This year's Mind Sports Olympiad is taking place at Loughborough University. The backgammon this year will feature the following elements, which this year includes the English Open Backgammon Championships. Entry is open to all players (at the Director's discretion) subject to the appropriate fee being paid. All matches to be played on boards supplied by the MSO. The Olympiad Tournament Director will be Michael Crane of BIBA.
Beginner's Tournament
Wednesday 14 August: 2pm-6pm
Qualification: Generally but not exclusively, the criteria for a beginner is anyone who has not previously won or has been highly placed in a backgammon tournament. The Director reserves the right to refuse entries if he thinks the entrant does not qualify for the category.
Entry Fee: £10 (Reduced fee of £5 for entrants under 16 at the start of the Olympiad, entrants over 60 at the start of the Olympiad, unemployed entrants and entrants with disabilities.)
Format: One day Swiss format of 4, 5 point matches. 1st, 2nd and 3rd to be Gold, Silver and Bronze.
Tournament Positions: In the event of a draw on rounds won the wins of opponents will be considered to decide final positions.
Olympiad Championship
Thursday 15 and Friday 16 August: 9am-1pm and 2pm-6pm both days
Qualification: Open to all players.
Entry Fee: £26 (Reduced fee of £13 for entrants under 16 at the start of the Olympiad, entrants over 60 at the start of the Olympiad, unemployed entrants and entrants with disabilities.)
Format: Two day Swiss format of 6, 11 point matches; three matches per day. 1st, 2nd and 3rd to be Gold, Silver and Bronze.
Tournament Positions: In the event of a draw on rounds won the wins of opponents will be considered to decide final positions.
English Open Championship
Saturday 17 August: 9am-1pm and 2pm-6pm and
Sunday 18 August: 9am-1pm and 1:30pm-5:30pm
Qualification: Open to all players.
Entry Fee: £26 (Reduced fee of £13 for entrants under 16 at the start of the Olympiad, entrants over 60 at the start of the Olympiad, unemployed entrants and entrants with disabilities.)
Format: Two day Swiss format of 6, 7 point matches; three matches per day. 1st, 2nd and 3rd to be Gold, Silver and Bronze.
Tournament Positions: In the event of a draw on rounds won the wins of opponents will be considered to decide final positions.
ENTRY REGISTRATION The times mentioned on the schedule are playing time starts. In order to be included in the draw entrants are required to be in the playing room at least 15 minutes prior to the start of play so that entry registration can be confirmed. Late entrants will only be accepted at the Backgammon Directors' discretion.
Tournament Rules
1.0 INTERPRETATION
1.1 INTERPRETATION The Tournament Rules and Procedures cannot, and should not, regulate all possible situations that may arise during a game. No set of rules should deprive the Director of his freedom of judgement and prevent him from finding the solution dictated by fairness and compatible with the circumstances of a particular case.
1.2 SCOPE Except where otherwise specified, the commonly accepted rules of backgammon apply.
1.3 STAFF At each tournament the Director shall be Michael Crane or others appointed by him, having had similar experience.
1.4 ENTRIES All entries are subject to the approval of the Director and the MSO.
1.5 AIDS Once a match is in progress, neither player may use mechanical or written aids except to keep score. Players may forbid opponents from wearing headphones.
1.6 LANGUAGE The official tournament language is English. Speech in any other language will not be permitted at any time between players and/or spectators whilst a match is in progress.
1.7 SPECTATORS Spectators should remain silent while observing a match. They have no right to draw attention to any misplays or comment on plays but have the right to report cheating to the Director (see Rule 6.2). Players may request the Director to bar any spectator without reason.
2.0 REGULATIONS
2.1 PLACE All matches to be played in areas agreed by the Director. Any player missing from the main playing room when called out in the draw shall incur penalty points after an absence of 10 minutes unless they are absent with the Director's permission.
2.2 TIME Matches shall start promptly at the appointed time. Three 5-minute recesses only are allowed per match.
2.3 PENALTY POINTS Penalty points will be awarded against latecomers and absentees at the rate of one per five minutes late. When the total of penalty points amount to more than 50% of the total points to win the match the absent player shall forfeit the match. (see 2.6)
2.4 SLOW PLAY Players are expected to play at a reasonable pace. If, in the Director's opinion (or that of a player) a match is not progressing at a reasonable pace clocks may be issued in accordance with MSO Clock Rules. These are as described at Chicago Point Clock Rules with the alteration that for 5- and 7-point matches, the Director shall add only one penalty point to the opponent's score for player's first offence and one penalty point for each repeat offence. The Director's decision is final.
2.5 MONITORS The Director/Assistant Director may appoint a monitor to observe a match on his own initiative or at the request of any player. The Monitor shall have full powers to protect each player from an opponent's irregularities.
2.6 BYES In the Swiss Format any byes shall be at the Tournament Director's discretion.
3.0 PRELIMINARIES
3.1 EQUIPMENT Either player may demand that both use when available and approved by the Director, precision dice (over any others), and/or lipped cups, supplied tournament boards or player's own boards no larger than 21".
3.2 PREFERENCE If necessary, the direction of play, equipment, choice of checker colour and seat location shall be decided by the roll of the dice prior to the commencement of play.
3.3 DICE Either player may demand a mixing of the dice prior to the start of any game. The demanding player shakes and rolls all four dice then each selects a dice in turn.
