Gammon Associates "NEXT EVENT"
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CALIFORNIA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP
DECEMBER 4-5-6, 2009
Venue: Airtel Plaza Hotel & Convention Center
7277 Valjean Street
Van Nuys, CA 91406
Reservations: 800.224.7835 or 818.997.7676
GAMMON ASSOCIATES (64th Invitational)

WE ARE "CLOCKs & MATCH RECORDINGS FRIENDLY", e.g. we favor clocked matches
and we try to accommodate those that wish to record their matches.
Gammon Associates is holding the 2009 CALIFORNIA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP at the Airtel Plaza Hotel & Convention Center
DECEMBER 4-5-6, 2009. This event is on the "2009 American Backgammon Tour".
(Please make hotel reservations early; Van Nuys Flyaway has service to/from LAX )
In preparation for the Calcutta Auction, FINAL REGISTRATION CLOSES Friday night at 10 pm
(for OPEN and ADVANCED divisions).
We reserve the right to refuse entry to anyone, whether to play or to observe.
-SUPER-32: high equity, single elimination, all matches CLOCKED, 13 pts, 3 rounds on Friday.
-Paul-Dingwell-Amateur: high equity, open to players not of high championship level,
single elimination. (5% of each entry fee goes to charity)
-OPEN**: Open to all players. A CLOCKS-Preferred" event i.e. The OPEN is CLOCKED,
unless both players agree (with director's approval) not to use one.
-ADVANCED** & LIMITED**: open to players with online ratings less than
1725 & 1400 plus approval of an eligibility committee.
Register or call for approval.
-DOUBLES: open to all players, re-entries--time & space permitting. All matches CLOCKED.
1st-Rnd
Entry Fee return MxLen Play Begins
SUPER-32 $400 90% 13 pts Fri. 2 pm or 7 pm (2-4 places)
P.D.Amateur $200 85% 9 pts Fri. 2 pm or 7 pm (2-4 places)
OPEN ** $240 85% 11 pts Sat. 11:30 am
ADVANCED** $120 80% 9 pts Sat. 11:45 pm
LIMITED ** $ 60 80% 7 pts Sat. 12:30 pm
DOUBLES Team $160 80% 7 pts Fri 7 pm & Sun. 12:00 noon
2-Pt Quickies $ 20 80% 2 pts all weekend
BLITZes $ 40 80% 5 pts all weekend
JACKPOTS $100/50 80% 7 pts Sun. 12:30 pm, as interest is shown
( ** events) = "Double elimination with progressive consolation"; means you have three
chances to win the cash prizes (2,3,4 ...7 places paid depending on the number of
players). The "main" finals will be ONE match only.
Notes: side events (e.g. Quickies, Blitzes, Doubles) are for players registered in the SUPER-32,
P.D.Amateur, OPEN, ADVANCED, or LIMITED -- others must pay a one time tournament fee of $20.
Please BRING YOUR BACKGAMMON BOARD & possibly a CLOCK !!
Byes: all entries, whether pre-paid or last minute registrations,
will be equally eligible. Gammon Associates reserves the right
to refuse entry to any person. Side Pools: There will be sidepools
available ($100-SP32, $50-P.D.AM & Open, $30 Advanced, $60 Doubles): 100% return
going to the two players in each pool who go the furthest in the event
(2/3 to 1st & 1/3 to 2nd); Sidpool "payout hierarchy" will be posted for Open & Advanced.
DIGITAL CLOCKS: will be used at the Tournament Director's discretion.
All matches in the SUPER-32 will be clocked. The OPEN is CLOCKED, unless both players
agree (with director's approval) not to use one. They can also be requested by either player in
the P.D.Amaterur matches (assuming a clock is available).
U.S. DIGITAL CLOCK RULES (Oct. 2007) will be used --(click here to view the RULES)
There will be a "Calcutta Auction" of the OPEN & ADVANCED players to allow you to predict &
participate in their successes (85% return, 5% goes to charity). Starts 10:00am Saturday.
Friday (DEC. 4th)
"SUPER-32" (limited to 32 players)
"Paul-Dingwell-Amateur" (limited to 32 players)
12:00 noon registration opens (--Cash only--)
1:00 pm 2-Pt Quickies; BLITZ's (5-pts, 4 players)
-available all three days
2:00 pm SUPER-32 & Paul-Dingwell-Amateur
'Early start', 3-rnds play Friday
'Late start', 3-rnds play Friday
6:30/7:00pm SUPER-32 (allows 1/2 hr for late arrivals)
7:00 pm Paul-Dingwell-Amateur (late start)
7:30 pm Doubles 1st start (plus new entries on Sunday)
10:00pm FINAL REGISTRATION closes for OPEN & ADVANCED
(you must be paid up, only entries for the LIMITED will be accepted on Saturday)
Saturday (DEC. 5th)
"OPEN" & "ADVANCED" (limited to 64 players each)
09:30 am Adjustments to registrations
10:00 - 11:00 am -Live Calcutta Auction
11:00 - 11:30 am -Auction buy-backs from the owners
& Public drawing.
