Calendar of Events

EVERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT, DRAW at 5:30pm
B B SAARA Restaurant
15928 Ventura Blvd
Encino CA 91436
(818) 789.3778
www.bbsaaraencino.com


$10.00 entry fee with $5 & $10 buy-backs
We accept "late players" until 7:15 pm


NON-PLAYING DARK DATES: (2018)  
			   We have one dark date so far in 2018  (JULY 4th)
 
                       

EVERY SUNDAY AFTERNOON, DRAW at 2:00 PM
PIPS Club 
8471 Beverly Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90048
(323)655.9330
$10.00 entry fee with $5 & $10 buy-backs
We accept "late players" until 4:00 PM


NON-PLAYING DARK DATES: (2018)	
                          We will NOT PLAY on Sunday 9-2-2018 (Labor Day weekend)
			  we will NOT PLAY on Sunday 9-23-2018 (Vietor CUP)
                          		                            

 Gammon Associates large events
2017 schedule:
     
     
     JUN. 22-24, 2018 LOS ANGELES OPEN L.A., CA; 818/901-0464 --ABT event at the HILTON hotel at LAX

     SEP. 22-23, 2018 VIETOR CUP (Invitational); Carlsbad, CA; 818/901-0464 
      
     Nov.30-Dec.2, 2018 CALIFORNIA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP; L.A., CA; 818/901-0464 --ABT event at the HILTON hotel at LAX
   
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
--DOWNLOAD BROCHURE(click here)-- 2017 Calif.State.Championship
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
CALIFORNIA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP 
December 1-3, 2017

Venue: The HILTON Hotel Los Angeles Airport
5711 West Century Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Reservations: 1.800.HILTONS or 310.410.4000


  
GAMMON ASSOCIATES (79th Invitational)
                                       

Sponsored by:
		....

WE ARE "CLOCKs & MATCH RECORDINGS FRIENDLY", e.g. we favor clocked matches
and  we try to accommodate those who wish to record their matches.
Director's decision is final.


Gammon Associates is holding the 2017 CALILFORNIA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP  at the HILTON hotel (LAX) 
December 1-3, 2017. This event is on the "2017 ABT -American Backgammon Tour".

In preparation for the DRAWS, FINAL REGISTRATION CLOSES Friday night at 9 pm 
                                          (for the 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, 3 rounds on Friday. 
            Each round is 11-pts. Early-START at 2pm, Late-START at 6:30pm.
-Paul-Dingwell-Amateur: High equity, open to players not of high championship level, 
                           single elimination. (5% of each entry fee goes to charity)
                           "the Ronald McDonald House"
-OPEN**:    Open to all players. All matches CLOCKED (see Game Clocks). 
-ADVANCED** Our middle division, No entrant will be allowed to play below his/her level. 
-LIMITED**: open to players with minimum skill level & tournament experience,  plus approval of 
            our eligibility committee. Register or call for approval. 
-DOUBLES:   open to all players, brackets of 8 teams. All matches CLOCKED.
-SENIORS:   50 years & older, continuous entry, 7-pt matches.
-BLITZes:   brackets of 4, winner gets $60 and garners a "playoff" spot for Sunday.
-DMP-(DoubleMatchPt):  Continuous entry; $900 added money for USBGF members.

		                 1st-Rnd
	     Entry Fee  return    MxLen   Play Begins
SUPER-32        $450     90%     11 pts   Fri. 2 & 6:30pm (max of 48)
P.D.Amateur	$220     85%      9 pts   Fri. 2 & 7:00pm (max of 32)
OPEN **         $300     85%     11 pts   Sat. 11:30 am (max of 64)  
ADVANCED**	$150     80%      9 pts   Sat. 11:45 am (max of 64)
LIMITED **	$ 60     80%      7 pts   Sat. 12:00 pm $100 added
DOUBLES Team	$200     80%      7 pts   Fri. 7:30pm & Sun. 12:30pm
BLITZes		$ 40	 80%      5 pts   all weekend
SENIORS		$ 50	 80%      7 pts   all weekend
DMP (1-Pt)      $ 20     80%      1 pt    UBSGF added $900
JACKPOTS     $50-$300    80%      7 pts   Sunday afternoon, if interest

( ** events) = "Main, 2ndChance & Consolation"; means you 
have three chances to win the cash prizes. A bracket of 64 will pay 7-9 places. The OPEN & ADV 
"finals" will be ONE MATCH ONLY. 

NOTE: side events (e.g. Doubles, BLITZes, DMP, SENIORS) are for players registered in the 
Super-32, P.D.Amateur, OPEN, ADV, or LIMITED, all others must pay a one-time tournament fee of $20.

Please BRING YOUR BACKGAMMON BOARD & CLOCK (if you have one) !!
 
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 (SP32, Dingwell, Open, Doubles, & Advanced): 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.
 
