Cape Town Backgammon formed in the winter of 2013, as a means for two brothers to find new backgammon opponents. Tired of playing each other, a Facebook post was created and after gathering a bit of interest, the first backgammon and coffee morning was set up, at The Handle Bar, a former coffee shop on Sea Point main road.
With humble initial goals, a Facebook page was set up, under the title “City Bowl Backgammon”. Soon, this grew and a rankings table was established. In time, tournaments were held, and a round robin established. Today, the Round Robin leagues are the heart-and-soul of Cape Town Backgammon.
Play then moved to Hard Pressed Cafe, on Bree St. run by club member Yaron Weisenbacher.
Further details and History:
Mission
Our aim is to create and support a backgammon culture in Cape Town that is inclusive, sociable and competitive.
Adminstered by Nick BG (email: nick@sabga.co.za).
Facebook Group : https://www.facebook.com/groups/citybowlbackgammon
Honours Roll: Please note – there has been a pause on honours roll – to be resumed in 2025 under a National SABGA system.
PLAYER OF THE YEAR (POTY):
This competition is FREE to enter – just make sure you play 40 matches over the course of the year, and you stand a chance to win the coveted trophy!
- 2014 POTY: Doron Claxton
- 2015 POTY: Max Urban
- 2016 POTY: Doron Claxton
- 2017 POTY: Max Urban
- 2018 POTY: Max Urban
- 2019 POTY: Max Urban
ROUND ROBIN (RR):
This is the bread-and-butter of our group – we’ve got 6 leagues of 10 players each, from A down to F. Over the course of the year, players compete within their leagues in the hope of being promoted to a higher league, avoiding relegation to a lower league and ultimately, trying to finish top of the A-league! Each A-League winner, earns R500 and qualifies for an end-of-year Champion’s Knock-Out. We currently have a waiting list to join the Round Robin, contact Nick BG for more info (capetownbackgammon@gmail.com)
- 2015 RR Champion: Arthur Gillis
- 2016 RR Champion: Doron Claxton
- 2017 RR Champion: Doron Claxton
- 2018 RR Champion: Brent Shapiro
- 2019 RR Champion: Max Urban
- 2020 RR Champion: Max Urban
- 2021 RR Champion: tbd
- 2022 RR Champion: tbd
- 2023 RR Champion: tbd
- 2024: Sabbatical Year
DOUBLE CHALLENGE CUP (DC CUP):
This 32-player, double-elimination tournament, allows 10 days per match, to be arranged between players. Match length increases with each round. Standard tournament rules apply (Doubling Cube, Crawford Rule, no beavers, no Jacoby)
- 2016 DC Cup winner: Doron Claxton
- 2017 DC Cup winner: Darren Kramer
- 2018 DC Cup winner: – no competition –
MOST IMPROVED PLAYER (MIP):
This trophy is awarded at the chairman’s discretion to the player who has improved the most over the year.
- 2015 MIP: Brent Shapiro
- 2016 MIP: Adam Sack
- 2017 MIP: Frans Hollenbach
- 2018 MIP: Michael Hagglund
- 2019 MIP: Wallie vd Walt & Teager Eales
- 2020 MIP: Nick BG
JUSTIN GOLDMAN MEMORIAL CUP:
This cup is awarded each year, by vote by club members, to the player who most exemplified the spirit with which the late Justin Goldman (13 April 1985 – 16 May 2016) participated – with integrity, honour, politeness and respect.
- 2016: Nick BG
- 2017: Ami Kapilevich
- 2018: Michael Hagglund
- 2019: Omri Thomas