€30,000 Added Money
Merit Park Hotel & Casino ★★★★★
Kyrenia – Northern Cyprus
03–08 November 2026 Registration from Mon 02 Nov
Join the event to get notified on your phone or in your browser on desktop when your matches start, results come in, and brackets update — live throughout the week. Chat on WhatsApp for instant answers about registration, event details, tournament schedules, updates, and more. Send a message to get started!
Sanctioned by WBF — Worldwide Backgammon Federation since 1986
Live on GG Arena
Tournaments
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For Directors · Players · Spectators
Make your tournament flow with GG Arena
Less administration. More playing. More excitement.
GG Arena brings Tournament Directors, players and spectators together in one connected platform. Players help keep tournaments moving by reporting their own results, entering live scores and following their matches. Brackets update instantly as players enter their scores, while spectators follow the action live.
Tournament Bracket
Follow match progress and live results. The bracket updates instantly as scores are entered.
Player Dashboard
See your upcoming and active matches, find your opponent and follow your results.
Match Clock & Scoreboard
Click play to see the match clock in action. Prefer your own clock? Just open the scoreboard to add the score, and let friends at home follow your progress live.
Make tournament management easier
Let players help keep the tournament moving
Running a tournament shouldn’t mean constantly collecting scores, updating brackets and telling players where to go next.
GG Arena lets players take part in the tournament workflow. They can enter scores, submit results and follow their upcoming matches when these features are enabled.
Less work for Tournament Directors. A smoother experience for everyone.
01
Players follow their next match and opponent
02
Players enter scores and submit the final result
03
The bracket updates instantly
04
Winners advance automatically
For Tournament Directors
Your tournament. Your rules. Your control.
Every tournament is different. GG Arena gives Tournament Directors the flexibility to decide how they want to run their events. Some prefer players to manage their own scores and submit results. Others handle everything themselves.
GG Arena supports both approaches.
Every tool is optional. The Tournament Director decides which ones are switched on.
Example settings the Director chooses
Integrated match clock
On
Digital scorecard & live scoreboard
On
Player score entry
Off
Player match result submission
Off
Get set up as a player in three steps
01
Follow tournaments and players, all in one place.
02
Gives the full app feel — and notifications need it.
03
Get alerted when your match starts or a player you follow is up.
No account? Ask the registration desk for your QR code to open the whole event — but without an account there are no notifications.
What's on
Events
Main Event — Master & Intermediates
Registration 02–03 Nov · Start Wed 04 Nov
The headline championship, split into Master and Intermediates brackets with Second Chance, Last Chance and Grand Final.
“Ion Ressu Memorial” Doubles
Start Fri 06 Nov
Consultation doubles honouring the 1992 World Backgammon Champion. €5,000 prize pool.
MERIT Special Jackpots & Ladies
Start Sat 07 Nov
Mega, Super and Limited Jackpots plus the Ladies event.
1-Pointers, “Emil Mortuk Memorial” Seniors, Speedgammon & Mini Jackpots
03–08 Nov
Side events running throughout the week — Super Speedgammon, Seniors (50+) and the President’s Cup 1-Pointers.
Entry & registration
Fees
Category
Entry
Reg.
Master
€400
€100
Intermediate
€100
€100
Mega Jackpot
€1,840
€160
Super Jackpot
€920
€80
Limited Jackpot
€225
€25
Doubles Consultation (per team)
€320
€80
Speedgammon & Super Speedgammon
€40
€10
Ladies & Seniors
€50
€10
President’s Cup (1-Pointer)
€8
€2
- ·Master registration fees discounted €20 for 2026 WBF supporters, ELITE-TR members and the first 16 BMAB Grandmasters.
- ·100% of entry fees go into the prize pool.
- ·Registration includes food & beverage in the playing hall, welcome drinks (Tue), trophies, and the Sunday Farewell Gala & Awarding Ceremony.
- ·2026 WBF Golden Card available at the desk.
Match Lengths
Master
Main 13 (Semi & Final 15) · 2nd Chance 9 (Semi & Final 11) · Grand Final 17 · Last Chance 5 (Final 7)
Intermediate
Main 11 (Semi & Final 13) · 2nd Chance 7 (Semi & Final 9) · Grand Final 15 · Last Chance 5 (Final 7)
Mega Jackpot
All 13 (incl. Final)
Super Jackpot
All 11
Limited Jackpot
All 9
Doubles Consultation
All 7 (Final 9)
Speedgammon & Super Speedgammon
All 5
Ladies
All 7 (Final 9)
Seniors (50+)
All 7 (Final 9)
President’s Cup (1-Pointer)
All 1
100% of entry fees returned + €30,000 added by WBF & Merit
Added Prize
Master
€20,000
Intermediates
€3,000
“Ion Ressu Memorial” Doubles
€5,000
Gammon Slam — $30,000 Added by Sponsors
A total of $30,000 is added by the sponsors, including $2,000 added to the Gammon Slam 2026 Annual Backgammon Tour rankings.
