"Can You Play Backgammon?" – Meeting the 2026 World Champion! Social Sun 15 Nov

Dear Backgammon Lovers 🤗

A Little Recent Story About Our Group

One of my aims with my social backgammon group is to bring a cross-section of people together in warm, friendly and affordable venues, where we can play our favourite game and enjoy a good chat with each another.

A little story from last Sunday illustrates this rather nicely!

After exchanging a few messages, a nice, friendly-looking chap called Frederik turned up at my social backgammon group. I had absolutely no idea who he was.
As I do with other newcomers to the group, I looked him in the eye and asked:
"Can you play backgammon?"
Frederik Mikkelsen, as I later discovered was his name, paused, gave me a polite, unassuming smile and replied:
"Yes."
In hindsight and as I thought later on reflection, this was probably the politest way anyone has ever said:
"My friend, you have just asked the ocean whether it can swim."
Frederik, who others and I later played well into the night, turned out to be the 2026 World Backgammon Champion, having come first in the recent London Open! 😂
A beautiful reminder that you never quite know who might turn up at one of our backgammon social gatherings ☺️

First-timers: Please see the information below on Meetup regarding the fee, etiquette, bringing boards, etc 😉

Finding Gest: Gest Restaurant & Bar is just inches from one of the exits at Euston Square station. Turn right at the ticket barriers and follow the route around.

Gest – Our Venue
Gest has become a favourite spot for our lively backgammon group, offering a warm, bright space with a relaxed and friendly vibe, helped enormously by its welcoming staff.

Social Backgammon
Whether you're a seasoned player or completely new to the game, everyone is welcome.
Our Sunday afternoon meetups offer a mix of friendly competition, laughter and the occasional lucky double six. Add to this the food, drinks and easy conversation, and you've got the makings of a wonderful Sunday afternoon.

20% Off Food and Drink
In order for us to continue meeting at Gest, we ask everyone to order at least one drink, possibly two, and, hopefully, one of their meals. I can highly recommend their chicken burger!
By supporting the venue in this way, we'll hopefully maintain such a generous deal in such an accommodating setting.
In return, we receive 20% off all food and drinks!

About Our Backgammon Group
Our group started in June 2015 and has now run over 500 official meetups, plus more than 300 spin-off informal gatherings.
With nearly 2,500 members, we're the largest backgammon group in the UK, and we're known for our warmth, humour and friendliness.
We typically meet fortnightly on Sundays, with around twenty or so regulars, alongside new players who join our gatherings each time.
Everyone is welcome, whatever your level.

Dinner, Drinks and Playing Time
We usually sit down for a relaxed group meal around 6pm, but you're free to order whenever it suits you.
Many people arrive early, stay late, and dip in and out of games between food, drinks, conversation and laughter.

RSVP
Please RSVP as soon as you can, as it really helps with planning and coordinating with Gest's management, who kindly arrange tables for us.

Please Bring Your Own Board
If you have a backgammon board, please bring it along.
If you don't, just post a note on the Meetup page or message me in advance and we'll match you up.
It's always fun to see the variety of boards, in all shapes, sizes and colours, that people bring along.

Meetup Fee
£4 per person.
This small contribution helps cover Meetup, administration and other organisational costs that keep the group running smoothly.
Etiquette
Let's keep things friendly and respectful over the board, and be friendly and delightful to one another. In particular, please remember to thank the Gest staff for hosting us.
Should anything crop up during the event, just have a quiet word with me or whoever is hosting on my behalf.

Backgammon Rules
We play under international backgammon tournament rules, with one or two minor exceptions regarding the dice.
Full details are available on our Meetup page.

Contact
If you need help finding the venue or have any questions, please call or text me on 07956 263451.
Please avoid sending Meetup messages within three hours of the start time, as they may not always be seen in time.

Looking forward to rolling dice, meeting new faces and sharing another brilliant Sunday with you all!
Best wishes,
Chris Sattaur 🤗