We bring competition, community, and tradition to the same table
Where generations of strategic board gamers gather, compete, and forge lifelong connections.
We bring competition, community, and tradition to the same table
Where generations of strategic board gamers gather, compete, and forge lifelong connections.
We bring competition, community, and tradition to the same table
Where generations of strategic board gamers gather, compete, and forge lifelong connections.
We bring competition, community, and tradition to the same table
Where generations of strategic board gamers gather, compete, and forge lifelong connections.
We bring competition, community, and tradition to the same table
Where generations of strategic board gamers gather, compete, and forge lifelong connections.
We bring competition, community, and tradition to the same table
Where generations of strategic board gamers gather, compete, and forge lifelong connections.
We bring competition, community, and tradition to the same table
Where generations of strategic board gamers gather, compete, and forge lifelong connections.
We bring competition, community, and tradition to the same table
Where generations of strategic board gamers gather, compete, and forge lifelong connections.
We bring competition, community, and tradition to the same table
Where generations of strategic board gamers gather, compete, and forge lifelong connections.
We bring competition, community, and tradition to the same table
Where generations of strategic board gamers gather, compete, and forge lifelong connections.
BPA - BoardGame Players Association
The Boardgame Players Association (BPA) is a nonprofit organization built by and for competitive board gamers. We exist to organize and grow competitive board gaming, most visibly through the World Boardgaming Championships (WBC), held each summer in Seven Springs, Pennsylvania.
Participation in WBC is through BPA membership rather than paid admission or ticketed events. This structure reflects what we are: a community of dedicated gamers who collectively own and govern the organization, vote on events, and shape its future.
Our Mission
The Boardgame Players Association seeks to host one of the premiere gaming conventions for tournament board gaming: The World Boardgaming Championships (WBC). The WBC will be a single-site, family-friendly convention that welcomes competitors of all ages with a diverse array of gaming preferences. The WBC aspires to grow based on our incredible reputation and by fostering the next generation of board gamers.
Our Vision
Our vision is to shape a future where competitive board gaming continues to thrive across generations.
How it started
The World Boardgaming Championships has been decades in the making.
1991 - Founding of Avaloncon
The Boardgame Players Association traces its roots to Avaloncon, a pioneering competitive gaming convention born from years of campaigning by Don Greenwood, who finally convinced Avalon Hill management that a "return to basics" convention emphasizing competitive play was the best way to reverse the company's flagging fortunes. Having helped start the Origins gaming convention two decades earlier — only to relinquish control to the fledgling Game Manufacturers Association — Avalon Hill returned to its roots in 1991 with Avaloncon, putting competitive gameplay front and center. Avaloncon ended in 1998 when the Avalon Hill company went out of business.
1999 - Boardgame Players Association and launch of the WBC
With the end of Avaloncon, its Convention Director, Don Greenwood, along with some fellow Avaloncon longtime attendees embarked on a journey to continue the traditions of Avaloncon by creating a non-profit organization, the Boardgame Players Association and launching the World Boardgaming Championships as its flagship annual event in 1999. Decades later, WBC has grown to feature hundreds of individual tournaments, thousands of participants, and a rich tradition of competitive play across classic and modern games alike.
2017 - Continued evolution of WBC
As the WBC outgrew its early locations in Hunt Valley, MD (1999-2005) and Lancaster, PA (2006-2015), the event has found a welcoming home in Seven Springs, PA. This venue supports the ongoing growth of the convention and provides family-friendly amenities to members. In 2017, Don Greenwood passed the baton of convention leadership to Ken Gutermuth, who provides ongoing stewardship and guidance to the evolution of the event.
Milestones That Define Our Journey
From a grassroots gathering of passionate hobbyists to a respected championship experience welcoming players of all ages, BPA continues to grow through the people, tournaments, and shared moments that define the journey.
Explore More
Learn more about the leadership, member support, and policies that help shape the Boardgame Players Association experience.
Frequently Asked
Questions
Can't find the answer you're looking for? We're here to help.
The World Boardgaming Championships is the BPA's flagship annual convention, bringing together competitive board gamers for a week of tournaments, open gaming, and community.
Registration happens through BPA membership. Once you join, your membership includes admission to WBC and access to the event registration flow.
The BPA is the nonprofit member organization. WBC is the BPA's annual championship convention and its most visible public event.
The BPA is governed by its members and board leadership, with members voting on important matters that shape the convention and the organization.
Board members are elected through the BPA membership process, giving active members a direct voice in leadership and organizational direction.
Join the Legacy of Great Play
Become part of a board gaming community where competition has meaning, tradition is honored, and every generation is welcomed to the table.
Membership at the General Level and higher include admission to the World Boardgaming Championships (WBC).
- Annual World Boardgaming Championships
- Discounted membership for Juniors & Teens
- Participation in online tournaments
- Vote for trial events
