2017 UK BG Champions league
Format and Qualification
The 2017 competition has been expanded from the 2016 entry of 32 players (16 in 2015) from the five regional leagues around the UK to 40 players invited from the seven regional leagues in the UK. The format will be similiar to 2016 but with the following changes. There will be eight qualification groups of five players in 2017 H1. This means that players will now face four other opponents in the group stage with the top two players in each group proceeding to the 16-player Champions League Final Stage in 2017 H2.
The third and fourth-placed finishers in each group will play in a 16-player Consolation Tournament in 2017 H2 – The UK Backgammon Challenge. The lowest player in each group will not partake in 2017 H2.
The number of Champions League places allocated to each league is dependent on the number of players in each league on 1st August 2016. The ratio of players in each league against the number of league players in the UK overall is used to allocate Champions League places.
As a result of this ratio, the following Champions League places have been allocated to each league for 2017:
Within each regional league, individual Champions League places are allocated based on the final highest finishing positions in the top division at the end of 2016. For example, the four players in Division One of the Midlands League at the end of 2016Q4 would be invited. If a player declines to take part in the Champions League, his/her position is then offered to the next highest finisher in that same league.
Seeding and the Draw for the Qualification Groups
Five pots are used for the draw with one player from each pot going into each individual qualification group.
All other aspects of the competition remain the same as in 2016 which you can read about here.
The third and fourth-placed finishers in each group will play in a 16-player Consolation Tournament in 2017 H2 – The UK Backgammon Challenge. The lowest player in each group will not partake in 2017 H2.
The number of Champions League places allocated to each league is dependent on the number of players in each league on 1st August 2016. The ratio of players in each league against the number of league players in the UK overall is used to allocate Champions League places.
As a result of this ratio, the following Champions League places have been allocated to each league for 2017:
- London – 15
- Bristol - 7
- North-West – 5
- Worcester - 5
- Midlands – 4
- Sussex – 2
- North-East - 1
- 2016 Champions League Winner - 1
Within each regional league, individual Champions League places are allocated based on the final highest finishing positions in the top division at the end of 2016. For example, the four players in Division One of the Midlands League at the end of 2016Q4 would be invited. If a player declines to take part in the Champions League, his/her position is then offered to the next highest finisher in that same league.
- One of the 15 Champions League places allocated to London will be offered to the winner of the 2016 London League Cup. If the winner of the League Cup has already qualified for the Champions League, their place will be offered to the League Cup runner-up. Should that person have qualified as well, the place will go to the 15th highest finisher in the London League.
Seeding and the Draw for the Qualification Groups
Five pots are used for the draw with one player from each pot going into each individual qualification group.
- Pot 1 - Winner of the UK Champions League 2016; top 7 finishers in London League
- Pot 2 – 8th-14th finishers in London League; Winner of the London League Cup
- Pot 3 – All 7 Bristol Players; North-East 1st
- Pot 4 – All 5 North-West players; Midlands 1st & 2nd ; Sussex 1st
- Pot 5 – All 5 Worcester players; Midlands 3rd & 4th ; Sussex 2nd
All other aspects of the competition remain the same as in 2016 which you can read about here.