FAQs
Dates: 25/26 April 2026
Venue: Marford Memorial Hall, Marford Road, Wheathampstead AL4 8AY
Registration fee: £60 (£50 for UKBGF members) includes lunch both days (see below).
What's changed from last year and highlights:
Cash prizes: Information here and full prize structure document here
How do I enter? As of publication of this page (1 February 2026) all places are taken and a waiting list of >20 is in operation. There is a low probability of being offered a place if you would be available at very short notice (possibly 1 day or less) and entrants on the current waiting list are unable to accept a place offered. To join the "last minute reserve" list, apply by email only to Tim Spring
Is the seeding "fair"? The St Albans Open is unusual (possibly unique) in its use of UKBGF rankings to carry out a full seeding of the Round Robin stage. Whilst it is true that this benefits the top 16 seeds by avoiding their meeting in the same Round Robin group, it also leads to 16 groups each comprised a similar skill-mix. Looking at 2025, although the Main was won by the number 1 seed, the finalists were seeds 1 and 32. In 2024, seeds 29, 40, 52 and 56 all made it to the money. In 2023, not one of the Round Robin outcomes matched the seeding! For 2026, with a larger field of 96 entrants, there will be 34 cash prizes (up from 16) excluding side pools.
I register and subscribe to one of the entry tiers, and to some side-pools, then find I can't attend, can I have a full refund? The first £10 of the registration fee is non-refundable. The Thrift tier entry fee will be refunded provided your seat is filled by somebody else (highly likely as there is usually a waiting list). Higher tier entry fees and all side-pool entries will always be refunded in full.
Is car parking available? Ample free parking is available in the Memorial Hall car park and local roads.
How can I travel to Wheathampstead?
What catering will there be? The registration fee includes lunch both days. Sandwiches/baguettes/wraps will be provided on Saturday and freshly cooked pizza (with vegetarian options) on Sunday from Dan's Pizza Van. Choose your own topping (from choice provided) up to £10 value. Tea and coffee (make your own) will be available free of charge with a limited selection of canned soft drinks and snack bars on an 'honesty box' basis. There is a Tesco Express in Wheathampstead village (0.7 miles/7 minutes) and Marleys Cafe and Tearooms (0.8 miles/8 minutes).
What facilities are available for less-able visitors? The Memorial Hall has level access for wheelchair users and a disabled toilet.
Can I bring my dog? Dogs are not allowed anywhere inside the building (guide dogs only excepted).
Dates: 25/26 April 2026
Venue: Marford Memorial Hall, Marford Road, Wheathampstead AL4 8AY
Registration fee: £60 (£50 for UKBGF members) includes lunch both days (see below).
What's changed from last year and highlights:
- New, larger venue
- More players: up to 96 players
- Format: see route map here
- More backgammon: two full days of play starting 11.00 a.m. 5 x 9 points matches guaranteed on Saturday (assuming 96 players); minimum 3 x 9 points matches on Sunday
- Long matches: minimum 9 points matches both days in all brackets (11 points in Main from round 2 and 13 points in final)
- Rules: All matches will be "clock obligation" if no dispensation from TD
- Saturday Round Robins: 16 x 6 player groups with 5 x 9 points matches (plus play-offs as needed)
- Sunday KO stages: 8 brackets - Main (Remainders), Consolation (Disconsolates), Second Chance (Mischance), Last Chance (Last Gasp)
- Entry fees: tiered entry fees to suit every pocket from £35 (Thrift) through £140 (Gold) – all with 100% return
- More chances to cash: 8 KO brackets, all with cash prizes: top 8 places (to quarter-finalists) in Main, Consolation and Second Chance, top 2 places in others. 34 cash prizes in total
- Multiple side-pools: £10, £20 and £50 side-pools in Main, Consolation and Second Chance will pay to top 3 placed entries in ratio 62:26:12. £10 side pools in Disconsolates, Mischance and Last Chance to be collected only in cash will pay to top 2 placed entries 65:35. £10 side-pools in Remainders and Last Gasp to be collected only in cash will pay 100% to winner. All pools 100% return
- "Clock obligation" in all KO (Sunday) matches
Cash prizes: Information here and full prize structure document here
How do I enter? As of publication of this page (1 February 2026) all places are taken and a waiting list of >20 is in operation. There is a low probability of being offered a place if you would be available at very short notice (possibly 1 day or less) and entrants on the current waiting list are unable to accept a place offered. To join the "last minute reserve" list, apply by email only to Tim Spring
Is the seeding "fair"? The St Albans Open is unusual (possibly unique) in its use of UKBGF rankings to carry out a full seeding of the Round Robin stage. Whilst it is true that this benefits the top 16 seeds by avoiding their meeting in the same Round Robin group, it also leads to 16 groups each comprised a similar skill-mix. Looking at 2025, although the Main was won by the number 1 seed, the finalists were seeds 1 and 32. In 2024, seeds 29, 40, 52 and 56 all made it to the money. In 2023, not one of the Round Robin outcomes matched the seeding! For 2026, with a larger field of 96 entrants, there will be 34 cash prizes (up from 16) excluding side pools.
I register and subscribe to one of the entry tiers, and to some side-pools, then find I can't attend, can I have a full refund? The first £10 of the registration fee is non-refundable. The Thrift tier entry fee will be refunded provided your seat is filled by somebody else (highly likely as there is usually a waiting list). Higher tier entry fees and all side-pool entries will always be refunded in full.
Is car parking available? Ample free parking is available in the Memorial Hall car park and local roads.
How can I travel to Wheathampstead?
- By road: There are good options from all directions via M1 junction 9, M25 junction 21A and A1(M) junction 4
- By public transport: Thameslink train service to St Albans City Station and bus to Wheathampstead (26 minutes); or to Harpenden Station and bus to Wheathampstead (14 minutes). The bus stop is outside the Memorial Hall.
What catering will there be? The registration fee includes lunch both days. Sandwiches/baguettes/wraps will be provided on Saturday and freshly cooked pizza (with vegetarian options) on Sunday from Dan's Pizza Van. Choose your own topping (from choice provided) up to £10 value. Tea and coffee (make your own) will be available free of charge with a limited selection of canned soft drinks and snack bars on an 'honesty box' basis. There is a Tesco Express in Wheathampstead village (0.7 miles/7 minutes) and Marleys Cafe and Tearooms (0.8 miles/8 minutes).
What facilities are available for less-able visitors? The Memorial Hall has level access for wheelchair users and a disabled toilet.
Can I bring my dog? Dogs are not allowed anywhere inside the building (guide dogs only excepted).
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