CNB Live -> Campionato Italiano -> Bando di Gara
2026 Edition
NOTICE OF COMPETITION – 2026 EDITION
The Circuito Nazionale Backgammon (CNB) Amateur Sports Association is pleased to present the CNB Italian Championship 2026
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PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS
To take part in the National Circuit tournaments and the CNB Italian Championship 2026, players must be members of the CNB association and therefore up to date with the annual membership fee.
For 2026, two types of membership are available:
- Ordinary Member: € 30.00
- Supporting Member: € 50.00
The membership fee (Ordinary or Supporting) must be paid by 31 March 2026, regardless of participation in tournaments.
Championship Structure
The CNB Italian Championship 2026 consists of seven national stages, valid for awarding points for the overall ranking.
All results achieved between 1 January and 31 December 2026 are valid for the ranking:
- in Champion and Advanced category tournaments;
- in CNB Open events;
- in the Sunday ("Goodbye") tournaments, of which only the best three results will be counted.
- local Tournaments recognized by CNB also award ranking points; again, only the best three yearly results will be counted.
2026 NEWS
- Advanced players may participate in up to two Champion-category tournaments. Points earned will still count toward the Advanced ranking.
- Champion players may not count their own category results toward the Advanced ranking
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National Category Tournaments (plus one for Playoffs)
1. January 15-18: MONTEGROTTO (PD)
2. March 19 - 22: RICCIONE (RN)
3. April date to be confirmed: TORINO
4. September 4 - 6: ROME
5. October: JESOLO (VE)
6. November 5 - 8: CETARA (SA)
7. December date to be confirmed: MILAN
January 2027: Final Playoffs 2026 and opening of the 2027 Championship.
Tournament Format - CHAMPION & ADVANCED and Intermediate Categories
​The standard format is New Double Elimination with Consolation, which includes:
- Main (primary bracket);
- Second Chance (recovery bracket);
- Final 4: four finalists (two from Main and two from Second Chance);
- Consolation: for players excluded from the Final 4.
Transitions between Main and Second Chance are progressive: a player losing in an advanced Main round enters an equivalent stage in the recovery bracket.
MATCH LENGTHS
Champion:
- Main: 11 points;
- Second Chance: 9 points;
- Consolation: 7 points;
- Final 4: 11/13 points.
Advanced:
- Main: 9 points;
- Second Chance: 7 points;
- Consolation: 5 points;
- Final 4: 9/11 points.
Intermediate: Format and match lengths will be defined based on attendance.
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POINTS SYSTEM
Participation: 3 points
Per match won:
- Main: 9 points;
- Second Chance: 6 points;
- Final 4: semifinal 9 points, final 12 points;
- Consolation: 4 points.
Points Bonus:
Main:
- 6 points to semifinalists;
- 9 points to the finalist;
- 12 points to the winner.
Consolation:
- 2 points to semifinalists;
- 4 points to the finalist;
- 6 points to the winner.
AWARDS
- Over 48 players: 4 prizes in the Main and 4 in the Consolation.
- 48 players or fewer: 4 prizes in the Main and 2 in the Consolation.
LOCAL TOURNAMENTS
Each club is allowed to organize its own Local Tournament.
Pre-announced Local Tournaments:
Lake Garda (VR), Cavallino (VE), Milan, Turin, Treviso, Udine, Cagliari, Naples, Bologna, Rome, Venice, Bergamo, Florence.
Local Tournament Requirements:
​a) Local tournaments must be scheduled on holidays or pre-holidays. The last Local Tournament must take place at least one week before the final National Stage. Results must be promptly communicated to the CNB Board.
b) Local organizers are free to choose the tournament format. If a format different from the National Circuit is used, the Board must be informed at least 30 days in advance for approval of the point-allocation criteria.
c) To be valid for the CNB ranking, all participants must hold a 2026 CNB membership.
d) A Local Tournament is valid only with at least 16 participants.
Game format ( Open CNB and Local) and scores
1. Single Elimination
Scoring
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Participation: 1 point
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Each match won: 3 points
Bonus
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Winner: 6 points
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Finalist: 4 points
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Semi-finalists: 2 points, provided they have won at least 2 matches
Please note: only the results achieved with the first registration are valid.
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2. Single Elimination – Main Draw + Consolation
Scoring
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Participation: 1 point
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Each match won:
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Main draw: 3 points
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Consolation draw: 2 points
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Final phase: 4 points
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Bonus
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Main draw
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Winner: 6 points
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Finalist: 4 points
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Semi-finalists: 2 points, provided they have won at least 2 matches
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Consolation draw
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Winner: 3 points
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Finalist: 2 points
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Semi-finalists: 1 point, provided they have won at least 2 matches
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Please note: only the results achieved in the Main draw with the first registration are valid.
3. Double Elimination
Scoring
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Participation: 1 point
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Each match won:
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Main draw: 3 points
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Second chance: 2 points
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Final phase: 4 points
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Bonus
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3 points awarded to each of the four players participating in the final phase, both from the Main draw and the Second chance.
4. Triple Elimination
Scoring
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Participation: 1 point
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Each match won: 1 point
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Each round played from the third-to-last round onwards (included): 1 point
Bonus
(To be divided among players with the same ranking points)
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1st place: 8 points
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2nd place: 6 points
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3rd place: 4 points
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4th place: 2 points
Final Ranking
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The final ranking will be based on the overall points. In the event of a tie, the following criteria will apply:
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Most points in category tournaments.
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Highest number of appearances in category tournaments.
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Best single score in a category tournament.
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Next best scores in descending order.
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Best score in an Open tournament and subsequent ones in descending order.
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Best result in a Sunday tournament, and subsequent ones.
Playoff Finals – Technical Regulations
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Qualification: At the end of the season, the top 12 players enter the Playoffs. Qualification requires participation in at least three national stages.
Structure of the rounds:
- 1st Round: players ranked 9th–12th; 9th chooses an opponent between 11th and 12th;
- 2nd Round: players ranked 5th–8th enter; 5th chooses among previous winners, followed by 6th;
- 3rd Round: players ranked 2nd–4th enter; 2nd chooses among winners, followed by 3rd;
- Semifinals: 1st ranked enters and chooses an opponent among winners (excluding 2nd if present);
- Final: only one final match is played for the title.
Match lengths:
Champion:
- 1st Round: 11 points;
- 2nd & 3rd Rounds and Semifinals: 13 points;
- Final: 15 points.
Advanced:
- 1st Round: 9 points;
- 2nd & 3rd Rounds and Semifinals: 11 points;
- Final: 13 points.
PRIZE POOL
Fixed contributions allocated per tournament:
Champion:
- €250 per tournament;
- plus two entries to the 2027 Championship (winner and finalist).
Advanced:
- €100 per tournament;
- plus two entries to the 2027 Championship (winner and finalist).
The final Playoff prize pool is distributed as follows:
- 2/3 to the winner;
- 1/3 to the finalist.
TITLES AWARDED
- Italian Champion CNB 2026 – Champion Category;
- Italian Champion CNB 2026 – Advanced Category.
Tournament Rules
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The WBGF Rules apply; available on the CNB website and at tournament venues.
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Any disputes are settled by the Tournament Director.
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CNB tournaments apply the Legal Move Rule.
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Dice on Checkers Rule is adopted: dice landing on checkers are valid unless otherwise authorized.
Digital clocks
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Use of clocks is mandatory in all matches. Settings: Simple Delay, 2 minutes per point with 12 seconds delay per move.
Warnings:
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Players must notify the Tournament Director before leaving the room. Failure to do so will result in penalties.