Results from the Master and Intermediate categories of this championship will count toward the Gammon Slam 2026 Annual Backgammon Tour rankings. For full details, visit www.gammonslam.com
Something different
Wet Gammon — Underwater Backgammon
Wet Gammon is backgammon played underwater — a light-hearted, spectacular side event where two players submerge in the pool and race to finish a one-point game between breaths. Boards and checkers are specially weighted for underwater play, referees follow from the surface, and spectators watch poolside. It is as much a show as a contest, and a long-running Merit Open tradition.
Format
Single Elimination
Match length
1 point
Match clock
No clock
Description
Underwater backgammon
Gallery
Underwater backgammon — a Merit Open tradition.
Day by day
Programme
MondayNov 02
- All day — Registration at MERIT Park Hotel
TuesdayNov 03
- All day — Registration (Quarter Entries)
- 13:00 — 11th BMAB Middle East Tournament (bgmastersab.com)
- 14:00 — Start Mini Jackpots, Speedgammon, Super Speedgammon, “Emil Mortuk Memorial” Seniors & 1-Pointers
- 19:00 — Dinner
- 21:00 — Welcome Speech
- 22:00 — Last Registration
- 24:00 — Public draw for Main Categories
WednesdayNov 04
- 14:00 — Start Main Categories
- 19:00 — Dinner
- 21:00 — Gameplay continues
ThursdayNov 05
- 13:00 — Start Second Chance Bracket, all activities continue
- 19:00 — Dinner
- 21:00 — Gameplay
- 23:00 — Public draw for “Ion Ressu Memorial” Doubles
FridayNov 06
- 13:00 — Activities continue
- 15:00 — Start “Ion Ressu Memorial” Doubles
- 19:00 — Dinner
- 21:00 — Gameplay
- 23:00 — Public draw for MERIT Mega Jackpot & Ladies
SaturdayNov 07
- 13:00 — Start MERIT Mega Jackpot & Ladies
- 15:30 — Start Super & Limited Jackpots
- 18:30 — Quiz Session by Masayuki “Mochy” Mochizuki (free)
- 19:00 — Dinner
- 21:00 — Gameplay
SundayNov 08
- 12:00 — Start Last Chance Bracket
- 14:00 — Start Finals
- 14:30 — End Mini Jackpots
- 21:30 — MERIT Farewell Gala & Awarding Ceremony
The organisation may change the programme; changes are announced on the Notice Board. Trophies are awarded only at the awarding ceremony.
Please read
Important Notes
- ·Full rules at www.wbfturkey.com/doc/Tournament_Rules.pdf.
- ·Intermediates eligibility: recent Intermediates winners, BMAB “M”+ players, or those with PR 6.5 or below are not allowed — checked by the director. A cashing player found ineligible forfeits 30% of prize, redistributed to opponents.
- ·The director may require clocks in any round.
- ·The draw is manual, public and random.
- ·Tournament matches take precedence over all other activities.
- ·Cash only.
- ·The committee may refuse applications without stating a reason.
- ·Inform the director before leaving the playing area (penalty points otherwise).
- ·No alcohol in the event hall. No smoking except in designated areas.
- ·Professional boards cleaned & disinfected daily; dice service by WBF.
- ·Dress appropriately.
- ·Restaurant: Breakfast 07:00–11:00 · Lunch 13:00–15:00 · Dinner 18:00–21:30.
- ·Casino entry: photo ID required, 25+ only.
Where to stay
Accommodation
Merit Park Hotel & Casino
Kervansaray Mevkii, Karaoğlanoğlu, Girne / KKTC (Kyrenia – Cyprus)
Single
€265
per room / night
Double
€350
per room / night
Triple
€475
per room / night
Special: Stay 7 — Pay 6
- Ultra All Inclusive: full-day open buffet + unlimited soft & alcoholic drinks. Rates in EUR incl. VAT.
- Book early with the password “Backgammon”. Special rates are valid only direct to Merit Park Reservation — not via travel agencies.
- 10% discount on extra-pay hotel services (except shisha).
Delegate Packages
For guests not staying at Merit Park
Restaurant Package€40 / person / day
Alcohol Package€25 / person / day
2-in-1 Package€60 / person / day
Accommodation help: Arda Fındıkoğlu · [email protected] · www.wbfturkey.com
Getting there
Route & Transfers
Flights
- Fly to Nicosia / Lefkoşa (Ercan) Airport — 50 km, or Larnaca (LCA) — 90 km.
- Girne / Kyrenia sits on the north coast of Cyprus in the Eastern Mediterranean.
- October/November: air ~14–24°C, sea ~25.5°C.
Transfers
- Shared group transfers for flights on 2, 3 & 9 Nov 2026 (private on request).
- Email your flight itinerary to [email protected] by the deadline: 27 Oct 2026.
- Nearby: Kyrenia, Nicosia, Famagusta, Ayia Napa, Larnaca, Paphos, Limassol.
With respect
In Memoriam
Emil Mortuk
Honoured in the Seniors event.
Ion Ressu
1992 World Backgammon Champion — honoured in the Doubles event.
Organisation
Tournament Directors
Tournament Director
Arda Fındıkoğlu
Tournament Director
Marco Fornasir
Proudly supported by
Partners & Sanctioning Bodies
