EVENT CALENDAR

System of play: - Each player plays 9 rounds according to the Swiss system (which is frequently used in international chess tournaments). - On the Saturday 5 rounds will be played, on the Sunday the 4 remaining rounds. - Each round will be a 9-point match against a player who has won (approximately) the same number of matches. In this way a player who loses a match may still win first prize when he wins enough matches in the other rounds. - Prizes will be given to the top 20-25% of players in the final ranking. In case of equal number of matches won, prizes will be shared. - Electronic clocks will be used in each match. The time limit will be 18 minutes for the whole match plus 12 seconds added time for each move (Bronstein system).

Please make your reservation in advance with Paul van Rooijen at pro@zeelandnet.nl and please tell your friends to come too.

Don’t miss this very special event! The results for this tournament will count for the Benelux Backgammon Tour, see: http://sites.google.com/site/beneluxbackgammon/

Organised by the Antwerp Backgammon Club in a coproduction with Paul van Rooijen, International Chess Arbiter.

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Tournament report of 6th edition, January 2010:

Final results (26 players):

Winner: Luc Palmans (8 points)

Runner-up: Susan van der Heijden (7 points)

Prizes 3 to 7: Hans Willem Capel, Paul van Dijke, Rogier van Gemert, Toon Van Herreweghen, Johan Segers (6 points)

Tournament Report:

The organisers of the 6th Backgammon Masters Open International Edition were very happy to welcome 26 players who made it to the Belgian city of Antwerp, considering the bad weather that had prevented players from Ireland and Germany to travel. Among the players were threefold Dutch National Champion Rogier van Gemert and 2006 World Champion Philip Vischjager, plus many other strong players to make up a very strong field, competing for the official Open Championship of the Low Countries.

In this two day event with a Swiss System format, a total of 9 rounds were played using electronic clocks, with a time limit of 18 minutes global time plus 12 seconds free time for each move (Bronstein system). Every round consisted of a 9 point match against a player with (approximately) the same number of matches won. In this system a player who loses a match may still win first prize if he wins enough matches in the other rounds. In other words, the Consolation and Last Chance are integrated in the same tournament.

Last year’s winner Johan Segers started well with wins against Michel Lamote and Ronny Conaert, but lost his third match against Toon Van Herreweghen. After four rounds only Toon van Herreweghen and Luc Palmans from Belgium had won all their matches. The crucial fifth round match between the two leaders was won by Palmans, who took a one point lead as a result. With this strong first day performance he repeated his start of last year’s tournament. The difference came on the second day, where Palmans had lost his lead last year. This time he was much more consistent, beating Ruud Kallenbach in round 6 and Ronny Conaert in round 7. After win number 8 against Johan Segers he was already certain of a clear first place and the title.

The last round was a real thriller, because Susan van der Heijden from The Netherlands, who was fighting for a clear second place, had to beat Luc Palmans to achieve her goal. Luc on the other hand was trying to remain undefeated. The spectators were in for a real treat, because this match was as exciting as anyone could have hoped for. Susan took a big lead, but after reaching the Crawford score she ran into big difficulties when Luc Palmans managed to conjure up wild complications, clawing his way back one game after another. In the end Susan just succeeded to stop Luc’s come-back by finally clinching the last point, securing her second place.

Third place was shared by Johan Segers, Toon Van Herreweghen, Paul van Dijke, Rogier van Gemert and Hans Willem Capel. As a result, seven players have scored their first Master Points for the newly started Benelux Backgammon Tour 2010. Next year’s Backgammon Masters Tournament will be held on January 8 and 9, 2011.