EVENTS
General Event Information
- All of the information on this page applies only to players in the ABT Open, Advanced, or Intermediate divisions. For information about the TBT Program and Bootcamp, please click here.
- Membership in the US Backgammon Federation is required for all ABT events. Renew or join at usbgf.org.
- See the Terms & Conditions page for rule options in effect. Clocks are required in all events, including side events.
- We are looking for sponsors! If you have a product or service you would like to advertise to the community, please contact Avi Cohen for details at MiamiOpenBG@gmail.com
- There is a $110 registration fee that applies to all players or a $60 registration fee to all players playing only in the side events. This covers the ABT fee, hospitality, technology, the Gala trophy ceremony, 4X professional lectures at a discounted price, and access to the event spaces.
- Expected Payouts
- ABT Main Events pay 10-15% of the field. Events with less than 32 participants may pay up to 20%.
- Jackpot events pay 12.5% of the field.
- Jackpots that use byes may pay up to 20%.
- Other side events will generally pay 10-20% of the field but may vary based on other factors such as added money.
- Registration Cut-Offs
ABT Main Event Registration closes Thursday night at 10:00PM. Players must check in on-site by Friday by 11:00 AM.
TBT Main Event Registration closes Wednesday afternoon. Players must check in on-site by Wednesday at 7:00 PM.
Jackpot & Side Event registration closes 30 minutes before each event starts. Late entry and re-entries (if available) will open
ALL the winners of most events (see below) will be awarded a backgammon board and a Tavla Bracelet donated by BackgammonConnection.com
3rd Miami Open Backgammon Championship / November 17-23, 2026
ABT - American Backgammon Tour Main Events
The main event starts Friday, with competition taking place over three days. As part of the American Backgammon Tour, this event is one of 15-20 each year that count towards the ABT points race!
The winner of the Open Division will be awarded a Custom backgammon board made by
- Three divisions: Open, Advanced, and Intermediate
- Double-elimination with a progressive Second Chance and a progressive Lat Chance.
- The final winner will play a match between the winners of the Main bracket and the Second Chance bracket. The last undefeated player will receive a payout of 7% of the prize pool before other prizes are determined
- 11-point matches in the Main
- 9-point matches in the Second Chance
- 5-point matches in the Last Chance
- 9-point matches in the Main
- 7-point matches in the Second Chance
- 5-point matches in the Last Chance
- 7-point matches in the Main
- 5-point matches in the Second Chance
- 5-point matches in the Last Chance
- Registration closes Thursday at 10:30 PM. Players arriving on Thursday must complete full payment in advance to secure their spot.
- Starting hours are: 11:00 AM on Friday / 11:00 AM on Saturday / 11:00 AM on Sunday
- Up to five rounds on Friday, and played to completion on Saturday and Sunday
- Scheduled dinner breaks on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday at 5:00 PM
- $440 entry fee, 84% return
- $200 side pool, 95% return
- $250 rebuy, 75% return / side pool carries over
- $250 entry fee, 76% return
- $100 side pool, 95% return
- $125 rebuy, 75% return / side pool carries over
- $140 entry fee, 64% return
- $50 side pool, 95% return
- $70 rebuy, 80% return / side pool carries over
- The Open division is open to all players
- Advanced division players generally have an extreme Gammon performance rating (PR) between 7 and 10.
- Intermediate division players generally have an extreme Gammon performance rating over 10.
- Eligibility is subject to director approval in consultation with the USBGF eligibility committee. Decisions may be based on win %, ELO, PR, and recent results.
- All divisions: 2m/12s
- Open division clocks are mandatory
- Advanced division clocks are mandatory
- Intermediate division clocks are preferred with an extra 2m reserve time
- The winner of the Open Division will be awarded a custom backgammon board sponsored by www.BackgammonConnection.com
TBT - (No Cube) Traditional Backgammon Tour Main Events
Do you have what it takes to compete with the world’s best Traditional Tavla (Sheshbesh) players? The TBT No-Cube Main Event is set to take place just before the ABT Main Event. This is your chance to showcase your skills in a prestigious two-day traditional Backgammon tournament. The main event starts Wednesday night, with competition taking place over two days.
