General Information

  1. Games will be played on Sunday, May 9, 1999 at 3:00 pm Pacific Time in Gammon Arena of Excite Backgammon game room.

  2. To qualify as a player in this tournament, you must have at least 2500 rating at the time of participation.

  3. If a player failed to show up at the appropriate time interval (See Playing Rules) or could not play due to rating limit, he/she will be substituted by qualified players from the reserve list.

  4. Players are divided into four different leagues (Red, Ivory, Blue, and Green). Players in each league will play each other in a single elimination match

  5. Games are the best 2 of 3 between participants. The winners will advance to the next round.

  6. A number of referees will be at hand to watch the games as they progress and report the game results to the coordinator of the games. All those who have volunteered as referees should check Guidelines for Referees for additional information.

  7. All games will be unrated so there will be no change in the rating.

  8. If for any unexpected reason (servers down, Martian attack, etc.) the games can not be played in an appropriate time frame, the tournament will be continued on the same time, same location, a week later until the World Master of Backgammon is identified.

  9. Based on the player name submissions, there should not be any person with more than two player names in the tournament. Two players belonging to the same person can not meet each other at any point in the tournament (See Playing Rules). Additionally, all four players at the semi-final matches must belong to different people.
Playing Rules

Players are divided into four leagues and will play each other in their respected leagues. There will be four rounds of plays, through which the winner of each league will advance to semi finals. At the semi finals the winners of Red and Green leagues and Ivory and Blue leagues will face off to identify the finalists of the Masters of Backgammon-International Competitions. Semi final and final matches are the best of 5 games.

Players should get into the Gammon Arena around or before 3:00pm Pacific Time (GMT -08:00). It is the responsibility of the players to convert the game time to their local times and attend the game room on time. All first round matches must be over or in progress by 3:30 Pacific Time. All second round matches must be over or in progress by 4:00 PST. All third round matches must be over or in progress by 4:30 Pacific Time. All fourth round matches must be over or in progress by 5:00 Pacific Time. Semi final matches will start as soon as their players are identified.

If for any reason, the game room is full (too many spectators, ticketing by players under 2500, Klingons seizing control of Earth, etc.) the last game room prior to Gammon Arena will be used for some of the games. There will be referees available in that game room as well.

If a player fails to show up during 3:00-3:30pm Pacific Time for any reason such as rating below 2500, lack of Internet connection and so on, a qualified player from the reserve list will be selected to replace him/her. If more players are needed than those in the reserve list, player without opponent will advance to the next round. In any case ONLY the players who have registered as players or reserve players are allowed to play.

When you get to the game room either set up a table or join a table. Make sure that you stay within the set of tables assigned to your league. When two players are present at a table, they should call for a referee BEFORE they start the game. A referee must sanction the game. That means making sure that the game is appropriate between the two players, record the player names and let the game start.

Games must be set up on a two minute timer, un-rated, limit players to masters, no doubling cube option, allow for the games to be watched and chat.

Winner will advance to the next round in which they can choose to wait for the next player or leave their table and join another table, or ask a referee for an opponent assignment. If all players rather keep their tables, then players from higher table numbers should leave their tables and join tables with lower table numbers (within the same league).

Referees will be available in the game room. Players may ask the presence of a referee at the their tables at any time. However, it is REQUIRED to ask for a referee when:

  1. An opponent is disconnected from the server or did not play within the two minutes time period.
  2. A game or a match is close to an end.
In any case, all players, referees and spectators should try to make this event as enjoyable as possible. Try to be very professional in your plays, judgements, and exercise sportsmanship while you are in the tournament. Especially be a HUMBLE WINNER, a GRACIOUS LOSER a JUST AND UNBISED REFEREE, and an ADMIRING SPECTATOR whichever categaory that fits you.
Guidelines for Referees

Throughout the games, there will be a number of referees available to watch the games and verify the final results. A referee can not be a player at the same time interval. Those who are assigned as referees for a specific period of time (usually 15-minute time intervals) can not engage in any game in that period. Referees have 5 basic responsibilities.

