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The only purely speedgammon tournament in the world
Hola Espana
The SpeedGammon Challenge
This special tournament and only one of its kind ever, is for the speedy backgammon lovers.
The Main Event will be held in a SpeedGammon time setting (2 min. total + 10 secs. delay per move), offering a lot of games. Each round will be a „best of 3 matches to 5 points“. The main competition will be in the popular ft-swiss-format with 3 lives. However, we will also offer side events throughout the tournament days, both in speed and normal settings, as well as a super-jackpot, a doubles and the Super-Speed-Challenge.
The “sunshine & beach” event will take place at the THB EL Cid Class Hotel**** on the beach in Playa de Palma, a few minutes away from the international airport and Palma de Mallorca with restaurants, bars, beach promenade, pools and wellness.
The schedule allows vacation on the beach, social dinners with friends, daily Chouette by the pool and sightseeing trips.
Thursday will be off for a joint katamaran tour on the sea with barbecue, open bar, music, swimming and snorkeling off-shore.
We will offer an awards ceremony on the last day with Spanish Sangria.
DUE TO SPACE LIMITATION, THIS TOURNAMENT IS FOR 50 PARTICIPANTS MAX (1st come, 1st served by registering per E-Mail:
info@world-backgammon-association.com)
Come and enjoy the excellent food and wines, the warm sunshine, the sandy beaches and this unique tournament in Majorca among friends.
No need to bring your own board. Professional tournament tabletop boards, lipped dice-cups, score-boards and clocks will be provided. Precision dice can be borrowed on the spot for a deposit of 50€.
Social Day on the Catamaran Boat (cat as cat can)
Thursday will be play-free and we will spend it on a chartered catamaran with barbecue and open bar on board, swimming, snorkeling, sunbathing and fun among backgammon friends.
Costs per person: 100 € (social guests and companies welcome). This includes bus transfer from and back to the hotel, catamaran and staff, barbecue and open bar
Come along and bring your social guests with you.
Pre-payment of 50€ required. Info per email.
Events & Fees
Equipment will be provided (boards, lipped dice-cups, score-boards, clocks)
„Espana Olé“ warm-up (limited to 32 players, first come, first served, rebuys possible until full): 25 € / 5 point speedgammon matches, Single Elimination, First Prize: free stay at the THB ElCid during next SpeedGammon Challenge in Mallorca
Main Event Championships: 400 € entry + 100 € registration + 100 € catamaran day / optional
side-pool 150 € (95% return) / 5 points speedgammon matches (each
round „best of 3“), T-Swiss Format, 3 lives.
100 € per person and social guests for the Thursday catamaran tour (includes transfer to/from the boat, barbecue, open bar on the chartered catamaran). Pre-payment of 50€ per person required (info per email).
Social Doubles: 300 € per team (85% return), 7 points, single elimination,
clock mandatory (regular time settings: 3 minutes per points + 15 secs
delay per move)
DMP-Challenge: 10 € (85% return), multiple entries allowed
Mini-Jackpots (4 players): 25 €, 50 €, 100 € available during all weekend in normal and in speed format
Super-Jackpot: 500 € (90% return), 9 point matches, either in speedgammon format (3:30 min total + 10 secs delay) or in normal setting (18 min total + 12 secs delay), by popular demand.
Super-Speed-Challenge: 50 € (90% return), multiple entries allowed,
5 point matches (time settings: 30 seconds total + 7 seconds delay per
move).
Registrations for the SpeedGammon Challenge must be made via email
(info@world-backgammon-association.com), before 31st August 2023. Late registrations (after 1st September) may be subject to an additional 20 € fee.
Hotel & Reservation
Hotel THB El Cid, located in Playa de Palma (Mallorca), is a modern 4-stars hotel located on the sea front in one of the most recognized areas of the island. With superb facilities and services, THB El Cid is an excellent choice for those wishing to enjoy an unforgettable holiday with friends or as a couple. Located about 15 minutes from the airport and 5 minutes from Palma city, this „adults only hotel“ is located right on the beach. In the hotel, you will find a full range of services that will make your stay in Majorca a memorable experience. In addition, you will find just a few minutes from the hotel, a whole variety of bars, restaurants and shops that make Playa de Palma one of the nicer areas of Majorca.
The THB El Cid Class Hotel has 216 newly refurbished rooms (single, double, superior, junior suite and suites) fully equipped and conditioned
to ensure a comfortable and pleasant stay to our guests. The hotel features 2 outdoor pool areas, a promenade along the beach, a terrace, one indoor pool and wellness area, several bars and a restaurant. The hotel offers water activities, cycling, tennis, volley-ball and gym.
”Special Backgammon Rates”:
Single room, including breakfast and dinner buffet: 710 € (7 nights package)
Double room, including breakfast and dinner buffet: 1065 € (7 nights package)
Please make your reservation quickly and mention ”backgammon” upon booking. Rooms at the backgammon rate are limited and requests after filling the quota or passing the cut-off date (August 31st) will be accepted on a space and rate available basis. The hotel is very popular and mostly sold out!
Average temperatures in Mallorca in October: 26°C
Please book a soon as possible and before 31st August 2023,
mentioning ”Backgammon”, per email:
elcid@thbhotels.com or
info@world-backgammon-association.com
Past Winners
2022: Radu Ciortan (Romania)
2021: not assigned, due to COVID pandemic
2020: not assigned, due to COVID pandemic
2019: Michihito "Michi" Kageyama (Japan)
2018: Jens Averkamp (Germany)
General Conditions
Only cash payments in €uro will be accepted.
The WBA tournament rules will apply.
This event is by invitation only, thus the tournament committee and directors reserve the right to refuse application or admittance without giving due reason.
The usage of official tournament precision dice is mandatory. Clocks are mandatory in all main & side-events.
Tournament trophies will be presented during the awards ceremony only.
Leaving the tournament area without informing the Tournament Director and/or staff might result in penalty points and forfeit.
The Tournament Directors reserve the right to change the program during the event.
The Tournament Director’s ruling is final, unless over-ruled by the Ruling Committee.