- One division: Championship
- Single-elimination traditional no-cube event
- Unlimited re-entries until full
- 7-point matches
- Registration closes Wednesday at 5:00 PM. Players arriving on Wednesday must complete full payment in advance to secure their spot.
- The starting time is 7:30 PM on Wednesday
- Up to three rounds on Wednesday, and played to completion on Thursday
- $200 entry fee, 80% return
- $100 side pool, 95% return
- $200 rebuy, 80% return / side pool carries over
- The Championship division is open to all players
- 2m/12s
- Championship division clocks are optional
TBT - Boot Camp
The 3rd Miami Open Backgammon Championship will offer a Boot Camp to master the cube and professional tournament play.
This intensive Boot Camp is crafted for participants with a foundational understanding of backgammon gameplay.
Elevate your game with advanced doubling cube strategies and gain the confidence to dominate every match!
- Boot Camp – Backgammon: the winning path
- Registration closes at 9:30 AM on Tuesday
- Starting times are 9:30 AM on Tuesday
- Early pre-registration online is highly encouraged – Spots are limited!
- Boot Camp & Match Play Quiz: $250
- Participation includes 10 professional lectures, learning materials, software, Match Play Quiz, Mock Tournament Play, cube practice games, and interactive cube scenario play
- You don’t need to bring a Backgammon board
- Note that the $110 tournament registration fee does not apply to the Boot Camp Program
- The TBT Boot Camp is open to all players
- The Boot Camp activities will be graded with prizes awarded to the top three donated by BackgammonConnection.com
Jackpot Events
Test your skills in our backgammon jackpot events, single-elimination format matches that will push your game to the next level.
- Masters Jackpot and Limited Jackpot (not including the Miami Mega Jackpot, which is listed separately on this page).
- Single Elimination
- Re-entries allowed until full. Side pools carry over on re-entry!
- 11-point matches
- 9-point matches
- Three start times:
- 7:30 PM Wednesday / 10:00 AM Thursday / 14:00 AM Thursday
- Players who register for the Wednesday start may be required to shift to the Thursday start if they are still alive in other events
- Players who register for the Thursday start may have fewer opportunities for re-entry
- $500 entry fee, 90% return
- $200 side pool, 95% return
- $500 rebuy, 90% return / side pool carries over
- $250 entry fee, 80% return
- $100 side pool, 95% return
- $250 rebuy, 80% return / side pool carries over
- The Masters Jackpot is open to all players and recommended for players of exceptional skill
- Players eligible for the Limited Jackpot generally have an extreme Gammon performance rating (PR) of over 6.5
- Eligibility is subject to director approval in consultation with the USBGF eligibility committee. Decisions may be based on win%, ELO, PR, and recent results.
- All divisions: 2m/12s
- Masters Jackpot clocks are mandatory
- Limited Jackpot clocks are mandatory
Mega Jackpot
The Miami Mega Jackpot 2K is a prestigious single-elimination high-stakes event, where the best backgammon players from around the world meet. Do you think you have what it takes to become the 2nd Miami Open BG Mega Jackpot champion?
- Single Elimination
- Limited to 16 entrants
- Re-entries allowed until full. Side pools carry over on re-entry!
- 13-point matches
- Two start times:
- 7:30 PM Wednesday / 10:00 AM Thursday / 14:00 AM Thursday
- Players who register for the Wednesday start may be required to shift to the Friday start if they are still alive in other events
- Players who register for the Thursday start may have fewer opportunities for re-entry
- $2,000 entry fee, 90% return
- $500 side pool, 95% return
- $2000 rebuy, 90% return / side pool carries over
- The Miami Mega Jackpot is open to all players, and recommended for players of exceptional skill
- 2m/12s
- Miami Mega Jackpot clocks are mandatory
Players Cup Backgammon
The Backgammon Masters Awarding Body (BMAB) confers mastership titles and proficiency level certificates based on calculated error rate performance using eXtremeGammon in live clocked matches in tournament conditions.
