▼Tournament Outline ▼Pre-Registration ▼On-site Registration ▼Participation Process
Tournament Outline
Tournament System (Preliminary Rounds)
Two separate one-day preliminary tournaments will be held. In both preliminaries:
- Final standings will be determined by a five-round Swiss system tournament (bottom-ranked player receives a bye if necessary).
- The top 8 players will advance to the Main Tournament.
- For details on ranking determination, please refer to the JBS Swiss Tournament Regulations.
If a player qualifies through both preliminaries, they will receive a first-round bye in the Main Tournament and enter from the Quarterfinals.
Tournament System (Main Tournament)
The champion will be determined by a single-elimination tournament with a maximum of 16 players.
Match Format
All matches
5-point matches
Clock: 10 minutes & 12 seconds delay
Eligible for JBS rating matches
Schedule
Registration
April 1 – April 28, 2026 (Advance Registration)
May 3 – May 4, 2026 (On-site Registration)
Preliminary Rounds
Day 1 Preliminary: May 3, 2026
Day 2 Preliminary: May 4, 2026
Participation in only one preliminary is permitted.
Main Tournament & Final
May 5, 2026
Eligibility
Players must satisfy all of the following conditions:
- Must have a JBS rating below 1,050 as of March 31, 2026
- Be a JBS member
(Associate members and visitors may participate after completing full membership registration.) - Must not have previously won the “Intermediate Tournament”
Entry Fee
JBS Members
\6,000 (Pre-Registration)
\10,000 (On-site Registration)
Prizes
Champion
Complimentary entry to the 55th Japan Open
Top 4 (including the champion)
Trophy or certificate
Additional prizes designated by JBS
Pre-Registration
Registration Period
April 1 – April 28, 2026
Via the official event website
Entry Procedure
Both steps below must be completed:
- Submission of Entry Application
- Payment of Entry Fee
Failure to complete both steps will invalidate the pre-registration.
1. Entry Application
Access the application form from the “Pre-registration” page and complete all required fields.Completion of the “Gammoner Survey” is mandatory prior to pre-registration. Thank you for your cooperation.
2. Payment of Entry Fee
Please refer to the “Pre-registration” page and complete your payment.
Payment methods:
- Bank transfer
- Credit card
Please ensure the correct amount is paid.
3. Confirmation of Pre-registration
Once the Tournament Executive Committee confirms completion of pre-registration, your name will be published on the pairing page for the relevant “Intermediate Tournament 2026” preliminary round.
Please make sure your registration has been properly completed.
Players who complete pre-registration do not need to register on-site. Please arrive at the venue before the scheduled match start time.
On-site Registration
Registration Period
Day 1 Preliminary: May 3, 2026, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM
Day 2 Preliminary: May 4, 2026, 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
At the “BACKGAMMON FESTIVAL” General Information Desk
Entry Procedure
Fill out the application form with your name and pay the required entry fee.
Cash only.
Participation Process
Player Registration Confirmation
The participants for each preliminary day will be finalized at 12:30 PM, so please make sure your name appears on this official event website.
If your name is not listed, your registration has not been completed. Please contact the Tournament Executive Committee immediately.
Event Participation
The preliminary rounds are scheduled to begin at 1:00 PM each day.
Please check the pairing sheet and arrive at your designated board by 12:55 PM.
Round 1 will start following the announcement from the Tournament Executive Committee.
Winners must report their match results to the Tournament Executive Committee.
Once all matches in a round are completed, the next pairings will be announced.
Round 2 will begin after the opening ceremony, upon the signal of the Tournament Executive Committee.
Players are expected to participate in all five preliminary matches.
If you must withdraw for unavoidable reasons, please notify the Tournament Executive Committee.
In the Main Tournament, players are eliminated after one loss.
Awards Ceremony
The Champion will be awarded at the awards ceremony on May 5, 2026, starting at 7:00 PM. We encourage all participants to attend.
Players finishing in the top four will receive prizes. Please visit the General Information Desk to collect your prize.