The UK Backgammon
Champions league 2023

Who can play in the UK Champions League?
The UK Champions League is by invitation only.  This competition takes the top 32 players from the eight main regional leagues around the UK.​​
Group Stage
Each player must play 3 x 11 point matches against all three other players in their group.  All twelve matches must be played by the end of June.  The top two in each group qualify for the Champions Finals Stage.  Third and fourth in each group qualify for the Challenge Finals Stage.  Dead rubbers do not need to be played or can be played in a reduced format.
Table position decided by number of match wins, with tie-breakers in the following order:
  • accumulated match score difference
  • accumulated number of points scored​
  • head to head results
    • ​That is the higher number of head to head matches played among the players in question.  The player with the most head to head match wins is deemed to finish higher in the group.  If the players in question are three or more and two or more players are still tied on head to head match wins, score difference becomes the tie-breaker between these players.​
  • 1-point play-off
    ​

​Finals Stage
There are two Finals Stages - 16-Player Champions and a 16-Player Challenge.
This is a Knock-Out format of best of three 11-point matches.  
Round 1 draw for the Champions is:
  1. Match 1:  Winner Group A plays Runner up Group B
  2. Match 2:  Winner Group C plays Runner up Group D
  3. Match 3:  Runner up Group A plays Winner Group B 
  4. Match 4:  Runner up Group C plays Winner Group D
  5. and so on for all groups
            To be played by 31st August
Quarter-Finals To be played by 31st October 
Semi Finals to be played by 30th November 
Both Finals to be played by 31st December
There is a similiar draw in the Challenge Finals. ​
​
Rules
What else should I know?
The Champions League Committee is: The Committee will rule on any incidents not involving themselves.  If an incident involves a member of the committee they will be replaced by an individual nominated by the non-involved committee.  Any decisions by the committee will be made in the interest of sportsmanship over gamesmanship.
The Champions League Committee can change the rules and format of the league competition without notice.  This would only ever be done to evolve the competition to everyone’s benefit and no-one will be purposely disadvantaged by these changes.
This is a FUN tournament – prize fund is secondary.  Any player losing sight of this may not be invited back for future seasons.

The "Clocks Preference" Rule is applicable for ANY LIVE MATCHES.   This rule states that if any player wishes to use a clock and there is a dedicated working clock available then the match is on the clock.  12 seconds per move with a 2 minute per point time bank.  If a player times out, his match score is taken as the number of points he/she achieved before timing out.
The clock must be a dedicated device that uses the "Simple Delay" system of reserve time per move and per move deductibles.  Smartphone apps that have the "Simple Delay" system can only be used if both players agree.

Online matches are now Clock Preference;  Backgammon Studio or Backgammon Galaxy or Backgammonhub may be used for clocked online matches:
  • Clock Settings for Galaxy – Normal (1 minute + 10 seconds)
  • Clock Settings for Heroes – Live3 (1 minute + 10 seconds)
  • Clock Settings for Hub - 1 minute + 10 seconds
    ​
Players may agree to "double up" the result of an 11-point match in another competition as a Champions League result.   But this can only apply with the PRIOR agreement of both players.  This could be in another League competition or any other event with face-to-face play.
BUT IT IS NOT PERMISSIBLE TO PLAY A SINGLE GROUP MATCH AND COUNT IT AS TWO RESULTS!
Only fully completed matches count towards your total.