- Five-round modified Swiss
- 9-point matches
- All matches will be recorded, transcribed, and sent to the Backgammon Masters Awarding Body for official rating
- Begins at 11:00 AM on Wednesday and will finish the same day.
- Separate $120 registration fee, which includes recording, transcription, and submission to BMAB.
- $150 entry fee, 100% return
- $50 side pool A, 95% return
- $100 side pool B, 95% return
- Must enter side pool A to be eligible for side pool B. Both side pools are based on the W/L record
- 2m/12s
- Players Cup Backgammon clocks are mandatory
Miami Beach Doubles
The Miami Beach Doubles Event is the most popular side game. It’s a thrilling competition where strategy and teamwork are key, as pairs battle through rounds until a champion is crowned.
- Two-player teams
- Single elimination
- All rounds will be 7-point matches
- Side pool carries over on re-entry
- Registration deadline – 5:30 pm on Thursday
Start time: 6:00 PM on Thursday
Re-Entry Start Time: 8:00 PM on Thursday
Re-entries will be taken until 8:00 PM on Thursday or until full - Players who register for the Friday start will not have the opportunity for re-entry
- $150 entry fee per player ($300 per team), 80% return
- $50 side pool per player ($100 per team), 95.0% return
- $150 entry fee per player ($300 per team) rebuy, 80% return / side pool carries over
- Both players must agree on whether to enter the side pool
- 3m/15s
- Miami Beach Doubles clocks are mandatory
TBT - (No Cube) Challenge
Think you have what it takes to master Traditional Tavla (Sheshbesh)? The TBT No-Cube Challenge is a fun, competitive Swiss-format event in which every player is guaranteed four matches. Each match is played to 5 points without the doubling cube, emphasizing pure checker play, strategy, and traditional backgammon skills.
- One division: Championship
- Swiss format traditional no cube event
- 4 Rounds
- 5-point matches
- TBT – (No Cube) Challenge begins at 12:00 PM on Sunday and finishes the same day
- $100 entry fee, 70% return
- $50 side pool, 95% return
- The Championship division is open to all players
- 2m/12s
- Championship division clocks are preferred
The U.S. Youth Championship
This event aims to provide youth with exciting prizes, scholarships from Grandmasters around the world, and professional education materials. These opportunities will equip them with the tools and skills needed to compete effectively in ABT tournaments and help grow our amazing community.
The top 4 players of the event will be awarded with Backgammon boards and educational prizes!
Sponsored by the Distenfeld Family – Everyone is a winner!
- One division: Championship
- Single-elimination
- Limited to under 18 years old
- All rounds will be 7-point matches
- Unlimited re-entries until full
- Begins at 12:00 PM on Sunday and will continue until finalists are determined
- Free Entry to ALL under 18
- 3m/15s
- U.S. Youth Championship clocks are optional
- The top 4 players of the event will be awarded with backgammon boards!
- The top 4 players of the event will be awarded educational prizes!
- donated by the Distenfeld Family
Women's World of Backgammon Cup
The Women’s World of Backgammon Cup is proud to sponsor the 3rd Miami Open Backgammon Championship.
This prestigious event celebrates the skill and dedication of female backgammon players, providing a platform for women to showcase their talent and compete at the highest level / $250 ADDED MONEY!
- Single elimination
- All rounds will be 7-point matches
- Side pool carries over on re-entry
- $250 added money!
- This event is only open to women
- Unlimited re-entries until full
- Begins at 12:00 PM on Sunday and will continue until finalists are determined
- $100 entry fee, 80% return ($250 added)
- $50 side pool, 95% return
- $60 rebuy, 80% return / side pool carries over
- 2m/12s
- Women’s World of Backgammon Cup clocks are optional
- $250 added money!
Seniors & Juniors
The Seniors & Juniors Event is a thrilling battle between the most experienced players and the most enthusiastic rising stars.
