Jamaica Inn on Thursday announced the return of the Jamaica Inn Foundation Open Backgammon Tournament for its ninth consecutive year, taking place June 19 – 21, 2026 at the historic Jamaica Inn hotel in Ocho Rios.

Title sponsor Desmond Mair Insurance Brokers — a Jamaican institution celebrating 100 years of service — returns for the second consecutive year, joining a roster of long-standing major Jamaican sponsors whose loyalty has helped make this one of the Caribbean’s most anticipated charity sporting events. This year, with some Jamaican coastal communities coping with the effects of Hurricane Melissa, the cause behind every roll of the dice carries particular weight.

Directed once again by Phil Simborg, the world’s first “professor of backgammon”, the tournament offers players of all levels the chance to compete for over a million dollars in cash and prizes, with a Warm-Up Tournament (US$95 entry) and a Main Tournament (US$275 entry). Professional-grade boards are provided for all match play.

As in every year since its founding, proceeds from the tournament weekend will be directed to the White River Fish Sanctuary (WRFS) – a community-driven marine conservation initiative based off the coast of Ocho Rios. The Sanctuary, operated by the White River Fishermen Association and the White River Marine Association, spans over 150 hectares of coral reefs and seagrass meadows and stands as a designated Special Fishery Conservation Area.

Jamaica’s coral reefs have suffered an 85 per cent decline in coverage since 1975, and local fish stocks have experienced a severe reduction due to decades of overfishing. While Ocho Rios was spared the worst of Hurricane Melissa’s destruction, coastal communities across Jamaica were affected, serving as a stark reminder of how vulnerable our marine ecosystems remain. The funds raised through the tournament directly support daily sanctuary operations, the salaries of trained warden patrols, coral restoration programmes, and community engagement initiatives.

The tournament weekend promises a rich programme beyond the boards. Friday evening opens with a complimentary lecture by Phil Simborg, followed by the Warm-Up Tournament draw and welcome cocktails. A silent auction — all proceeds to the WRFS — runs throughout the event. Saturday brings the Main Tournament, followed by a prize-giving celebration and closing cocktail party on the beach at Jamaica Inn. Sunday offers a more relaxed close: Complimentary yoga at the Ocean Spa, a glass-bottom boat tour of the White River Fish Sanctuary, and open backgammon play in the Upper Dining Room.

“Nine years in, this tournament is proof of what happens when a community of players chooses to compete for something greater than a trophy,” said Olivia Morrow, board member, Jamaica Inn Foundation. “Every entry fee, every bid placed in the silent auction, or donation given — it all goes directly toward protecting and restoring the waters that make Jamaica the paradise that it is.”

Gregory Mair, managing director at Desmond Mair Insurance Brokers added, “Jamaica’s reefs and coastlines are part of what make this island extraordinary, and the White River Fish Sanctuary is doing critical work to protect them. Desmond Mair has been serving Jamaica for 100 years and is honoured to partner with Jamaica Inn Foundation in that mission – and we look forward to another great tournament.”

The event is also being sponsored by Wisynco (Wata), Guardsman, Select Brands, Mayberry Investments, Jewels & Time, VIP Attractions, Harbour Wine and Spirits, Worthy Park Estate, Billy Craig Insurance, Couples Resorts, Hot off the Press, WB Trophies and Shane Aquart.

The Jamaica Inn Foundation — the charitable arm of Jamaica Inn — was established to support the local Ocho Rios community through education, youth wellbeing, marine conservation, and partnerships with local organisations including the Fern Grove Basic School and the Teddy Tucker Scholarship Fund. The foundation’s backgammon tournament has become a cornerstone of its fund-raising mission.