal decisions, regardless of the strength of my opponents. I care less about the victory than about the performance. After all, it is the PRs that are significant (they are skill-based and incorporated in the BMAB World Ranking), not the number of match wins (corrupted by luck and, thus, trivial).
Here is how I did :
BMS (UK) December 2016 : PR Michel (wins 4/6)
This result will not win me the PR prize, but it is not depressing either. It brings me to 4,93 on the BMS GT (click in the black banner above for current standings). Question I ask myself now is : how much time and effort is needed to improve from 4,93 to 4,00 PR? Is it even possible? Can a year of dedicated practice and sustained study bridge that 0,93 point gap? I doubt it, but I’ll give it a go in 2017.
How about you?
M
Dear backgammon friends,
On Friday the 16th of December at 19.00 hours, you’re kindly invited to watch the 2016 Belgium Individual Championship final !
In ‘Les Brasseries du Longchamp’, 836, chaussée de Waterloo, 1180 Brussels.
Best-of-3 13-pointers between Sassan Kachanian (Belgium 4 Cubes champion 2014) & Walter Meuwis (Belgium 4 Cubes champion 2014 & BIC champion 2014). Match 1 was played on Saturday 10 December and won by Walter (13-8).
Enjoy ‘live’ on a big screen ; see the brilliancies & blunders of our top players; appreciate the pleasant and technical commentary from the ranked n°1 & 2 players in Belgium, Michel Lamote & Geert Van Der Stricht; learn all about flexibility & connectivity – equity – holding & priming & containment & ace-point & back games; watch XG appreciate or condemn checker plays & cube handlings. We’ll tell you everything about backgammon and will welcome you with a free drink offered by the Brussels Backgammon Club.
See you then, keep on rolling,
Guy Van Middelem
In their endeavour to become better players, Johan Huyck and Michel Lamote played, recorded and transcribed six 15-point matches in the course of 2 months. Matches were played on Tuesday afternoons in the Sandeman Club (Gent).
Notwithstanding the ever occurring, mind-boggling blunders, both players ended up with fine PR’s :
PR Michel (wins 4-2)
PR Johan (loses 2-4)
With this result, both players edge slightly closer to the 5-PR boundary. Click BMS(BE) in the black banner above to see the current standings on the BMS Grading Table.
On Tuesday 27 December, BMS(BE) organises its 2nd BMS Belgium tournament. Five 9-point matches will be played at Longchamp. All matches will be recorded and transcribed and performance ratings (PR’s) will be incorporated in the BMS Grading Table. This is another opportunity for Belgium’s most ambitious players to improve their skill level in a competitive setting.
Have already registered : Geert Van der Stricht, Johan Huyck, Johan Segers, Guy Van Middelem, Paul Van Dijke, Christian Sörensen, Johan Vervust and Michel Lamote. If you play at Advanced level or better, you are welcome to join. Contact : geert.vanderstricht@telenet.be. Start of play : 10am (clocks activated).
M
Dear backgammon friend, member of a BGFed.be backgammon club,
You’re kindly invited to the General Assembly of BGFed.be – Belgian Backgammon Federation – on Friday the 2nd of December 2016 at 18:00 in the ‘Les Brasseries du Longchamp’, Waterloosesteenweg 836 in Uccle, Brussels. The Assembly will be followed at 20:00 by the Brussels Friendly 68 tournament.
Please note:
Kind regards & keep on rolling,
Guy van Middelem, President BGFed.be
guy.van.middelem@pandora.be
Over the past 6 weeks, Johan Huyck (Gent BC) and Paul Van Dijke (Brugge BC) played, recorded and transcribed six 15-point matches. As the data show, both players performed slightly below par :
PR Johan Huyck (wins 4-2)
PR Paul Van Dijke (loses 2-4)
With an average PR of 5,87 Johan is one of 3 players who can boast a below-6 PR on the BMS Grading Table. Johan plans to have crossed the 5,50 threshold by New Year.
Paul’s ambitions are only slightly more modest. Since he is currently playing another Master Series against Geert Van der Stricht, he should be able to dip below 6,50 any day now. He currently stands at 6,61 PR.
M
Brugge Backgammon Club heeft een nieuw lokaal vanaf 1 december 2016:
Cultuurcafé de Biekorf
Naaldenstraat 4
8000 Brugge
Onze speelavond blijft donderdagavond vanaf 19.30 uur.
Allen welkom !
Groetjes,
Line
Left to right : Maurits, Walter, Johan Huyck, Johan Segers, Geert and Alain. Bottom : Michel.
With one victory (3-1 against France) and draws against Norway, the UK, Greece, Iceland and Turkey, Belgium performed well in Denmark. Narrowly missing the Final Four was of course a huge disappointment, but luck just was not on our side in the crucial phase of the championship.
I would like to thank all the players for their good-humoured competitiveness. Belgium was undoubtedly one of the most determined and motivated teams in the field. All players played to the best of their abilities and there was not a whiff of discord in the team. Maurits and Alain (1st and 2nd substitute) were unfailing in their support and their presence gave the team the required robustness and peace of mind.
Next year’s European Team Championship Backgammon will take place in Reykjavik (Iceland). BGFed.be intends to send a team.
M
