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WBGF WorldChampionships 2026
Mercure Hotel, Earl's Court, London · 24–30 August 2026
The World's Best. Six Days. Champions Are Made.
GG Arena — The System That Follows You.
Full Control, Always.
Powering the WBGF World Championships, London 2026.
Upcoming Tournaments
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National Teams (28 countries · 200 players)
Australia1Shane McNally (cap)
2Ken Vaughan
3John Parker
4Deniz Agdiran
5Keith Gillett
6Terry Christodoulou
Austria1Mario Lazzer (cap)
2Toader Mihai Sandu
3Michael Higatsberger
4Johannes Mitterwald
5Wolfgang Bacher
6Andreas Sauseng
7Heinz Edy
Bahamas1Ray Lightbourn (cap)
2Kntyn Delancey
3Neil Aberle
4Philippa Lightbourn
5Shawn Thompson
6Peter Albury
Belgium1Johan Huyck (cap)
2Maurits Pino
3Michel Lamote
4Geert Van der Stricht
5Marc Van Damme
6Firat Tekil
Women’s Teams (16 countries · 80 players)
Denmark1Gitte Andersen (cap)
2Pernille Rosendal
3Pia Jeppesen
4Annette Christina Hansen
England1Julia Hayward (cap)
2Cecilia Rogers
3Merrin Rose
4Becca Bell
5Anna Price
6Rachel Rhodes
France1Laurence Sinitzky (cap)
2Tatiana Klimova
3Véronique Chomaz Dehon
4Arezou Shafiei
5Carla Doumard
Germany1Sabine Hildebrandt (cap)
2Cornelia Blaschke
3Sabine Brinkmann
4Ingrid Sonnabend
5Katja Schäfer
6Miriam Wieck
Programme
WBGF World Championships – London 2026
Monday 24th August
| 11:00 | WBGF World Team Championships "WTC" Registration |
| 12:30 | WTC Groups – 1st Round |
| 15:00 | WTC Groups – 2nd Round |
| 17:30 | WTC Groups – 3rd Round |
| 19:30 | Dinner Break |
| 21:30 | WTC Groups – 4th Round |
Tuesday 25th August
| 11:00 | WTC Groups – 5th Round |
| 13:30 | WTC Groups – 6th Round |
| 16:00 | WTC Groups – 7th Round |
| 18:30 | Dinner Break |
| 20:00 | WTC Groups – Play-Offs |
Wednesday 26th August
| 10:30 | WBGF World Individual Championship (WIC) Registrations |
| 11:00 | WTC Quarter Finals |
| 11:30 | Start of Qualifiers, Speedgammon, Seniors, Women's, DMP Challenge & Mini Jackpots |
| 13:30 | WTC Semi-Finals |
| 16:00 | WTC Grand Finals & 3rd/4th play-off |
| 18:30 | Closing of WIC Registration & Dinner Break |
| 20:00 | WBGF 2026 General Assembly |
| 21:30 | Public draws for WIC divisions |
Thursday 27th August
| 10:30 | Welcome Speech & Start of WIC Undefeated Bracket (World Individual & Intermediate) |
| 18:30 | Dinner Break |
| 20:00 | Start of WIC Second Chance Bracket & Continue Side-Events |
Friday 28th August
| 11:00 | All categories resume |
| 18:30 | Dinner Break |
| 20:00 | Start of Doubles & Continue Side-Events |
Saturday 29th August
| 11:00 | All categories resume |
| 13:00 | Start of Super & Limited Jackpots |
| 18:30 | Dinner Break |
| 20:00 | Gameplay resumes |
Sunday 30th August
| 11:00 | Start of WIC Last Chance Bracket; all categories resume |
| 13:00 | Start of WIC Grand Finals |
| 15:00 | Closing of mini jackpots |
| 20:00 | Award Ceremony |
* Organisers reserve the right to change the programme as deemed necessary and shall endeavour to publicise such changes at the earliest reasonable opportunity.
Important Notes
- •Players who have recent Intermediates winner titles, or a BMAB ranking of Master Level 3 or better, or a recognized PR of 6.5 or below are ineligible for the Intermediates Flight. This will be checked by the event director during the registration phase, but in any case, if a player who cashes in the Intermediates Flight is subsequently identified as being ineligible, 50% of their prize will be deducted and distributed as compensation to their opponents.
- •Clocks are mandatory including for the Intermediates Flight – time setting 120/12 (Doubles 180/15, speed (5pt) 24/10).
- •The draw for the team events is manual; the draw for the individual events is electronic.
- •Late registrations will replace byes until the start of the tournament or when 256 places have been filled.
- •Tournament matches shall take precedence over all other forms of play.
- •The organisers reserve the right to refuse applications to play without giving any reasons, since the event is by WBGF and UKBGF invitation only.
- •Should a player wish to leave the playing area during the tournament, they must inform the Tournament Director. Failure to do so may result in penalty points being assigned.
- •The dinner break is at either 18:30 or 19:30 for one and a half hours. Please see the detailed programme for times on each date.
- •Smoking is not permitted inside the event venue.
- •All players are expected to conduct themselves appropriately and in the spirit of the game.
Fees
- • 100% of entry fees will be added into the prize pool.
