Latest update: 21st July 2021

The UK government states that Coronavirus remains a serious health risk. It’s important to stay cautious and help protect yourself and others. However, restrictions are slowly easing, and as of the 19th July in England, most legal restrictions have been lifted. You can find out the rules about what you can and cannot do at https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus, and should note there are subtle differences between the rules in England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. For example, in Scotland all legal restrictions will only be lifted by the 9th August*.

Therefore, with the exact rules varying across the UK, it is not possible to give blanket advice on what restrictions may still be affecting live backgammon in your area. In England, you are no longer required to keep 2 metres apart, the requirement to wear face coverings by law has been lifted, and there are no longer limits on the number of people who can attend live events. However in Wales, similar lifting of legal restrictions will only happen from 7th August*. Furthermore, there may also be requirements to comply with the regulations for specific venues, and event organisers may impose their own policies to safeguard players. Please always follow the local guidance in place, and should you be lucky enough to get to play live backgammon, please be sensitive to those who wish to be cautious. See our section below on ‘Good practice for returning to live play’.

See the Calendar for live events scheduled for later this year, including BMAB,  Brighton Summer Open, The UK Open, Easy Kent Summer Tournament, Midlands Open, Newcastle Open, and the Sussex Challenge Cup.

* Correct at time of going to press

Play backgammon online

In addition to any resumption of live play, or just as an alternative, there are of course many online options, and the UKBGF Online Ratings website is now receiving results from numerous online events including the UKBGF League and P-40 Knockout. Some online platforms are listed here on our ‘Resources’ page, with a more detailed discussion about the technical requirements here. The UKBGF rated match policy generally precludes the inclusion of online match results in the UKBGF Live Ratings although some pre-authorised, time limited exceptions to this rule were granted for a short time after the start of the first lockdown. We do not anticipate granting any further exceptions during the pandemic and, in any case, no online match played after 30th June 2020 will be included in the Live Ratings, even if within the scope of an allowed exception. Furthermore, we reserve the right to exclude live tournament results if it appears that they have taken place in deliberate violation of the above rules.

Note that the 2021 UKBGF Tour has been cancelled due to the pandemic and consequently there will be no TWI event in January 2022.

Good practice for returning to live play

Although limits on social contact will eventually be fully relaxed*, many players, clubs and tournaments will nevertheless have concerns as to how they should restart; back to business as usual, or an interim approach?

* See our latest updates at the top of this page for information relating to your area.

Whatever is decided, there is an absolute requirement to follow government regulations and legal requirements in force at the time.

There is also common courtesy. Everyone wants to get back to playing live backgammon, but everyone is different, and while some will be happy to forge ahead as restrictions are lifted, others will be more cautious and even apprehensive about returning to the hustle and close proximity almost unavoidable at larger tournaments, e.g. concerning shaking hands, wearing masks while playing, touching shared equipment etc. Should your opponent make a reasonable request, please be considerate and mindful of potential anxieties, and please show one another respect and patience as we all navigate a return to face-to-face backgammon.

Beyond these considerations, there may also be requirements to comply with the regulations for specific venues and furthermore, event organisers may impose their own policies to safeguard players.

To avoid doubt and confusion and to allay players’ anxiety, event organisers should make it abundantly clear as to the conditions of play and attendance at their tournament, using their website, Facebook page, or group emails etc. Should any player not wish to comply with those event rules, they have the right to not participate, and of course the organisers have the right to deny non-compliant players a place in their tournament.

The following information, influenced by guidance released from the English Chess Federation and the English Bridge Union, can be seen as a set of basic considerations and good practice which both players and organisers may wish to keep in mind with a return to live backgammon. This information should not be considered as rules the UKBGF are recommending or suggesting must be enforced, but as a potential part of a club or tournament’s restart strategy.

We welcome comments/input on the list which should be sent to contact@ukbgf.com

Event planning, formats, and communication:

• As a minimum, comply with HMG COVID-19 Guidance and regulations at https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus.
• Make it clear to all players as early as possible if there will be additional venue-specific or organiser-imposed rules/policies, including on;
  • the use of PPE,
  • social distancing during play,
  • maximum players per room,
  • entry controls e.g. hand sanitising, temperature checks, negative lateral flow tests
• Consider a tournament format to potentially maintain smaller player groups and reduce mixing, including staggered starts to avoid playing room congestion.
• Consider imposing pre-registration for club nights, limiting player numbers.
• Consider disallowing spectating on matches.
• Plan for how you will handle players who develop symptoms during the course of the event, including arrangements for managing withdrawals and communication with players.
• Consider arrangements to support the NHS track and trace effort.

Playing room layout and hygiene

• Consider signage to explain the precautions in place and remind players of COVID symptoms.
• Impose legal spacing between boards.
• Consider providing breakout space for those awaiting play so as to avoid crowding around ongoing matches.
• Can you arrange for tables, chairs, and equipment in common usage to be sanitised prior to the event and at the end of each day?
• Can you arrange for a supply of disposable masks and/or gloves to be available at the venue and playing area?
• Consider providing well stocked sanitiser stations at entry and exit to the playing rooms.
• Can you arrange for sufficient ventilation to be available in playing spaces?
• If provided, ensure catering, or allowance for ‘bring-your-own’ is compliant with HMG COVID-19 Guidance.
• Consider if enough toilet facilities are available to mitigate against and minimise queuing.