WBGF Team SABGA Fundraiser + Africa Open Satellite

📆 15 August 2026
🕒 9am Calcutta Auction, 10am play begins
📍Protea Fire and Ice! Cape Town by Marriot

Tickets are now LIVE on SnapScan, our new payment partner, use the links below 🎟️🤝🎫

We got TWO events running concurrently, both in the big hall 🛕 .

It’ll be great to have representatives from Hout Bay, Tokai, Claremont, Helderberg, Nish Nush, Arthur’s and regulars of the SABGA leagues!

🤸 🎊 🤼 🫯 ⛹️ ✨🍻

All participants will enjoy at least 3 matches, but also, what a great chance to experience a ‘proper’ backgammon event alongside other enthusiasts?!

  • Matches played with Crawford Rule, Clock mandatory for Advanced players, No Jacoby.
  • WBGF Rules apply: https://www.wbfturkey.com/doc/Tournament_Rules_WBGF.pdf
  • Prizes include seats for Africa Open AND cash prizes. Prize allocation based on number of entries, to be announced at tournament start.
  • Players sorted by WINS, Wins vs Tied Participants, Median-Buchholz system (sum of players’ opponents’ scores, with best and worse discarded)

Tournament Directors: Nick Groll, Mike Hagglund, Doron Claxton, Max Urban

⚔️ ‘ADVANCED’ EVENT⚔️ :🗡️ INTERMEDIATE EVENT:🗡️
The Advanced event will be played in a Swiss Format with all matches to 7pts, and played with a clock. Everyone will get at least 3 matches; multiple winners will get a seat to the Africa Open Master division worth $500! 🤯
Entry is R1000 with a R250 donation on top to help Team SABGA pay for their entry to the WBGF Team Champs in London! 🙏

Tickets via SnapScan:
https://pos.snapscan.io/open/ticket_event_new/22e18a84-d644-413b-ad8d-8bd797c2865d		The Intermediate event will be played in a Swiss Format, with all matches to 3pts.
Everyone gets (at least) 3 matches, and multiple winners will get seats to the Africa Open Intermediate division worth $250 💵
Entry is just R200 with a R50 donation on top to help Team SABGA pay for their entry to the WBGF Team Champs in London 🙏

Grab a seat here 🪑🎟️ 📲 :
https://pos.snapscan.io/open/ticket_event_new/0b4c4beb-c896-48b6-a53a-3d49b55ae88e

Questions? Ask Nick 0711217022

CTB x Arthurs: MINI SUPER BACKGAMMON NIGHTS

Cape Town Backgammon and Arthurs Mini Super are collaborating to host a Winter series of 3 backgammon nights in 2026. The first night took place on Thursday 21st of May, with Nicholas finishing top, defeating Tanya in the final. Four players tied for 3rd place: Menno, Pierre, Josh and Martin.

Full results of each night can be found on Challonge:
* https://challonge.com/CTBArthurs1/standings
* https://challonge.com/CTBArthurs2/standings
* https://challonge.com/CTBArthurs3/standings
* https://challonge.com/CTBArthurs4/standings

The final event is taking place on Tuesday July 21st 2026 – contact Mike (083 603 2221) for more info, or get in touch via our social WhatsApp group: https://chat.whatsapp.com/KZ7JTBClg5pHwwKiechBw3

Full Standings:

NameOverall RankOverall Points
Nicholas157
Josh249
Louis339
Tessa437
Tanya535
Menno632
Chantelle H728
Jacob827
Martin=926
Morris=926
Harriet=1125
Jean=1125
Fiona1324
Panagiotis1422
Liesa=1520
Mark=1520
Pierre=1520
Chantal M1819
Matthew1918
Lionel2017
Michael2116
Jordan2215
Daniel B2314
Katrien2413

The tournaments have been run by Cape Town Backgammon as a series of 1pt (DMP) matches, with matches scheduled using a Swiss-format sorting method, limited to 32 players in total. Entry fee is R250 and includes a R50 food and drink voucher. The rest of the money goes back into the prize pool, with prizes on offer at the end of every evening, as well as at the end of the series for the top players, based on points accrued over the tournament series.

As per poster, please contact Mike (083 603 2221) for more info!

