Northern Cyprus will host two international backgammon tournaments from October 27 to November 3, 2026. The 25th Cyprus Open and 5th Grand Pasha Open will take place at the Grand Pasha Hotel in Nicosia, offering a combined €30,000 in added money.
Over eight days, players will compete in several formats, from the main events and Consulting Doubles to Speedgammon and the Ladies Tournament. The schedule is packed, with multiple competitions taking place throughout each day.
Dates and Venue for the 2026 Cyprus Backgammon Tournaments
The autumn backgammon schedule in Cyprus features two main tournaments:
Cyprus Open 2026: The 25th edition runs from October 27 to 31, with €20,000 in added money.
Grand Pasha Open 2026: The fifth edition runs from October 31 to November 3, with €10,000 in added money.
Both tournaments will take place at the Grand Pasha Hotel in Nicosia, Northern Cyprus.
One interesting detail about this year's schedule is that there is no break between the two events. The Cyprus Open ends on October 31, the same day the Grand Pasha Open begins.
Day-by-Day Schedule of the Cyprus Backgammon Tournaments
According to the announced schedule, the tournaments begin on Tuesday, October 27, with Speedgammon and continue through Tuesday, November 3.
Tuesday, October 27
8:00 PM: First Speedgammon event, featuring 5-point matches with a 2-minute clock and a 10-second delay.
Wednesday, October 28
11:30 AM: Cyprus Open Consulting Doubles begins, featuring a double-elimination format and 9-point matches.
8:00 PM: Second Speedgammon event.
Thursday, October 29
11:30 AM: Cyprus Open Main Event begins, featuring a triple-elimination format and 9-point matches.
8:00 PM: Third Speedgammon event.
Friday, October 30
10:30 AM: Cyprus Open Last Chance competition.
4:00 PM: Fourth Speedgammon event.
8:00 PM: Cyprus Open Super Jackpot, featuring 9-point matches.
9:00 PM: Ladies Tournament, featuring 7-point matches.
Saturday, October 31
10:30 AM: Cyprus Open Last Chance competition continues.
7:00 PM: Grand Pasha Open Super Doubles begins, featuring a double-elimination format and 9-point matches.
8:00 PM: Fifth Speedgammon event.
Sunday, November 1
4:00 PM: Grand Pasha Open Main Event begins, featuring a double-elimination format and 9-point matches.
9:00 PM: Sixth Speedgammon event.
Monday, November 2
7:30 PM: Seventh Speedgammon event.
8:00 PM: Grand Pasha Open Super Jackpot.
Tuesday, November 3
11:30 AM: Eighth Speedgammon event.
5:00 PM: After Tournament, featuring 5-point matches with a 2-minute clock and a 10-second delay.
Note: All times are based on the initial tournament schedule. Organizers may adjust the schedule before or during the events.
Cyprus Open and Grand Pasha Open Prizes
The 25th Cyprus Open offers €20,000 in added money. Its schedule includes the Main Event, Consulting Doubles, Speedgammon, the Ladies Tournament, and other side competitions.
In Consulting Doubles, the top four teams receive cash prizes, while the organizers also award trophies to the first- and second-place teams. In the Ladies Tournament, the top two players receive cash prizes, and the champion also takes home a trophy.
The fifth Grand Pasha Open offers €10,000 in added money. Its competitions include the Main Event, Super Doubles, and the After Tournament.
In Super Doubles, the top four teams receive cash prizes, with trophies awarded to the top two teams. The After Tournament champion also receives a trophy.
What Does €30,000 in Added Money Mean?
One of the key details of these two tournaments is the amount the organizers have announced as Added Money.
In backgammon tournaments, added money refers to prize money contributed separately from the players' entry fees and added to the tournament prize pool.
For these events, €20,000 is allocated to the Cyprus Open and €10,000 to the Grand Pasha Open.
Therefore, the €30,000 figure does not necessarily represent the total prize pool. The final prize amounts depend on the tournament structure, the number of participants, and the organizers' announced conditions.
Eight Days of International Backgammon in Northern Cyprus
From October 27 to November 3, the Grand Pasha Hotel in Nicosia will host a series of international backgammon competitions.
This year's schedule goes well beyond the main events. Eight Speedgammon sessions, doubles competitions, the Ladies Tournament, and the After Tournament are also on the calendar.
Holding two tournaments within the same eight-day period is one of the notable features of Cyprus's autumn backgammon schedule, bringing several competitive formats together at a single venue.
GammonWorld will cover tournament news, results, and further updates from these international events.