4.0 PLAY OF THE GAME / IRREGULARITIES
4.1 RANDOM ROLLS Both dice must be placed into the cup and shaken vigorously before rolling simultaneously to the right of the bar. They are to be thrown from a discernible height and be seen to bounce.
4.2 VALID ROLLS Both dice must come to rest flat (not cocked) on the playing surface to the right of the bar; otherwise they must be rolled again.
4.3 MOVING Players should move clearly, using only one hand to play the checkers. Players shall re-enter any checker on the bar before moving any other checker. No player shall move any checkers during an opponents turn. Deviations from proper moving procedure may result in an adverse ruling in cases of dispute.
4.4 CHECKER HANDLING Checkers that have been hit must be kept on the bar pending re-entry. Checkers that have been borne off must be kept off the entire playing surface for the rest of the game. Failure to observe these procedures may result in an adverse ruling in any case of dispute or redress to an opponent harmed thereby.
4.5 LIFTING DICE Players conclude their turn by lifting either or both dice. With notice to the opponent the player may reposition the dice on the playing surface to facilitate the moving of checkers. After the player has lifted both of the dice the move can only be changed upon an opponent's demand to replay an illegal move.
4.6 PREMATURE ACTION All premature actions, including premature rolls, shall stand if otherwise valid. An opponent who has yet to complete his turn or act upon the cube, may then do so with the foreknowledge of the premature roller's dice throw.
4.7 ERROR IN SET-UP An incorrect starting position must be corrected prior to the fifth roll of the game. The set-up thereafter becomes official. Players starting with less than fifteen checkers can still be gammoned or backgammoned.
4.8 ILLEGAL MOVES Upon drawing attention to an illegal move the player may condone it or demand that it be played legally. An illegal move is condoned by the opponent rolling their own dice or turning the cube.
4.9 COMPLETION Games must be rolled to completion unless ended by a pass of a double or redouble, or conceded in no-contact positions, single game, gammon or backgammon losses. No game may be cancelled, replayed or settled. Matches must be played the appointed length or as decided by the Director.
5.0 SCORING / DOUBLING
5.1 KEEPING SCORE The match starting time will be recorded on all score cards; failure to do so may incur a penalty point at the Director's discretion. Players shall keep a running match score and compare with opponent's at the start of each game. In the event of a scoring dispute the player not keeping score will be at a disadvantage.
5.2 CUBE SET-UP It is the responsibility of both players to ensure that the cube is in the middle of the board and that the "64" face is showing at the start of every game. In the event of a dispute, current position and level of the cube will strongly affect the Director's ruling. The cube should be removed during the Crawford game only. (See 5.5)
5.3 CUBE RULES Gammons and backgammons shall count at all times. It is not necessary to double an opponent first to win a gammon or backgammon. Beavering is not allowed. Automatic doubles are not allowed.
5.4 CUBE HANDLING Players may only double when it is their turn to throw and must do so before throwing, but not after rolling cocked dice. To offer a double or redouble move the cube towards the opponent at the higher level saying clearly, "double" or similar. To take, draw the cube towards oneself and say, "take" or similar, placing the cube on your side of the board. Both players should ensure that the correct level is displayed. To reject the cube one says, "pass" or "drop" and the game concludes. Care should be exercised when handling the cube as either verbal or physical acts might be interpreted as cube actions by an opponent.
5.5 CRAWFORD RULE The Crawford Rule will apply to all matches. When a player reaches match point, the cube cannot be used for that one game. In any subsequent games the cube can be used prior to any legal throw, except the opening roll. (See 5.2)
5.6 SCORE RESULT The final score should be reported to the Director or someone appointed by him, checking that the correct result is recorded. Any mistakes must be corrected immediately.
6.0 CONTENTIONS
6.1 DISPUTES When a dispute arises, both players must leave dice, checkers, cube and score-sheet unchanged while the Director is summoned. Violations in this area by either player are most serious and create a presumption in favour of the opponent.
6.2 TESTIMONY Any player may argue issues of fact or rule. Spectators, except to report cheating, testify only at the Director's request.
6.3 APPEALS A player may appeal against the Director's ruling but must do so promptly, while timely redress may be obtained. To resolve an appeal, the Director shall convene a committee of three MSO Arbiters who shall hear the testimony and all relevant arguments from all parties and may overturn the Director's ruling by a majority vote. A fee of £20 per appeal is payable to the MSO and is refunded subject to the Director's decision being overturned.
7.0 OLYMPIAD SWISS FORMAT
7.1 MATCHES Each player shall play rounds against other players in accordance with the Swiss Format. The tournament winner will be the player who has won the maximum number of rounds with the highest points total.
7.2 POSITION CRITERIA Position within the Swiss format will be decided thus: a) Rounds Won, b) Sum-of opponent's scores.
7.3 ROUND MATCHING Round One, random draw, thereafter matched with an opponent who has a similar score. Whilst every effort will be made to ensure correct matching, mismatching may occasionally occur.
7.4 QUALIFICATION To qualify for maximum position within the tournament players are expected to complete all rounds. Failure to do so will affect the final position.
8.0 WINNERS
8.1 MEDALS The MSO Gold winner in each event will be the player with the highest number of wins (see 7.2), Silver will be 2nd and Bronze 3rd. In the Beginners' only, the three highest Junior placings will receive certificates for 1st, 2nd and 3rd.
Michael Crane - BIBA / MSO.
|