11:30 - 5:00 pm -1st - nth rounds of play with
automatic 2nd Chance & Consolation
as matches are completed in the MAIN draw.
5:00 - 7:00 pm -DINNER break, you're on your own.
7:00 - 12:30 am -Play continues (no match started past midnight)
-2-pt Quickies between matches
"LIMITED"
(Eligibility determined by committee)
11:00 - 11:45 am -Final registration (--Cash only--)
12:15 pm -Drawing
12:30 - 5:00 pm -1st - nth rounds of play with
automatic 2nd Chance & Consolation
as matches are completed in the MAIN draw.
5:00 - 7:00 pm -DINNER break, you're on your own.
7:00 -12:30 am -Play continues (no match started past midnight)
Typically, the LTD event completes on Saturday night.
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SUNDAY times are approximate; all players must verify their start times
with a Tournament director before leaving Saturday night.
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Sunday (DEC. 6th)
10:00 am Play continues in OPEN, ADVANCED & LIMITED divisions
DOUBLES (open to all players) (80% return)
12:00 - 1:00 pm Registration ($160/team), drawing for new-teams,
1st rounds and continuation from Friday's start.
12:30 pm 2-pt QUICKIES (80% return) will be held as players are available
Jackpots $100 & $50 (80% return) as interest is shown
1:00 pm BLITZ playoffs (conflicts may default w/ equity paid)
~1:00 pm Semi-Finals for SUPER-32 event (if not done Friday),
FINALS to follow at 3:00pm
~2:00 pm Finals for OPEN, ADVANCED, LIMITED & P.D.Amateur should begin
~4:00 pm Finals for CONSOLATION's and 2-Pt QUICKIES should begin
~6:30 pm Finals for DOUBLES should begin
-Notes: - Non-Smoking Tournament w/ extra 5 min. smoke-break per match.
The SUPER-32 & P.D.AMATEUR fill quickly-- so please send deposits early.
--We'll call, if max-entry-issues. -The OPEN, ADV, & LTD cash winners will
garner master points for the 2009 American Backgammon Tour.
-DEPOSIT amounts ($40 for Super-32 & P.D.-AM, $30, 20 or 10 for Main
events). Entries must be postmarked before NOV. 18, 2009. The
remainder is due at final registration, FRIDAY NIGHT, in Cash only (fully refundable
up to the time of the draw). Send to:
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GAMMON ASSOCIATES
7641 Orion Avenue
Van Nuys, CA 91406
Director:
Patrick Gibson
Cell: 818.645.6284 Home: 818.901.0464
E-mail: pgibsonmfic@gmail.com
WebSite: GammonAssociates.com
Tournament Staff:
Carla Gibson
Ceci Pedroza
Rynell Avery
Calcutta Auctioneer:
"Coolrey" Fogerlund
Eligibility Consultant:
Howard Markowitz
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We'll be using the "2009 Modified U.S. Backgammon Tournament Rules & Procedures".
(click here for 2009 Modified Rules). There will be handout copies at the event.
CELL PHONES must be turned off while matches are in progress. An infraction
may cost a penalty point.
CLOCK-FRIENDLY: Super-32 & DOUBLES have all matches CLOCKED. The OPEN is
Clocks-Preferred, the P.D.Amateur is "on request", assuming a clock is available.
Any match that is holding up the tournament flow is likely to have a clock inserted.
Director's decision is final.
VIDEO-FRIENDLY: we will try to accommodate recording of OPEN & Advanced level
matches, when requested to do so. Director's decision is final.
"Hospitality Fee:" Due to hotel "catering" rules, we must request a $15
"hospitality" fee from each player.
RESERVATIONS: Our Airtel Plaza Hotel venue has several large events on our weekend, so
they will be FULL UP. Please MAKE YOUR HOTEL RESERVATIONS EARLY, as they
will be out of rooms well before the two week deadline for our guaranteed
rate. RESERVE NOW and cancel later, if necessary.
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HOTEL
This Tourney is held at a hotel: Airtel Plaza Hotel & Conference Center in Van Nuys.
They are giving us a preferred group rate of $105/nite, single
or double occupancy. Complimentary wireless & high-speed internet
access, local phone calls; plus full American breakfast included.
You must make your reservations at the numbers below no later than NOV. 20, 2009.
You must use the codeword
"Backgammon December 2009".
