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Eliminate entry fees to promote backgammon?

Posted By: phil simborg
Date: Thursday, 9 September 2010, at 8:27 a.m.

In Response To: Eliminate entry fees to promote backgammon? (Daniel Murphy)

Basically this is the same approach as Contract Bridge. The last Bridge Nationals I played in, in Chicago, a couple of years ago, had a very low entry fee and NO CASH PRIZES, only the award of points. I was one of 4,000 players in that tournament.

I am very much in favor of low or no entry fees FOR ALL BUT THE OPEN AND MASTERS divisions. This will draw many, many more players to the game, make it a non-gambling event for all but the top players who choose to add money to the pot; the larger numbers and lack of gambling will attract more sponsors. In order to be able to afford this, like Bridge, instead of entry fees there would be the membership fees to the national organization (USBGF etc.) to help cover expenses and fund events, and of course, there would have to be the award of points on a cumulative basis with various levels of status achieved (e.g. "Life Master") to give people a reward, other than money, for attending and winning.

When Kathy and Eric formed the US Backgammon League I immediately wrote an article in Gammon Village applauding their efforts and their concept. The reason, I believe, the league did not "take off" and that we needed the USBGF is largely because their concept excluded the money, tournament players, and those are the people who are currently the active leaders and promoters of the game. What we need is a combination of both approaches, and right now with the USBGF and ABT we have that...once the rating system is understood and accepted; once the USBGF has more members and more programs going; and once we have more funding and sponsors, some day maybe we will see large numbers of people at the local clubs and major tournaments, and I believe many more will come if there are reasons other than winning money to attract them.

All of your sharks that are looking for fish, like MCG and Stick who posted they are not interested in low-entry events, are possibly a little short-sighted if you don't see how getting larger numbers playing for no money will eventually result in a lot more people playing for money as they become more skilled and as they realize they can't have the pleasure of playing with such friendly people like you to take their money.

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