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BGonline.org Forums
Simborg's Vision - maybe within reach!
Posted By: Henrik Bukkjaer
Date: Friday, 22 March 2013, at 2:49 p.m.
Hi Phil
Re:
http://www.bgonline.org/forums/webbbs_config.pl?noframes;read=139134#139134I was a lot of fun reading your vision. I hope that all people who work to organize have a similar vision. They might not share yours point by point, but I hope that they all have some kind of vision, to move, develop and grow tournament backgammon.
However, you say that all of this utopia is at least 10 years from now...
But why wait a decade for a vision that could come through just a week from now?
Well, maybe not all of it, but see below - I have dissected your vision, and shown how close DBgF already is toward your vision, with the 25th anniversary installment of Nordic Open:
- Dozens of teenagers
I think that you will see some young people attending this event. New this year at the Nordic Open is a Juniors Tournament! DBgF has focussed on the young players this year and just completed a nation wide Youth Tour, played at different youth clubs around the country. I think you will see some of these youngsters at the Nordic Open event. BTW: Target age for this youth tour was 12-18 years old, with the majority being 14-16 years. Another focus area that I think you forgot in your vision is getting more women to attend tournaments - not sure how it is in the US, but here in Denmark, we still have more men playing. At the Nordic Open, there will be a freeroll for the ladies ;-)
- Seminars (sponsored)
Check! We have that - by two of the strongest players in the world - one seminar for the beginners, one for the experienced.
- Prizes (sponsored)
Check, that as well! Not just in the "Pro" division, but especially in the beginners... Some of the sponsered money goes to other things as well (not just prices), so everyone will get value from it: party with live music and free beer, etc. There's a Giants/Masters freeroll, and also the ladies and juniors tournament are 100% sponsored.
- Activities and sightseeing
Activities: Yes! But they revolve around the tournament. Quizzes, betting on the winner, poker tournament, free entry to casino. For the sightseeing however, you are on your own. But the venue is in the capitol city, so you can take tours around on your own!
- Series of events of different kinds with different variations of backgammon.
That will be there for sure! Lots of it! Doubles, Speed, Nack, Teams, Quiz, Jackpots, etc. Keep in mind that we are a little bit limited in our choice here, due to the locl gambling law. Thus we cannot provide a DMP Rebuy tournament, etc.
- Our entry fees were relatively small.
Why limit to small only, why not vary it? At the Nordic Open, you have a wide variety to choose from: $0 - $1000. All flights except "Pro" is cheaper this year, and in the side-events you'll see jackpots ranging from $5 - $650. Some of them even limited to beginners or intermediates only.
- Pro division, which is televised and had a lot of money added from sponsors.
I don't know about "a lot of money" but there are a lot of added value. And I'm fairly sure you'll see more recording and casting from this event's "Pro" dicision than what you are used to. There'll be a "VIP" playing zone to make it easy for the spectators to find the "big games".
- There are close to 1000 participants at this event.
Unfortunately I don't think a 1000 is realistic, given the "low key" PR for this event, especially outside Denmark. But if you count everyone who show up and roll a pair of dice, we could end up close to that number. Expectation (or hope rather) for the beginners event, is 200 contestants. A lot of players swing by a day or two, and participate in side events. Add all that to the could be 500 players in the 3 main flights, and you're not that far from the 1000.
- Also, the venue is lovely and there are banquets and tours and all kinds of group activities scheduled to make the weekend a true, family destination enjoyable for all.
Even though backgammon is still making a move from a pure gambling population, towards a more "mind sports" one, we are not there yet. I'm not sure that we should end up there, but maybe somewhere in the middle. Thus this years Nordic Open is held at a hotel that houses the largest casino in the Nordics, and you'll have your free to join party on the first eve of the tournament, etc. As I mentioned before, you have all the options for family tours and recreation in the neighbourhood, but it is not organized as part of the package - you're a bit on your own. If attendance in ladies and youth tournaments increase, I'm certain you'll see more of this in the future though.
- Tournament scheduling leaves plenty of time for schedule leisure events and sightseeing as all matches are clocked and start and end exactly as scheduled.
That's a take! In Copenhagen clocks are not looked upon as the enemy of enjoyable backgammon, but as a combination of a necessity for a fair competition at the highest level, and a tool to execute matches and the entire tournament according to schedule, for the enjoyment of everyone - players and TDs. But there are events where clocks are not necessary or maybe even unwanted, such as the beginners and the youth tournament - you won't see many clocks in those flights. However, you can be certain that clock preferences are posted for all events and side event, so you know what you are going into.
- Everyone is a card-carrying member of the World Backgammon Federation, and they run the event , and they pay a professional staff well to make sure everything runs smoothly.
We don't have a true WW fed yet, so we'll have to settle with DBgF for this DBgF tournament. However, all participants will receive what equals a membership, will be registered, and all the games will be rated in the DBgF rating system. Also matches between two foreigners.
- Money is provided by the entry fees, reimbursement from room sales at the hotel, and sponsors, and membership fees.
Well, not sure that is the optimal scenario, but money are coming in from many sources - sponsors in particular this year. The hotels that host your visionary big events also have to make a living, and TDs must negotiate the best deals they can, leaving money for everything without having to skin the players. Steen has made a terrific job in this area.
- Sponsors provide extra money for the Pro Division (and the entry fees and side pools for the pro division are higher,
In Denmark the new gambling legislation unfortunately prohibits sidepools. But everything else is like you want it. Add to that, the nation bookie will be placing booths for players and spectators to get a part of the action. I don't understand why you keep insisting that the sponsor money should go to the Pro divisions - at the Nordic Open, there are planty of money to distribute, so everyone will get their share!
- Participants are also are fighting for points to get an all-expenses-paid trip to the Backgammon Olympics which rotates around the globe every year.
Winner of "Pro" get an entry to EBgT finals. In addition to that, there are a lot of simular added entries in most of the flights. Beginners can win entries to Danish Championships, Nordic Open main tournament and even World Championships with complete package!
- Lower fees mean more people; more participation; more total dollars; more sponsors; and better, more exciting tournaments for all.
Hopefully it will. But maybe a mixture of fees mean even more people - preferred action for everyone, not just the low-rollers!
Just as exciting as it is for a beginner to participate in a 200 player event, or an intermediate to play a big tournament for a low entry fee, I suppose it is equally exciting to see the very best players in the world, gathered to slug it out for a 6-figured prize pool. Not to mention the DK vs. World showdown.
- World-wide cooperation and planning means a bigger, better, more unified and better-funded international effort to grow the game.
True. A well run USBgF that over time get a strong foothold in America, could be the last piece in the puzzle, to get the world ball rolling. You have a lot of organized BG in parts of Europe and Japan as well, next step is to work together!
- "but all but the pros are playing strictly for the chance to win some trophies and prizes, but mostly for the glory of winning points.".
Here I have to stop and ask you, how do you define "Pro"? This vision is a bit self-contradicting IMHO.
I do share your vision to a large degree, except I feel that you focus too much on the family and low-roller part of the equation. I think - like you - that it is a very important part of the game, if we are to succeed growing the popularity of BG world wide, but I also think you need the other end to balance things out. We need some heros and something to strive for and look at.
Also, the kind of event you describe is a big mouthfull. It will require more than just a couple of days to run, and as such it would probably be limiting itself to just a few times per year. It will be the icing on the cake, the thanksgiving of backgammon. But you will still need a huge network of smaller more local tournaments to make up a full year schedule around the world. Not all tournaments can be the world championships or backgammon olympics - not all tournaments can be the same. Diversity and variation is the name of the game!
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See you in Copenhagen next week? I hope so!
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