The Columbus Backgammon Club

11 players attended the July tournament. Chris Yep won the event, defeating David Steinberg in the Main Bracket final. This was Chris’ fourth tournament win and David’s third Main Bracket runner-up finish this year. In the Consolation final Joe Calvaruso defeated Jon Stephens.

The full tournament bracket for July can be found here. The current Masters Points standings can be found here.

Thank you again to all who came out to play and congratulations to our July winners:

1st – Chris Yep
2nd/3rd – David Steinberg
2nd/3rd – Joe Calvaruso
4th – Jon Stephens

Our June tournament had a cozy 8-player field. Jon Stephens won three matches in a row to win the tournament, defeating Maron Cury in the Main Bracket final. In the Consolation final Trevor Dierkes defeated Joe Calvaruso.

At the halfway point of the year Chris Yep (294 points) leads the annual standings. Maron Cury (229 points) and Trevor Dierkes (210 points) are close behind. Several other players are also within striking distance.

The full tournament bracket for June can be found here. The current Masters Points standings can be found here.

Thank you again to all who came out to play and congratulations to our June winners:

1st – Jon Stephens
2nd/3rd – Maron Cury
2nd/3rd – Trevor Dierkes
4th – Joe Calvaruso

10 players attended our May tournament. Chris Yep won the event, defeating Trevor Dierkes in the Main Bracket final. In the Consolation final Edwin Jones defeated Dale Berlin. We also welcomed a new player, Andy Kennedy.

The full tournament bracket for May can be found here. The current Masters Points standings can be found here. Thank you again to all who came out to play, welcome again to Andy Kennedy, and congratulations to our May winners:

1st – Chris Yep
2nd/3rd – Trevor Dierkes
2nd/3rd – Edwin Jones
4th – Dale Berlin

14 players attended the April tournament. Chris Yep won four matches in a row to win the tournament, defeating David Rearick in the Main Bracket final. Maron Cury continued his excellent results (9-1 over the last two months) by winning the Consolation, defeating Trevor Dierkes in the Consolation final.

The full tournament bracket for April can be found here.  The current Masters Points standings can be found here. Thank you again to all who came out to play and congratulations to our April winners:

1st – Chris Yep
2nd/3rd – David Rearick
2nd/3rd – Maron Cury
4th – Trevor Dierkes

The Ohio Valley Challenge Cup is this weekend (March 30-31) in the Cincinnati area.

For full details, see the February 7 post on this website.

Schedule
Saturday 12:00 pm – Singles (individual) competition
Saturday 6:30 pm – Doubles competition
Sunday 11:00 am – Team competition

Columbus team:

1. Trevor Dierkes
2. Maron Cury
3. Edwin Jones
4. Chris Yep
5. Stu Cohen
6. David Steinberg
7. Joe Calvaruso

Final team standings

You can read Sean Garber’s full OVCC report at this link: https://www.meetup.com/Hoosier-Backgammon-Club/pages/28712947/2018_Ohio_Valley_Challenge_Cup/

13 players attended the March tournament.  Maron Cury won four matches in a row to win the tournament, defeating Chris Yep in the Main Bracket final.  In the Consolation final Jon Stephens defeated Joe Calvaruso.  With his win Maron moved to second in the annual points race just behind Chris, who is now in first.

The full tournament bracket for March can be found here.  The current Masters Points standings can be found here.  Thank you again to all who came out to play and congratulations to our March winners:

1st – Maron Cury
2nd/3rd – Chris Yep
2nd/3rd – Jon Stephens
4th – Joe Calvaruso

The next tournament will be held on April 14.

The February tournament was a special tournament with the US Backgammon Federation (USBGF) donating $165 as an added money pool for USBGF members.  The added money attracted a large field of 21 players, shattering our previous attendance record of 15 players (which was set in February 2018 at another USBGF added money tournament).  The field included two first-time players, Meral Plosch and Peter Swartwout (from Pittsburgh).  We also welcomed back two Cleveland-area players, John Baron and Ray Cifani.

The tournament was won by Trevor Dierkes, who beat David Steinberg in the Main Bracket final.  In the Consolation final Peter Swartwout defeated Brendan Leal.  The USBGF added money, awarded to the USBGF player advancing farthest in the Main bracket, was won by David Steinberg.  In addition, David won an entry into the USBGF Online Club Championship tournament, which begins in March.  The winner of the USBGF Online Club Championship receives a free entry into any ABT tournament.

In the annual standings, David Steinberg, on the strength of two Main Runner-Up finishes this year, is now in the lead with 100 points.

The full tournament bracket for February can be found here.  The current Masters Points standings can be found here.  Thank you again to all who came out to play, welcome again to Meral Plosch and Peter Swartwout, and congratulations to our February winners:

1st – Trevor Dierkes
2nd/3rd – David Steinberg
2nd/3rd – Peter Swartwout
4th – Brendan Leal
USBGF Added Money – David Steinberg

The next tournament will be held March 10.

The February 10 tournament will be a special tournament. While it’s one of the 12 regularly scheduled monthly tournaments this year, it’s also a unique tournament (see below).