Airtel Plaza Hotel & Conference Center
7277 Valjean Avenue (corner of Sherman Way)
Van Nuys, CA 91406
Reservations: 800.224.7835 or direct= 818.997.7676
Website: www.airtelplaza.com
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Transportation
From the airport (LAX) use the "VAN NUYS FLYAWAY" bus service at the GREEN OVERHEAD SIGN outside each
LAX terminal. Round-trip is $12.00 or $7.00 one-way. Once you & your luggage are loaded aboard, the
trip takes 30-45 minutes depending on traffic. Make sure that it is "VAN NUYS" (NOT Westwood or Union Station).
No reservations are needed, they are running 24 hrs/day. They will only accept credit or debit cards for payment.
Ask about their Senior discount when paying.
See their website (below) for the Van Nuys FLYAWAY schedule. You pay upon exit at Flyaway's Van Nuys
terminal; then ask for the lobby free-phone to call the Airtel Plaza Hotel's free shuttle service for the
1/2 mile ride to the hotel.
(a Taxi from LAX to the hotel can be over $65.)
the Van Nuys Flyaway site (www.lawa.org/welcome_LAX.aspx?id=292)
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General Driving Directions
DRIVING-- Take the 405 Fwy North (San Diego Freeway) past the junction of the 101 Fwy, exiting at
Sherman Way-West. Proceed West (right turn) onto Shermany Way. Go approximately one
mile to Valjean Avenue. Turn right onto Valjean, the hotel is immediately on the left.
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Previous "OPEN" Winners
1st Jay Frydman (1981)
2nd Dimitrios Kontopides(1982)
3rd Faramarz Borna
5th Faramarz Borna (1983)
6th Bijan Ashkan
8th Grigore Harutunian (1984)
9th Mike Thunstrom (1985)
10th Bahman Fathi
11th Bob Glass (1986)
12th Norm Wiggins
13th Joe Russell (1987)
14th Ron Bruns
15th Elli Nache
17th Peter Zacks (1988)
19th Farzan Garmroodi (1989)
20th Bob Glass
21st Neil Kazaross (1990)
22nd Steve Sax
23rd Ray Baker
24th Ebby Mossanen (1991)
25th Paul Gedigian
26th Gene Chait
27th Al Demirjian (1992)
28th Scott McKenzie
29th Woody Woodson (1993)
30th Joe Harris
31st Dave Williams (1994)
32nd Rudy Citrom
33rd Odis Chenault (1995)
34th Dave Williams
35th Joe Russell
36th Ernest Ho (1996)
37th Odis Chenault
38th Doug Mayfield (1997)
39th Norm Wiggins
40th Steve Sax
41st Doug Mayfield (1998)
42nd Tom Zarrinnam
43rd Jeff Burdsall (1999)
44th Odis Chenault
45th Mike Ungerleider (2000)
46th Mike Sharp
47th Bob Wachtel (2001)
48th Sho Sengoku
49th Ray Fogerlund (2002)
50th Norm Wiggins
51st Mike Ungerleider (2003)
52nd Art Grater
53rd Wayne Jeffcoat (2004)
54th Jona Alexander (2004)(California State Championship)
55th Jason Lee (2005)(Los Angeles OPEN)
56th Stepan Nuniyants (2005)(California State Championship)
57th Bob Glass (2006)(Los Angeles OPEN)
58th Ken Fischer (2006)(California State Championship)
59th Bart Brooks (2007)(Los Angeles OPEN)
60th Adrian Costa (2007)(California State Championship)
61st Ray Fogerlund (2008)(Los Angeles OPEN)
62nd Hugh Sconyers (2008)(California State Championship)
63rd Ray Fogerlund (2009)(Los Angeles OPEN)
64th (could be you?) (2009)(California State Championship)
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Entry Form (2009 CALIFORNIA STATE)
Name: _________________________
Address: ______________________
City: _________________________
State/Zip: ____________________
Phone: ( ) __________________
Email: _________________________________
Deposit In Full
Super-32 __ $40 __ $400
Start: 2pm __or 6:30pm __
--Side pool __ $100
Paul Dingwell Amateur
__ $40 __ $200
Start: 2pm __or 7pm __
--Side pool __ $ 50
OPEN __ $30 __ $240
--Side pool __ $ 50
ADVANCED __ $20 __ $120
--Side pool __ $ 30
LIMITED __ $10 __ $ 60
DOUBLES __ $20 __ $160
--Side pool __ $ 60
"Hospitality fee" (required) $ 15
Total submitted: $ _______
In order to prepare for the drawings & AUCTION,
Registration must complete, for OPEN & ADVANCED,
(fully paid) by Friday nite (DEC. 4th) 10:00 pm
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Make payable to &
Mail to:
Gammon Associates
7641 Orion Avenue
Van Nuys, CA 91406
(Must be postmarked by NOV. 18th, 2009)