Newly-affiliated Backgammon clubs are ready to get things rolling…

Cape Town Backgammon is proud to formally announce its affiliation with Mind­sport South Africa (Mindsport SA) — a meaningful milestone for our club and for backgammon in the Western Cape.

This affiliation recognises not only where Cape Town Backgammon is today, but also the steady, community-driven journey that has brought us here.

A decade of growth, community, and competition

Cape Town Backgammon was founded in June 2013 by two brothers with a simple idea: to create a regular, welcoming space to play backgammon in Cape Town. What began as informal local meet-ups has grown year on year into a structured and increasingly visible backgammon community.

Over the past decade, the club has:

  • Hosted live tournaments in Cape Town
  • Run online round-robin leagues, connecting players across regions
  • Introduced annual awards celebrating performance, improvement, and contribution to the community
  • Actively supported local players competing at international events

Perhaps most notably, Cape Town Backgammon proudly supported Doron Claxton, who reached the final of the Backgammon World Championships in Monte Carlo in 2025 — a landmark achievement for South African backgammon.

Mindsport SA affiliation and the Cape Town Open 2026

Affiliation with Mindsport SA represents an important step forward: aligning Cape Town Backgammon with recognised national structures, governance, and player pathways.

Our first major milestone under this affiliation will be the Cape Town Open, taking place from 20–22 February 2026, officially endorsed by Mindsport SA.

In addition to the Open division, regional colours will be awarded to the best-performing players in the following categories:

  • Open
  • Female
  • Youth (U-25)
  • Junior (U-18)

This event is designed to showcase competitive excellence while also highlighting the inclusivity and developmental focus of backgammon as a recognised mindsport.

Growing the game — especially in schools

A central focus for Cape Town Backgammon is growing the game, particularly among younger players. We are actively committed to introducing backgammon into schools in Cape Town and surrounding areas, where it serves as a powerful tool for developing:

  • Strategic thinking
  • Probability awareness
  • Decision-making under uncertainty
  • Sportsmanship and resilience

Backgammon’s blend of skill, mathematics, and psychology makes it uniquely well suited to the educational space, and we see enormous potential for growth at grassroots level.

Social play in the city

Alongside structured competition, Cape Town Backgammon continues to host regular social evenings in the Cape Town CBD. These sessions are intentionally relaxed and inclusive — a perfect opportunity to:

  • Meet new people
  • Learn the game or improve your skills
  • Play casual or competitive matches in a friendly environment

Whether you’re a seasoned tournament player or completely new to backgammon, social nights remain the heartbeat of the club.

A connected, welcoming community

Our community extends well beyond Cape Town. Through active WhatsApp groups, Cape Town Backgammon players are closely connected with South African backgammon players across the country, as well as an international network of enthusiasts and competitors.

New members are always welcome — whether you’re curious about learning the game, looking for regular competition, or aiming to compete at national and international level.

Affiliation with Mindsport SA marks the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Cape Town Backgammon. We look forward to building stronger pathways for players, hosting high-quality events, and continuing to grow a vibrant backgammon community in Cape Town and beyond.

2026 SABGA Online Backgammon Round Robin Leagues kicking off soon!

The 2026 edition of the SABGA Online Backgammon Round Robin Leagues will kick off on 11th January 2026, with the first (of four) series concluding on 2nd April 2026.

Here’s the full calendar:

2026 LEAGUE CALENDAR:
Series 1: 11 Jan 2026 – 2 April 2026
Series 2: 3 April 2026 – 23 June 2026
Series 3: 24 June 2026 – 13 September 2026
Series 4: 14 September 2026 – 5 December 2026

Full rules can be found here: https://www.sabga.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/SABGA-Online-Backgammon-Round-Robin-Leagues-2026-rules-etc-v1.pdf

Sign-up here: https://bit.ly/SABGAsignup2026

More info here: SABGA Round Robin Leagues

Doron Claxton’s Monte Carlo Masterclass: A Heart-Stopping Final and a New Dawn for SA Backgammon

Excitement mounted like never before in anticipation of the Backgammon World Championship final in Monte Carlo, as Doron Claxton, representing South Africa, prepared to make further inroads into the history books. Word spread rapidly among friends, family, and the backgammon community as more and more people tuned in to watch the action unfold.