  1. Arrange the games between players in a league and sanction their games.
  2. Visit the tables that their players are engaged in sanctioned games.
  3. Verify the result of a match and report it to me for updating the next round list of players.
  4. Resolve the conflict that may arise due to disconnection of one player from the server. The general rule is that when a player is disconnected from the network and can not get back within the allotted time, he/she will lose that game, unless that player is CLEARLY ahead in the match, which in that case, the game will be called a tie.
  5. Referees should also be promoters of the friendly competition, appropriate chat language, and keeping the excitement level of the games high by reporting on the finished games and those in progress for the audience in the game room.
If you have questions, comments, or want to volunteer to help please send email to [email protected].

Registered Players

(Player name, Representing country, Ranking among the first 100 players as of May 5, 1999)
  1. Acarius (Massachusetts-USA)
  2. AirBiscu1t (England)
  3. Aldene (State of Washington-USA)
  4. ALLisWON(Planet Earth) [33]
  5. Bad44 (Las Vegas - USA)*2
  6. Balaban (Istanbul -Turkey)*3[41]
  7. bAzigoosh(Addison, Texas)*4 [35]
  8. BIDINMYTIME (Coronado-USA)*5
  9. BobbyBigNose (Las Vegas - USA)*2
  10. BORN1sMORE (Mother Earth)
  11. chesnutt (British Columbia-Canada) [87]
  12. diamonddave (North Carolina - USA)
  13. elgenio (Planet Earth)[22]
  14. gamonmaster(Plant Earth)*6
  15. Geosmart (Monte Carlo)
  16. gingeroo (Tennessee-USA)
  17. gunay (Turkish Republic Of Northern Cyprus)*7 [67]
  18. gythio (Planet Earth)
  19. hafkhat(Texas-USA)*4[95]
  20. Hoochiman (Oklahoma-USA)
  21. hotroom (Nova Scotia-Canada)
  22. InsomniacGirl (Planet Earth)
  23. Isabella99 (Planet Earth)
  24. j5j5j5j5j5 (Planet Earth) [86]
  25. jackcar (Planet Earth)
  26. jansar (Tehran-Iran) *8[63]
  27. JefeC2 (Austin, Texas)
  28. joft4 (Virginia-USA)*8 [44]
  29. John454 (Planet Earth)
  30. jonngalt (Los Angeles-USA)
  31. jsoc (Cyprus)
  32. kcgammon1(PhiladelphiaThe City of Brotherly Love-USA)*9 [20]
  33. kdcgammon (PhiladelphiaThe City of Brotherly Love-USA)*9[42]
  34. LAKERSin99 (California-USA)
  35. Largo17 (Planet Earth)*1
  36. manimani (Vancouver-Canada)[43]
  37. marcbd (Kansas City-USA)
  38. Michael50 (Florida-USA)
  39. mikemoney (Planet Earth)[46]
  40. MrSocKo_5 (Ontario-Canada)[11]
  41. muted (San Francisco - USA)*1
  42. muted2 (California-USA)
  43. Nasty_Rude ( Florida-USA)[53]
  44. rad14(Dallas, Texas)*10[32]
  45. Radarat (Surrey-England) [47]
  46. Rear-View2 (Atlanta-USA)
  47. RICHARDMTL (Montreal-Canada)
  48. ronin20 (Planet Earth) [53]
  49. rumrunners (Turkish Republic Of Northern Cyprus)*7
  50. Salacak (Istanbul -Turkey)*3 [54]
  51. screwwie (Planet Earth)
  52. Shades5_ (Australia)
  53. sheshbish (Chicago-USA)
  54. Shyyyattackkk (Brazil)*11 [38]
  55. sixpk56 (Canada)
  56. socool27 (Planet Earth)*6 [78]
  57. sosa5 (Planet Earth)
  58. Sousmar(Tehran-Iran)*10 [7]
  59. Surf69_ (Natanya-Israel)
  60. sushi365 (Woodstock Nation)
  61. TropicalBuns (Brazil)*11 [25]
  62. Vixen-WA (Planet Earth) [81]
  63. Zigabytes (New York-USA) [31]
Note: * represents the same person participating under two different player name

Red League

Tables 1-10

  1. hafkhat (Texas-USA)
  2. gingeroo (Tennessee-USA)
  3. muted (San Francisco - USA)
  4. muted2 (California-USA)
  5. Radarat (Surrey-England)
  6. gunay (T. R. N. Cyprus)
  7. TropicalBuns (Brazil)
  8. Hoochiman (Oklahoma-USA)
  9. Salacak (Istanbul - Turkey)
  10. BORN1sMORE (Mother Earth)
  11. Rear-View2 (Atlanta-USA)
  12. Vixen-WA (Planet Earth)
  13. BIDINMYTIME (California-USA)
  14. socool27 (Planet Earth)
  15. Rad14(Dallas, Texas)
  16. gythio (Planet Earth)

