Shesh Besh Tournament 2026

April 19-24​​​

​

This week-long tournament is designed to be flexible, fun, and competitive. After registering, all participants will be placed into a double-elimination bracket. Each player will be matched with an opponent for the first round at the start of the tournament. You must register by April 16.

Matches are self-scheduled, meaning you and your opponent can coordinate a time to play that works best for both of you anytime during the round window. Each round will have a clearly posted deadline, and all matches must be completed before that deadline in order to advance. There will always be Shesh Besh boards available at Hillel throughout the week, and there will be special coffee hours where boards are brought to coffee shops for open gameplay (i.e. anyone can come and play, though tournament games will take priority).

Winners will continue advancing through their respective brackets, and updated brackets will be shared after each round so players can see their next opponent.Matches will follow standard Shesh Besh rules, though points/the doubling cube will not be part of the tournament. Players are responsible for reporting their match results promptly after completing their game.

The tournament will continue throughout the week until a champion is crowned. Whether you're a seasoned player or new to the game, this is a great opportunity to compete, meet others, and enjoy some friendly competition.

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

What is a double-elimination tournament?

All players will begin in the Upper Bracket. If you lose a match, you will move into the Lower Bracket, where you’ll still have a chance to fight your way back to the finals. A second loss in the Lower Bracket will result in elimination from the tournament.

What does the final game look like?

Because this is a double-elimination format, the Lower Bracket finalist must defeat the Upper Bracket finalist twice to win the tournament, while the Upper Bracket finalist only needs to win once to claim the championship.

 

The rules are still confusing to me.

If these these rules don't make sense, try watching a video explaining the rules here or reaching out to Rabbi Gabe (gabe@illinihillel.org) or Golan (golan@illinihillel.org) for help learning.

 

Prizes

First Place - $25 gift card to local spot of your choosing

Second Place - $10 gift card to local spot of your choosing

Third Place - $10 gift card to Cafe Sababa