What you said & what we're doing about it....

You'll probably remember that back in September we surveyed players on what they love about BGiE and what they'd like to see more of or done differently. We had over 50 responses and numerous excellent suggestions and ideas - a big thank you to everyone that contributed!

We've been working away since, formulating what BGiE will focus on as a result in 2025, and can now reveal the exciting new offerings you will see, alongside our regular Monday club nights which will continue as usual.

Ealing Invitational Knockout - a mandatory £50 entry tournament, held at the Rose & Crown once a month on the 3rd Wednesday and limited to 16 players. Strictly by invitation only.

This will come with the usual great vibe and organisation that you love about BGiE and addresses the concern that knockout play was being lost from the club.

Improved Grand Prix – now F1 and F2 - for the F1 GP a mandatory £30 entry 16 player Swiss tournament, with a major cash prize for the year-end winner. Alongside this the F2 GP will be a variable pool entry (£0, £10, £20) Swiss tournament limited to 16 players, with a smaller year-end cash prize. Both held at the Rose & Crown once a month on the 2nd Monday.

This builds on the success of the past 2 years of GP while simplifying the administration and giving more players more opportunities to win prizes and awards. Points will continue to be accumulated through the year to decide the eventual F1 and F2 winners for 2025.

Ealing Cup - a knockout tournament run through the year where 11 point matches are arranged and played at players convenience, each round being completed over a 2 month period. The tournament will be limited to 64 players and will not have an entry fee or side pools, but the club will award prize money to the winner and runner-up.

This gives more players more opportunities to play against opponents they may not routinely play at club nights and exposes everyone to the challenges of longer matches.

Spring and Autumn editions of the BGiE 1 day tournament - the very popular 32 player tournament held in November will be joined by an identical spring tournament, probably in March.

And finally there are a couple of other key points that came out of the survey, relating to our code of conduct and disciplinary approach, and tournament administration on backgammonhub. These are also being addressed and we will share more about them during 2025.

To finish off 2024 first though - we have been able to extend our club nights into next month and so there will be play on Monday 2 and 9 December, and on our final date, 16 December, there will be Christmas drinks and nibbles on the club. See you there!