Ivory League

Tables 11-20

  1. gamonmaster(Planet Earth)
  2. hotroom (Nova Scotia-Canada)
  3. marcbd (Kansas City-USA)
  4. manimani (Vancouver-Canada)
  5. Stefrus (Planet Earth)
  6. sheshbish (Chicago-USA)
  7. Zigabytes (New York-USA)
  8. jsoc (Cyprus)
  9. Shyyyattackkk (Brazil)
  10. LAKERSin99 (California-USA)
  11. sosa5 (Planet Earth)
  12. chesnutt (B. C.-Canada)
  13. ALLisWON(Planet Earth)
  14. RICHARDMTL (Montreal, Canada)
  15. BobbyBigNose (Nevada-USA)
  16. bAzigoosh (Addison-Texas)

Blue League

Tables 21-30

  1. AirBiscu1t (England)
  2. Surf69_ (Natanya-Israel)
  3. Isabella99 (Planet Earth)
  4. kdcgammon (Philadelphia-USA)
  5. Geosmart (Monte Carlo)
  6. sushi365 (Woodstock Nation)
  7. screwwie (Planet Earth)
  8. elgenio (Planet Earth)
  9. John454 (Planet Earth)
  10. MrSocKo_5 (Ontario-Canada)
  11. jansar (Tehran-Iran)
  12. jonngalt (California-USA)
  13. Shades5_ (Australia)
  14. sixpk56 (Canada)
  15. Bad44 (Las Vegas-USA)
  16. Balaban (Istanbul-Turkey)

Green League

Tables 31-40

  1. Sousmar (Tehran-Iran)
  2. InsomniacGirl (Planet Earth)
  3. rumrunners (T. R. N. Cyprus)
  4. kcgammon1(Philadelphia-USA)
  5. jackcar (Planet Earth)
  6. JefeC2 (Austin, Texas)
  7. Aldene (Washington-USA)
  8. j5j5j5j5j5 (Planet Earth)
  9. ronin20 (Planet Earth)
  10. Michael50 (Florida-USA)
  11. Nasty_Rude (Florida-USA)
  12. Acarius (Massachusetts-USA)
  13. diamonddave (N. Carolina-USA)
  14. mikemoney (Planet Earth)
  15. Largo17 (Planet Earth)
  16. joft4 (Virginia-USA)

Reserve Players

  1. elmoknight (Colorado-USA)
  2. viking21 (Florida-USA)
  3. agit8or (Planet Earth)
  4. jason1023 (Planet Earth)
  5. colegeboy(Planet Earth)
  6. _doobiedoobiedo (Penguinville, USA)
  7. ejucaided1 (Planet Earth)
  8. Dr-Evil (Planet Earth)

Fair 64 is a simple way for players playing game at 64 to play in a fair competition. Assuming that both players have started the game at close rating level, after a 64 game is played close to 100 points are added to the winner, and the loser will lose around 100 points. So, suddenly the difference in rating become close to 200. There is no incentive for the winner to play another game. In fact, if another 64 game is played and the winner of the first game loses the second game, there will be a larger penalty to the points because of the 200 point difference. So, many people just win the first game and leave the table. In friendly professional matches this is not considered a right way to play games.

To provide incentives for the players to play in a better environment, I have come up with the Fair 64 concept. Here, the match is designed for the best 2 of 3 games. The first game at 64, the second game at 16, and the third one, should it be needed, at 64. Based on this concept, if the winner of the first game loses the second game, both players will end up at close ratings. There are few points to keep in mind:

  1. Play Fair 64 with people you can trust
  2. There should not be a doubling beyound 16 in the second game.
  3. The winner of the first game should control the doubling cube even though his/her opponent maybe a friend. The control can be achieved by making sure that the opponent has 8 cube, so when he/she offers an additional double, the winner of the first game can simply accept it which will cause the 16 cube ends up at the winner of the first game side and thus can be controlled.
05:40pm Eastern Time, Sunday May 9, 1999