Adam Sandhu, a postgraduate at Christ’s, is looking forward to the Cambridge Open this weekend (24-25 January). He says it is a great opportunity for anyone to try out tiddlywinks, the game he has become passionate about.
On an internship between his 2nd and 3rd year studying maths, Adam started playing during summer 2024 when he attended the London Open Tiddlywinks tournament. At the time, he had no idea that Cambridge University Tiddlywinks Club (CUTwC) was founded at his Cambridge college almost 70 years earlier.
Adam, who plays weekly and practices more in the days leading up to big events, is now World #17 and the highest-ranked student player in Cambridge.
He said:
“I just keep showing up to tournaments and over performing! I'm not entirely sure I deserve to be where I am!”
The annual Cambridge Open is one of the best-attended events of the tiddlywinks calendar and is open to the general public - novices and experienced players alike.
He said:
“If you love board games, I think it's a sport that will really, really appeal.”
He says that, like chess, the end game might be very strategic.
A typical game lasts 40-45 minutes and is won by getting all the winks into the pot or, if not, scoring the most points.
The rules have evolved over the years. Adam says that there was originally no time limit with one game rumoured to have taken over 6 hours!
Adam will be bringing his friends along to the weekend tournament and says:
“You can play as few or as many matches as you want. Everyone's super welcoming.”
The Cambridge Open takes place from 10:30am in the Grace Howard Room, Downing College, 24 and 25 January 2026.
CUTwC meets weekly on a Wednesday evening at 19:30. Check the venue and for much more about tiddlywinks on the CUTwC website.
Read more about the 70th anniversary of CUTwC celebrated at Christ's.