Kinsale Cup 2026
16-18 January 2026
Kinsale Hotel and Spa, Kinsale, County Cork - Ireland
The first annual Kinsale Cup will take place in January 2026. Supported by the Backgammon Federation of Ireland, this is the newest and highest value tournament in Irish backgammon, and the next step to positioning Ireland on the world stage.
Our host, the Kinsale Hotel & Spa, is a luxury venue with incredible views from the bedrooms, restaurant and event room in which we’ll be competing, and the Saturday night soirée promises to become an annual highlight for those in attendance.
The tournament is being oganised by passionate local players, Jamie and Mickey, whose backgrounds in business and events promise to deliver a wonderful weekend for all.
Format: Three days, three KOs, one champion
Friday (12.00 start)
32 Player KO (9pt matches, 11pt semifinal and final)
Second Chance KO (7pt matches, 9pt semifinal and final)
Main event losers enter the second chance in the same round in which they lost (lose last 16, enter last 16)
Progression: 8 players progress to Sunday’s Last 16 (Four semifinalists, two quarterfinalists via a playoff, two finalists from second chance)
Prize Pool Day 1: €1,150
Saturday (9.00 start)
32 Player KO (9pt matches, 11pt semifinal and final)
Second Chance KO (7pt matches, 9pt semifinal and final)
Main event losers enter the second chance in the same round in which they lost (lose last 16, enter last 16)
Progression: 8 players progress to Sunday’s Last 16 (Four semifinalists, two quarterfinalists via a playoff, two finalists from second chance)
Players who qualify for Last 16 on both Day 1 and Day 2 will go straight into the Last 8 on Sunday
Prize Pool Day 2: €1,150
Sunday (9.00 start)
Last 16 (9pt matches, 11pt semifinal and final)
Consolation (7pt matches, 9pt semifinal and final)
Last 16 losers enter the consolation in the same round in which they lost (lose last 16, enter last 16)
Prize Pool Day 3: €10,200 Champion (Main): €5,000 prize
Last 16 losers will enter consolation in the same round
Other Highlights
Saturday Evening Soiree
On the Saturday evening we will host a social evening for all players and their partners, with a three-course meal, two complimentary drinks and live music.
The evening will include a small awards ceremony where we will also be presenting the trophies and prize money to the Day 1 and 2 winners and all the players who cashed.
Dress code: Dress to impress
Tickets
Tickets: €300 entry (all entries go into prize pot) + €100 registration (includes daily refreshments and Saturday night soiree) + €5 website booking fee
Soiree plus one: €60
Tickets can be purchased buytickets.at/kinsalecup
Refund Policy: Tickets are non-refundable but they are transferable. Please contact the organisers if you need to transfer your ticket and they will connect you with the first person on the waiting list. (email kinsalecupbg@gmail.com)
*Waiting list
If the tournament oversubscribes, a waiting list will be opened on the ticketing platform. Players will be able to add themselves to the waiting list for free.
Players who withdraw from the tournament will be replaced with waiting list players in chronological order based on the time the waiting list ticket was confirmed.
If waiting list numbers allow, a second tournament bracket will be opened and those on the waiting list will be invited to enter.
Venue and Accommodation
The Kinsale Hotel & Spa, is an exquisite retreat set on 90 acres of mature woodland with stunning views of Oysterhaven Bay. As the first hotel on Ireland's Wild Atlantic Way, it offers a unique blend of luxury and natural beauty.
Located just a 20-minute drive from Cork Airport and a mere 5 minutes from Kinsale’s charming town centre, the hotel is perfectly situated for relaxation, exploration and in this instance, Backgammon.
The 70 rooms have been recently refurbished and with a choice of waterfall or bay views, they offer the perfect space to relax between matches or after a hard day’s play.
Or head down to the Leisure Club which has everything you need to work out or recuperate with a fully-equipped Technogym, 20 metre lap pool, dry sauna, wet steam room and hot jacuzzi.
Exclusive discount available for players staying alone – save €40 per night.
Accommodation for one starts at just €119 per night.
Accommodation for two starts at just €159 per night.
A €30 surcharge applies for bay view rooms.
An €80 surcharge applies for suites.
Accommodation is fully refundable when providing more than 7 days notice.
Contact the hotel directly for reservations Tel: (+353) 21 470 6000. Mention 'Backgammon player discount' when booking.
Email: reservations@hotelkinsale.ie
or visit the hotel website at https://www.kinsalehotelandspa.ie/
Who’s Coming?
Alan Cox
Brendan Burgess
Chris Bleakley
Daniel Lynch
Graham Dungan
Ian Gwynne
Jacqueline Gough
Jamie Degabriele
Jamie Gallagher
Jonathan O'Grady
Micky Fernandes
Nicola FitzGibbon
Paul Duff
Philip Newton
Sean Casey
Sean Jones
Sergei Zitnyk
Vaidas Budrys