- • Registration fees include special design trophies & Awards Ceremony.
| Championship Category | Entry Fee | Registration Fee |
|---|---|---|
| World Teams (per team) | €1,000 | €200 |
| World Women's Team (per team) | €500 | €100 |
| World Individual | £400 | £100 |
| Intermediates | £100 | £50 |
| Super Jackpot | £460 | £40 |
| Consultation Doubles (per team) | £240 | £60 |
| Seniors (Age 55+) | £40 | £10 |
| Speedgammon | £40 | £10 |
| DMP Challenge (2 Lives) | £16 | £4 |
World Teams (per team)
Entry €1,000Registration €200
World Women's Team (per team)
Entry €500Registration €100
World Individual
Entry £400Registration £100
Intermediates
Entry £100Registration £50
Super Jackpot
Entry £460Registration £40
Consultation Doubles (per team)
Entry £240Registration £60
Seniors (Age 55+)
Entry £40Registration £10
Speedgammon
Entry £40Registration £10
DMP Challenge (2 Lives)
Entry £16Registration £4
Match Lengths
| Championship Category | Stage | Match Length |
|---|---|---|
| World Teams (National & Women's) | Group Stage | 11pts |
| Elimination | 13pts (Final 15 pts) | |
| World Individual | Undefeated | 13pts (Semi & Final 15 pts) |
| 2nd Chance | 9pts (Semi & Final 11 pts) | |
| Grand Final | 17pts | |
| Last Chance | 5pts (Final 7 pts) | |
| Intermediates | Undefeated | 11pts (Semi & Final 13 pts) |
| 2nd Chance | 7pts (Semi & Final 9 pts) | |
| Grand Final | 15pts | |
| Last Chance | 5pts (Final 7 pts) | |
| Super Jackpot | — | 11pts |
| Limited Jackpot | — | TBC |
| Consultation Doubles | — | 7pts (Final 9 pts) |
| Speedgammon | — | 5pts Including Final |
| Seniors | — | 7pts Including Final |
| DMP Challenge | — | 1pt Throughout |
| Women's World Cup | Undefeated | 7pts |
| Grand Final | 9pts |
World Teams (National & Women's)
Group Stage11pts
Elimination13pts (Final 15 pts)
World Individual
Undefeated13pts (Semi & Final 15 pts)
2nd Chance9pts (Semi & Final 11 pts)
Grand Final17pts
Last Chance5pts (Final 7 pts)
Intermediates
Undefeated11pts (Semi & Final 13 pts)
2nd Chance7pts (Semi & Final 9 pts)
Grand Final15pts
Last Chance5pts (Final 7 pts)
Super Jackpot
Match11pts
Limited Jackpot
MatchTBC
Consultation Doubles
Match7pts (Final 9 pts)
Speedgammon
Match5pts Including Final
Seniors
Match7pts Including Final
DMP Challenge
Match1pt Throughout
Women's World Cup
Undefeated7pts
Grand Final9pts
Prizes
Added money for World Individual Championships: £5,000
In each category, 100% of total entry in the prize pool will be returned as money prize, distributed as follows.
World Teams Championships
| Winner Team | 60% |
| Finalist Team | 25% |
| 3rd Place | 12.5% |
| Best Individual Performer | 2.5% |
Individual & Intermediate — Main Bracket
| Main Winner | 40% |
| Main Finalist | 18% |
| Main 3rd Place | 9% |
| Main 4th & 5th | 4.5 each% |
| Main 6th/7th/8th/9th | 2 each% |
Individual & Intermediate
| Undefeated Bracket / Winner Bonus | 4% |
| Undefeated Bracket / Finalist Bonus | 2% |
| Undefeated Bracket / Semi-Finalist Bonus | 1 each% |
| Last Chance Winner | 5.5% |
| Last Chance Finalist | 2.5% |
Consultation Doubles
| Winner Team | 50% |
| Finalist Team | 25% |
| Semi-Finalist Teams | 12.5% |
The Organisers may vary the exact percentages to account for the number of participants.
Accommodation
There are two hotels in the same building where the event is taking place, the Ibis and the Mercure. We have negotiated special rates for these hotels as detailed below.
Guests can make a reservation directly by quoting WORLDCHAMPS when sending a Reservation Request email to [email protected] with their full name, contact details & requested dates.
Upon confirmation, a secure payment link will be sent to the guest, and payment must be completed within 72 hours to secure the reservation; otherwise, the reservation will be automatically cancelled.
Try booking direct with the hotel! You might get a better rate!
Please note: any incidental or extra charges incurred during the stay are to be settled directly by the guests. These rates apply to 21st – 30th August only. Breakfast is included in all rates. Limited availability – see below.
| Hotel | Occupancy | Per Night | Available |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ibis | Single | £169.00 | 10 |
| Ibis | Double | £179.00 | 30 |
| Mercure | Single | £199.00 | 10 |
| Mercure | Double | £209.00 | 30 |
IbisSingle
Per Night£169.00
Available10
IbisDouble
Per Night£179.00
Available30
MercureSingle
Per Night£199.00
Available10
MercureDouble
Per Night£209.00
Available30
Tournament Hosts
Producer
Tony Lezard
UK Backgammon Federation
Tournament Director
Arda Fındıkoğlu
Esteemed Partner
Bernhard Mayr
World Backgammon Federation