At the tournament held from May 8 to 10, 2026, in Novi Sad, Milan Jovanović claimed first place by defeating Kristijan Avgustin in the final with an 11-6 scoreline.
Forty players from Serbia, North Macedonia, Slovenia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina took to the tables, and five rounds of the Swiss system were just the prelude to a spectacular event. Vladimir Milinković and Sandra Ašri dominated the group stage as the only players with a perfect 5-0 record, entering the knockout phase as favorites. They were followed by a group of five players with a 4-1 record—Dedaković, Nadaždin, Stošić, Zrncev, and Mikić—who also held strong ambitions going into the knockout stage. Once again, it was proven that favorites in backgammon are never safe from surprises.
In the knockout phase, Milinković hit a wall immediately, as Vladimir Tacić (ranked 16th on day one) eliminated him in the round of 16 with a 9-2 victory. Ašri was far more successful, advancing round by round until the semifinals, where she was eventually stopped by Jovanović (9-2). On the other side of the bracket, Kristijan Avgustin (ranked 12th on day one) defeated Lazarevski in the semifinals with a dominant 9-1 scoreline, in a match that will be talked about for a long time.
The final, played to 11 points, provided ultimate confirmation of Jovanović’s excellent form: an 11-6 victory against Avgustin, without too much drama. Sandra Ašri secured third place by defeating Lazarevski 9-3.
The complete results can be found at this link.
The 6th Novi Sad Open once again demonstrated the depth and quality of the Serbian backgammon scene. While the group stage hinted at one set of finalists, the knockout phase delivered a completely different outcome, which is precisely what makes this sport so exciting. Milan Jovanović deservedly takes home the championship title, but Avgustin, Ašri, and Lazarevski reminded everyone present that the difference between first and fourth place in this sport often comes down to a single move and decision.
Ultimately, a tournament of this caliber does not organize itself; special thanks go to Petar Radić and his family, who have lovingly nurtured this tradition for years and made all the guests feel welcome.
No comments. Be the first to comment!
Only registered players and administrators can leave comments.
Log in