February 10 Tournament Details

Entry fee: $20 (all players, including first-time players)
Registration: 11:30-12:00, play begins at 12:00
Three optional side pools available (100% return): $10, $20, USBGF added money side pool ($135 guaranteed, to be increased if new/lapsed players buy USBGF memberships or if non-Ohio players attend the tournament)

Format: Single-elimination with Modified Consolation

Main: 7 point matches (9-point final), losing finalist doesn’t drop to the Consolation
Consolation: 5-point matches (7-point final)
Prizes (100% return): Main 1st (40% of prize pool), Main 2nd (25% of prize pool), Consolation 1st (25% of prize pool), Consolation 2nd (10% of prize pool)

If we have more than 16 players, some of the rounds may be shortened to give us more of a chance to finish the tournament by 6:00 pm. The Main Round of 32 matches will decrease to 5 points. The Consolation final will decrease to 5 points. The Main Round of 16 matches may also decrease to 5 points.

Note that while the Columbus Backgammon Club offers a $10 discount for players in their first “regular” tournament, this discount doesn’t apply to this “special” tournament. However, first-time players in February will still receive a $10 discount at their first “regular” tournament (which could be in March 2019 for example).

Now, for the unique aspect of this tournament:

The February 2019 tournament will have an additional added money pool (at least $135) donated by the US Backgammon Federation (USBGF). This added money will be given to the USBGF member who advances farthest in the Main bracket (the Consolation bracket won’t be considered). Note that a split/tie side pool, while rare, is possible; in that case the money will be split as we normally do for side pools. You are eliminated from contention for the added money after your first loss. Note that you must be a current USBGF member on February 10 to be eligible for the added money pool.

Additionally, the winner of the USBGF added money pool will also win an entry into the USBGF Online Club Championship in March 2019. Since this entry to the USBGF Online Club Championship is a unique entry (each club can only submit one entry), if necessary we’ll use progression in the Consolation (whoever advances farthest in the Consolation bracket) as the first tiebreaker and a short playoff match (likely a 3-point match) as the second tiebreaker in order to select Columbus’ USBGF Online Club Championship entrant. If the tied players wish, they can instead flip a coin or roll dice instead of using this second tiebreaker. The winner of the Inter-Club Championshps will win an entry into the ABT event of their choice (typical value: $200-500 if you play at the Open level). Last year 22 clubs participated (one player per club) in the USBGF Online Club Championship.

If you wish, you may qualify for the added money USBGF side pool by signing up for a new USBGF membership or renewing an expired membership at the February tournament itself (before 12:00 noon)! I will collect money and entry forms and forward everything to the USBGF at the end of the tournament. I’ll bring blank USBGF membership forms with me to the tournament. If you wish to pay USBGF membership fees by check make checks payable to the “U.S. Backgammon Federation.”

Additional USBGF membership information

General USBGF membership details: http://usbgf.org/membership/
USBGF membership brochure: http://usbgf.org/members/brochure.pdf
USBGF’s “Getting the Most Out of Your New USBGF Membership” document: http://usbgf.org/members/benefits.pdf

Membership prices (annual):

Youth (age 25 or under): $15
Novice (less than 3 years of competitive play): $15
Basic: $35
Premium: $60 (or $150 for 3 years)

For those interested in staying at the OVCC hotel on Saturday, March 30, there is a $70 rate if reserved by March 15.

Info from Peter Carcieri (Cincinnati director):

The 10th Annual OVCC is set for March 30th & 31st. It will be held at the Quality Hotel & Conference Center in Blue Ash. It is right off route 71 with many restaurants close by and we got a great rate on the rooms. Below is a link for the $70 a night rate and should be booked either online or by calling the hotel directly by March 15th. Mention the OVCC if calling in your reservation. I will also post this information on the club web site shortly. More information can also be found at the Cincinnati website.

Saturday tournaments are open to everyone and are as follows:

12:00 – singles tournament, double elimination, 7/5 point matches (9 point final), usual CBPC entry fees paying 3 places with a $15 side pool. CLOCKS REQUIRED

6:30 – doubles tournament, double elimination, 7/5 point matches (9 point final), $30 entry fee per team paying 3 places with a $20 side pool for the top bracket and a $10 side pool for the consolation bracket. CLOCKS REQUIRED

Sunday –

OVCC starting at 11:00 AM, match lengths and side pools to be determined by the OVCC commissioner Sean Garber.

Quality Hotel & Conference Center Cincinnati/Blue Ash

5901 Pfeiffer Road, Cincinnati, OH, 45242, US

$70 Group Rate (Includes Fresh Hot Daily Breakfast, Internet & Parking)

-Reservations must be made by March 15th (Correction: The deadline is March 15. Previously it was listed as March 1.)

Online:

https://www.choicehotels.com/reservations/groups/RN80M3

Hotel Directly:

(513) 793-4500, ask for the OVCC- Ohio Valley Cup Challenge Group Rate

In our first tournament of the year 11 players attended, including John Baron from the Cleveland area. This was John’s first regular Columbus tournament (he also attended the special USBGF added money tournament in February 2018). Chris Yep won the event, defeating David Steinberg in the Main Bracket final. In the Consolation final Stu Cohen defeated Maron Cury. This was the first tournament with the new payout allocation (Main Winner 40%, Main Runner-Up 25%, Consolation Winner 25%, Consolation Runner-Up 10%).

The full tournament bracket for January can be found here. The current Masters Points standings can be found here. Thank you again to all who came out to play, welcome again to John Baron, and congratulations to our January winners:

1st – Chris Yep
2nd/3rd – David Steinberg
2nd/3rd – Stu Cohen
4th – Maron Cury

The next tournament will be held on February 10. Similar to the February 2018 tournament, the February 2019 tournament will be a special tournament with an extra side pool donated by the US Backgammon Federation (USBGF) exclusively for USBGF members. Check back here for more details.