- Two events to choose from:
- Seniors Tournament – Over 55
- Juniors Tournament – Under 55
- Single elimination
- 7-point matches in both divisions
- Begins at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, with competition taking place over five days
- Unlimited re-entries until full
- $50 entry fee, 90% return
- 2m/12s
- Seniors & Juniors clocks are optional
Novice Tournament
The Miami Novice Tournament is the perfect starting point for new and developing players looking to experience the excitement of competitive backgammon. With a welcoming atmosphere, supportive community, and entry-level stakes, it’s designed to encourage learning and build confidence at the board. Whether you’re just getting started or looking to take your game to the next level, this is your chance to compete, have fun, and be part of the Miami Open experience.
The winner of the events will be awarded a backgammon board donated by P-40
- Single Elimination / Two Lives
- This event is only open to novice-level players
- Re-entries are allowed until full
- 3-point matches
- Three start times:
- 7:00 PM Tuesday
- 7:00 PM Wednesday
- 7:00 PM Thursday
- Players who register for the Wednesday start may have fewer opportunities for re-entry
- $25 entry fee
- The Miami Novice Tournament is open to novice-level players
- No Clock
The winner of the events will be awarded a backgammon board donated by P-40
Board Tournaments
Enter the tournament of your choice to win a beautiful, high-quality backgammon board!
The winner of the event will be awarded a backgammon board donated by our sponsors.
- Three events to choose from:
- Board A – Art Gammon Board Tournament, sponsored by Gammon Guys
- Board B – VH Board Tournament sponsored by Vitor Hollanda
- Board C – P-40 GT Board Tournament sponsored by P-40
- Single elimination
- 7-point matches in all the events
- Begins at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, with competition taking place over five days
- Unlimited re-entries until full
- Board A – $50 entry fee
- Board B – $80 entry fee
- Board C – $130 entry fee
- 16-player brackets
The winner of the event will be awarded a backgammon board donated by our sponsors.
- All divisions: 2m/12s
- Board Tournaments clocks are mandatory
- The winner of the event will be awarded a backgammon board donated by our sponsors.
Speedgammon & Super Speedgammon
Test your skills in Speedgammon and Super Speedgammon, where the fastest players compete. These high-intensity events challenge you to think and react quickly, making split-second decisions under pressure.
- Single elimination
- 5-point matches
- Very fast clock settings!
- Begins at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, with competition taking place over five days
- Unlimited re-entries until full
- $50 entry fee, 90% return
- 2m/8s – Clocks are mandatory
- 30s/7s – Clocks are mandatory
Mini Jackpots
The 3rd Miami Open Backgammon Championship will feature numerous Mini Jackpot events to keep all players engaged.
- Available on demand every day to all players who are not alive in any other event!
- Single elimination
- Most jackpots finish the same day they start
- $20 jackpots are reserved for players of Intermediate skill level
- All other jackpots are open to players of any skill level
- Four options:
- $200 entry fee, 90% return
- $100 entry fee, 87.5% return
- $50 entry fee, 87.5% return
- $20 entry fee, 87.5% return
- $200 Jackpots: 9-point matches
- $100 Jackpots: 7-point matches
- $50 Jackpots: 5-point matches
- $20 Jackpots: 5-point matches
- All divisions: 2m/12s
- Mini Jackpots clocks are mandatory
After Tournament
Get a chance to win a major side event on the last day of competition.
- ABT After Tournament – ABT Rules
- Single elimination
- 7-point matches in both divisions
- ABT After Tournament – ABT Rules begin at 11:00 AM on Monday and finish the same day
- Unlimited re-entries until full
- $100 entry fee, 80% return
- $50 side pool, 95% return
- $60 rebuy, 80% return / side pool carries over
- 7-point matches in all the events
- All divisions: 2m/12s
- ABT After Tournament clocks are mandatory
DMP Challenge
Test your skills in DMP – Double Match Point, where the outcome of a single game determines the match, and other factors like gammons, backgammons, and cube action are irrelevant. DMP requires a unique strategy and tactics compared to regular match play.
- Single elimination
- 1 point match
- No clock required
- Begins at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, with competition taking place over five days
- Unlimited re-entries until full
- $20 entry fee, 80% return
- 2m/12s
- DMP Challenge clocks are optional