The U.S. Backgammon Federation is co-sponsoring the 2012 International Backgammon Championship with the Japanese Backgammon League. It will give players across the globe the chance to compete in a worldwide competition at a very low cost. Sign up now and join in the fun!

In the inaugural international event in 2011, 26 players from 10 nations competed. Chuck Bower, Ray Fogerlund, David Kettler, and Joe Russell represented the U.S., as the top 4 semi-finalists in the 2011 U.S. IBC Playoffs. In the IBC, Tsuyoshi Minakami (Japan) won the individual competition, defeating finalist Simon Bargot (UK) in an exciting concluding match. Third and fourth place winners were Thomas Ronn (Sweden) and Lorenzo Rinaldo (Italy).

Japan captured the country prize with 17 points based on a point for each match win within a series, followed by Italy with 10, UK with 8, Sweden with 7, Denmark with 6, Germany and U.S. with 4, Australia with 3, and Turkey and the Netherlands with 1 each.

As in 2011, the entry fee of 1000 Euros will be paid by the U.S. Backgammon Federation for up to four U.S. entrants, as well as the 100 Euro registration fee. 100% of the entry fees will be dedicated to the prize pool (see details below).

Selection of U.S. Representatives

U.S. citizens wishing to compete to represent the U.S. may:

Buy-In Directly To U.S. IBC Playoffs

Directly enter the U.S. Playoffs by making a donation of $160 to www.PayPal.com USBGF account: payments@usbgf.org. For quick and simple entry fee payment, please see Pay U.S. IBC Playoff Entry Fee. A PayPal account is not required to make a payment via PayPal. After making your payment, complete the online registration form at U.S. IBC Playoff Registration. Alternatively, a check for $160 payable to the U.S. Backgammon Federation may be mailed c/o Karen Davis, Treasurer, U.S. Backgammon Federation, 4838 Laurel Hill Place, Toledo, Ohio 43614.
Win A U.S. IBC Playoff Online Qualifier

Win a qualifying bracket of 8 players in online competition on the GridGammon playing site. We will be running numerous Qualifiers back-to-back. Donate $20 to www.PayPal.com USBGF account: payments@usbgf.org For quick and simple entry fee payment, please see Pay U.S. IBC Playoff Online Qualifier Entry Fee. A PayPal account is not required to make a payment via PayPal. After making your payment, complete the online registration form at U.S. IBC Playoff Online Qualifier Registration. Alternatively, a check for $20 payable to the U.S. Backgammon Federation may be mailed c/o Karen Davis, Treasurer, U.S. Backgammon Federation, 4838 Laurel Hill Place, Toledo, Ohio 43614.

All matches in the qualifying brackets of 8 will be single elimination 9-point matches. Players may enter as often as they choose, and winners may qualify twice for the U.S. Playoffs, receiving a first-round bye.
Win A Live Event Held by Local Clubs or Tournaments
USBGF affiliated local clubs and other live events may also hold 8 person qualifying brackets. The format is at the discretion of the club/tournament director.
Win the USBGF National Championship
In addition the winner of the USBGF National Championship at the NY Metropolitan Open held in January 2012 (Ed O'Laughlin) and the winner of the USBGF National Championship at the LA Open (to be held June 8-10, 2012) will be included in the U.S. Playoffs.

U.S. IBC Playoffs

The U.S. Playoffs field with a maximum of 64 players will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis, and will be closed no later than September 5. Entry fees to the IBC will be paid by USBGF for the top four winners of the field of 64. (If there are 32 or fewer registrants, the number of entrants to the IBC by the USBGF will be reduced. Last year 56 positions were filled, and it is anticipated that this will be exceeded in 2012.)

Entrants to qualifying events and the U.S. IBC Playoffs must be USBGF Premium members. If a player qualifies twice, he/she will be given a bye in the first round of the US IBC Playoffs.

U.S. IBC Playoffs Format

U.S. IBC Playoffs will be played on-line on GridGammon between September 5 and October 10 with matches recorded and submitted for review. The round of 16 and lower will be proctored as well as recorded. Winners will be selected by best two of three 9 point matches.

The Tournament Director for the U.S. Playoffs and the online qualifying brackets of 8 is Tara Mendicino.

International Backgammon Championship

The international competition will begin October 12 and complete the opening rounds by the end of December 2012 by proctored online competition. The USBGF will pay the entry fees of up to four US representatives of 1000 Euros and 100 Euro registration fee.

This tournament gives backgammon players in any of the participating federations/organizations the opportunity to play in a world-wide championship with very low cost. The inter-country competition will be online, except for the semi-finals and finals which will be live. The venue for the semi's and finals will be determined by the Tournament Committee. There will be ample opportunities for players and spectators to watch intra-country and inter-country matches online.

The entries will be paid in Euros in the amount of 1000 euro per contestant plus a 100 euro registration fee. The return will be 100% with the exception of the registration fee. Half of the registration fee (50 euros per entrant) will go toward the expenses of the web-site and tournament directors. Half (50 euros per entrant) will be dedicated towards travel expenses.

The IBC Format

Single elimination based upon the best 2 of 3 eleven point matches. Semi's and Finals are the best 2 of 3 thirteen point matches.

The draw for each round will be managed so that opponents are not from the same country until no other choice.

All IBC matches with the exception of the semi's and finals will be online, although if any opponents agree to play live, that would be acceptable as well.

Players agree on date/time/place and have a time of 2 weeks for each round. Planed matches must be announced at least 3 days before the match is played. All matched will be recorded on Extreme Gammon online and submitted to the Tournament Committee by the proctor exporting it, immediately after play is completed. All matches against an opponent must be completed in the same session.

All IBC online matches will be supervised by a proctor selected by each contestant's Federation/Organization. Any cheating that is discovered will disqualify the contestant. Any accusations of cheating will be resolved by a committee to be formed to investigate and adjudicate such allegations.

Playing rules are listed on the site, bgchampionship.com.

Spectators will be permitted to be present at all matches.

The finals will be in March 2013 or later, depending on when the draw reaches the semis and the selection of the venue.

Prize money:

16 players: 70% to the winner. 30% to the finalist.

32 players or more: 50% to winner, 25% to the finalist, 12.5% to the semi-finalists.

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