In Cape Town, a watch party turned into a roaring, electric event — shouts of joy and disbelief, loud clapping when Doron found the right play, whoops and hollas when the dice delivered, with kids running wild around the action, the room was enthused with Claxton-fever. And Doron delivered on everyone’s wishes.

He started strong, outplaying his Finnish opponent, Timo Vaatainen, with poise and confidence. In a thoughtful and relaxed manner, Doron raced ahead to a 4–0 lead. Slapping the doubling cube on the felt with his signature flair, it was suddenly 8–3. Timo called for a five-minute break.

Doron, calm and composed, stepped out of the room and recorded a cheerful and contented video message to his supporters back home. The momentum continued: 10–3, then 12–5, and soon 14–6, with Timo playing a desperate 1-4 backgame and his clock slipping dangerously low.

At that point, a South African victory felt almost inevitable.

But backgammon is a game of sharp turns. One wrong roll, one cruel bounce, and everything can shift. After more than two and a half hours of play, Timo’s backgame found with a hit. Doron, with seven checkers already borne off, faced a critical decision as the cube came back at 4. He “snap”-took it instantly — and entered a race for the win.

Agonisingly, the race was lost. The score shifted to 14–10 instead of what could have been 18–6.

Unshaken, Doron played on. He clawed back another 2 points, moving ahead 16–10, while Timo’s time bank dropped to just two minutes. Then, a twist: Doron played brilliantly but luck turned against him, and Timo claimed four points, bringing the score to 16–14. The players paused for a second break, after three gruelling hours, with Timo’s clock now down to just 46 seconds.

The final stretch was unforgettable. Doron reached 17–14, just two points from glory. Then came the decider: 17–17, the cube on 2, both players deep into the bear-off to decide the champion.

Doron hit one of Timo’s exposed checkers — victory nearly in hand — but Timo rolled one of his few winning numbers. With just six seconds left on his clock, he brought all his checkers home.

The room erupted. Finnish cheers filled Monte Carlo. Doron, drained and stunned, dropped his head in disappointment and slunked out to hugs and consolation from his team. A heroic journey had ended just short of the ultimate prize.

But this is not a story of loss. It is a story of arrival.

Doron Claxton has left his mark — not only on the World Championship — but on the entire global backgammon community. His courageous, impulsive, and human style of play is a breath of fresh air in a world dominated by robotic, memorised patterns and overly calculated lines. Doron’s run captivated thousands. He showed that there is room for flair, instinct, and fearlessness on the biggest stage. The live broadcast of the match drew a record 2,500+ viewers, making it the most-watched backgammon match ever streamed on YouTube!

And back home, the impact of this incredible debut international performance is just beginning.

Cape Town Backgammon will soon become the first officially affiliated club under Mind Sports South Africa, with Johannesburg Backgammon not far behind. Plans are already underway for:

  • Social evenings for newcomers
  • Workshops and mentorship for developing players
  • And, for the first time ever: an official BMAB event on African soil

Doron’s journey has reminded us of what makes backgammon special — its drama, its unpredictability, and its community. More than anything, he’s shown the world that South Africa belongs in the upper echelons of this ancient and beautiful game.

Welcome home, Doron. You’ve inspired a nation.

Doron Claxton reaches World Championship Final in Monte Carlo

As featured on the Mindsports SA blog at: https://esportscommentator.blogspot.com/2025/08/backgammon-south-african-player-reaches.html :

Backgammon: South African Player Reaches World Championship Final in Monte Carlo

Doron Claxton deep in thought at 13-13 enroute to the final

For many South Africans, backgammon might conjure nostalgic memories of a game played on a coffee table, dice clattering on wood, and moments of triumph or despair in a race to bear off the final checker. But backgammon is more than a casual pastime—it’s a globally respected mind sport with international competition, elite rankings, and now, a South African in the final of the World Championship in Monte Carlo.

Yes, you read that correctly!

Doron Claxton, a long-standing and much-loved player in the Cape Town Backgammon scene, has just accomplished what no South African has done before : he’s reached the final of the Backgammon World Championship.

