The 2026 Sydney Open Backgammon Tournament was held last Sunday at North Ryde RSL and was hosted by Sydney Backgammoners.
39 players entered the Main Flight. After two losses in the Main Flight players could enter the Second Flight without charge.
Ken Vaughan was crowned the 2026 Sydney Champion. Michel Gerges was runner-up and Terry Christodoulou took 3rd place.
Dilhun Akpinar was the winner of the Second Flight and Sharin Strachan was runner-up.
Congratulations to all placers and our thanks to all participants.
Next year will introduce a new format to the Sydney Open:
1: there will be three flights
2: All flights will be knockout
3: Main flight will be one round longer
Main Flight Results
| R4 RANKING | PTS | | SC | TOP TWO SCORERS |
| Ken Vaughan+ | 419 | | 9 | Ken Vaughan+ |
| Michel Gerges | 419 | | 4 | Michel Gerges |
| Terry Christodoulou+ | 415 | | | |
| Adam Makda | 312 | | | |
| Morteza Ahaabanifar+ | 311 | | | |
| Sadra Mobayyen | 308 | | | |
| Ben Phillips+ | 308 | | | |
| Habib Shalala+ | 308 | | | |
| Stephen Davy+ | 307 | | | |
| Paul McCloskey+ | 306 | | | |
| Otto Mekency | 304 | | | |
| Jim Bean | 303 | | | |
| Kee Yio Wan | 210 | | | |
| Mia Kandidakis | 204 | | | |
| Richard Broug | 203 | | | |
| Mahnaz Roatami | 201 | | | |
| Steve Clarry+ | 198 | | | |
| Noah Shroot | 197 | | | |
| Jan Spillekom+ | 195 | | | |
| Angelo Voulgaris | 191 | | | |
Second Flight Results
| ROUND 3 PAIRINGS | PTS | R3 RANKING | PTS |
| Dilhun Akpinar | 102 | Dilhun Akpinar | 405 |
| Antonio Andolfo | -2 | Sherin Strachan | 303 |
| Ed Hall | -1 | Paula O'Connell | 301 |
| Farshad Hamidi | 101 | Farshad Hamidi | 298 |
| Elia Batshon | -7 | Antonio Andolfo | 201 |
| Paula O'Connell | 107 | Ed Hall | 200 |
| Sherin Strachan | 104 | Elia Batshon | 190 |
| Jenny Saunders | -4 | Jenny Saunders | 92 |
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| 2026 Sydney Champion Ken Vaughan congratulated by TD Gary |
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| Ken holds the coveted crystal doubling cube |
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| Sydney Open Runner-up Michel Gerges |
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| Sydney Open 3rd place went to Terry Christodoulou |
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| Second Flight winner Dilhun Akpinar |
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| The briefing |
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| Stephen Davy |
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| Sadra Mobayyen |
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| Dilhun Akpinar |
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| Elias Batshon |
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| Robbie Baudish |
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| Terry Christodoulou was determined to listen to the Soccaroo's match against Turkey |
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| Carol Wakelin |
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| Steve Clarry and Gary Stavrou |
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| John Symon |
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| Paula O'Connell and Richard Broug enjoy the winter sun on the veranda |
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| Farshad Hamidi |
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| Habib Shalala |
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| Noah Shroot dreaming his next roll |
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| The field |
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| Kevin Stubbs |
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| Otto Mekency |
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Peter Voulgaris
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| Antonio Andolfo |