What makes Doron’s run even more remarkable is the way it started – on a bit of a whim. Spurred by instinct and opportunity, Doron entered the tournament and received a bye in the first round. From there, the road to the final was anything but easy. Facing a lineup of world-class competitors, Doron strung together a series of stunning wins, including a victory over fellow Capetonian, Dirk Howsley, and Lebanese Grandmaster Toni Bernaba.

In the quarterfinal, Doron came up against Chris Rogers, falling behind 8–13 in a match to 17. What followed was a display of tenacity and strategic mastery. He clawed his way back to win the match, showing grit and resilience under pressure.

After a short rest, Doron faced Christoph Wagener in the semi-final. This match was streamed live on the Backgammon Galaxy YouTube channel, with expert commentary from Justin Nowell and legendary Japanese pro Masayuki “Michi” Mochizuki. Once again, Doron found himself trailing. But with calm under fire and a superbly timed use of the doubling cube, he shifted the dynamics and closed the match 17–14, booking his seat at the final table.

On Sunday, 3 August 2025, Doron will face Finland’s Timo Vaatainen in the championship match, streamed live on YouTube at 3:00 PM (Monaco time – which is also SA time). You can catch it on the Backgammon Galaxy YouTube channel, and we encourage every South African mind sport enthusiast to tune in and support. The site is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zndiQmd15B8

This moment marks not only a personal triumph for Doron but also a milestone for South African backgammon. While the game has long had a passionate following in pockets across the country, formal structures under the Mind Sports South Africa umbrella are just starting to take shape. To date, no backgammon clubs are officially affiliated with MSSA—but that is about to change. Cape Town Backgammon is preparing to become the first affiliate, with Johannesburg Backgammon also showing strong signs of interest.

Backgammon is a mind sport that blends mathematical probability, psychological intuition, and high-stakes decision-making. It rewards focus, strategy, and risk management. As such, it sits proudly alongside other disciplines already recognized by MSSA and SASCOC.

With Doron Claxton now representing South Africa on the world’s biggest stage, there has never been a better time for players—new and experienced—to pick up the dice, join a club, and roll their way into this exciting global community.

Watch the Final

📅 Date: Sunday 3 August 2025

🕒 Time: 3:00 PM (SA/Monaco time)

📺 Live on: Backgammon Galaxy YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zndiQmd15B8



The South African backgammon community heads online during #lockdown2020

With the global COVID-19 pandemic spreading like wildfire across Europe, the South African government imposed one of the strictest ‘lock-downs’ of any country in March 2020. This brought to an end, many opportunities for work and play alike, not withstanding the Cape Town Backgammon calendar which was in full-swing.

With some quick thinking, a new WhatsApp group was set up to host some online backgammon events to help pass the time. Soon enough, players were invited from Johannesburg Backgammon Club, followed by players from Durban and expat South Africans and friends from all around the world.

It was decided to put a portion of the entry fee towards charity, and over the course of 2020, more than R100 000 was raised and donated to charities, with many feedings schemes, GBV charities, and animal shelters among the recipients of the South African backgammon Community’s generosity.

Since then, a number of tournaments have taken place, allowing the South African Backgammon communities to come together. Out of this, the South African Backgammon Association (SABGA) was established, to represent the group’s interests.

The online tournaments have fluctuated in format, size and entry fee, and almost all have featured a Calcutta Auction before hand. Some of these events will likely become annual affairs, such as the UBC-format SA Galaxy Champs and the SABGA Women’s Month Tournament. If you would like to participate, please contact us to be added to the WhatsApp Group.

The results of these online tournaments (still ongoing!) can be found on the Results Table.

Transcribing a match with XG

If you have Extreme Gammon (aka ‘XG’) for PC, you’ll find the ‘transcribe a match’ option on the startup menu, or under the Menu at the Status Bar.

Here are some pro-tips for transcribing a match:

If bottom player gets opening roll, type larger number FIRST.

Shortcuts:

  • T – ‘takeback’
  • F – ‘fan’ / bounce when player on the bar
  • E – ‘edit’ mode
  • ‘Right-click’ to cancel
  • Keying in the next dice moves to next player’s roll
  • Crtl-D to ‘double’ or click doubling cube
  • Crtl-S to ‘save’

A lot of these tips came from the ‘Help’ menu, and from this video from the USBGF: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Est8yjcONac

Cape Town Backgammon

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