GAME CLOCKS: All matches will be CLOCKED in the OPEN & Super-32 (13sec/2min) & DOUBLES (18sec/2.5min).
At the Tournament Director's discretion, clocks may be required in other matches. 
 
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.

******  SCHEDULE  ******
Friday  (Dec. 1st)
 12:30 pm	registration opens (—-Cash only—-)
  1:00 pm	DMP(continuous), & BLITZes(4-player brackets.
	                  5 pts ---available all three days.
    "SUPER-32" (limited to 40 players)  "Paul Dingwell 
        Amateur" (limited to 32 players)
 2:00 pm	‘Early start’,      3-rnds Friday
 3:00 pm	SENIORS   7pts continuous entry
 6:30 pm	‘Late start’,  SUPER-32  3-rnds Fri.
 7:00 pm	DINGWELL Amateur   3 rnds Fri.

 7:30 pm	DOUBLES  start (+ new entries Sun.)

 9:00 pm   FINAL registration closes for
	OPEN and ADV divisions.
	No match started past 11:45pm.
12:30 am	Expected end of play for Friday

__________________________________________________________

Saturday  (Dec. 2nd)
 8:30 am   Mochy's PROFICIENCY EXAM (allow 60 minutes)
		(Answers Seminar on Sunday morning)
 9:30 am	Registration: Final cash payments
10-11:15 am	CALCUTTA AUCTION & buybacks
           "OPEN & ADVANCED” divisions
 11:15 am	Public drawings both divisions
 11:30 am (OPEN)	  1st–3rd rounds of play with 
   (11:45am ADV)	   automatic 2nd Chance and
		   Consolation as matches
		   are completed in the main draw.
5-7:00 pm	Dinner Break (2 hours)
   7:00 pm 	PLAY continues 
	   MAIN rounds # 4-thru-6, SECOND CHANCE and
	   Consolation matches as available..
 BLITZ’s, Seniors & DMP between matches
	No match started past 11:45pm

		"LIMITED" division
12:00 Noon	1st - 4th rounds of play with automatic 2nd Chance
                 & Consolation matches as available.
5-7:00 pm	Dinner Break (2 hours)
   7:00 pm	PLAY continues; (often, the LTD 
	           event completes on Saturday night)

12:30 am	Expected end of play for Saturday
___________________________________________________________

Sunday   (Dec. 3rd)
 8:30 am   Mochy+Phil lecture "Answers to the EXAM"
10:00 am	  Play continues for all divisions
10:30 am		BLITZ’s /SR’s /DMP   cont’d.
12:30 pm	Depending upon interest:
	           -DOUBLES (8 teams, $200 per team)
	           -Jackpots $50, 100, 300 ..?
  1:00 pm	  Semis & Finals for SUPER-32 & 
	          Paul Dingwell Amateur
 1:30 pm	  BLITZ -- Playoffs will begin
 3:00 pm	  FINALS for all divisions should begin.
 7:30 pm	CONSOLATION & Doubles should be over.

___________________________________________________________

-Notes: - Non-Smoking Tournament 
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 2017 (ABT) American Backgammon Tour.

-DEPOSIT amounts or full payments  for Super-32, Dingwell, Main
divisions must be postmarked by Nov. 16, 2017.  The remainder is due
at final registration, FRIDAY NIGHT, in Cash only (fully refundable
up to the time of the draws). See the Entry Form further down on this webpage. 
__________________________________________________________________________________________________
     
                        GAMMON ASSOCIATES    
   
                        Candace Mayeron 
              		Office:  310.822.3557  Cell: 310.422.1646

                        E-mail:  pipgal@ca.rr.com

			WebSite: GammonAssociates.com
                        
Facebook:  CaliforniaBackgammonChanmpionshps
LIKE US ON FACEBOOK!  Follow us for updates on WHO’S COMING! 
                      WHAT’S HAPPENING!

Tournament Team:
Directors:
    --Candace Mayeron
    --Ergin Bayrak

Staff:
   --Mark Astemborski
   --Jean Mangone
   --Cecilia Pedroza
   
Eligibility Consultants:
   --Carol Joy Cole & Barry Silliman

Tournament Committee:
   --Ted Chee
   --Patrick Gibson
   --Neil Kazaross

Auctioneer:
   --Mark Astemborski

Video/Streaming:
   --Michelle Steinberg
____________________________________________________________________________________________________
We'll be using the "July 2017 USBGF Tournament Rules & our options". (Click on link below.) 
(click here for these Rules). There will a reference copy at the event.

CELL PHONES must be SILENT while matches are in progress.  Infractions may cost a 
penalty point. Please leave the playing room before answering a vibrating phone call.

CLOCK-FRIENDLY:  ALL MATCHES are CLOCKED for the OPEN, Super-32 and DOUBLES. 
                 P.D.Amateur matches can be if both agree, assuming a player brings his/her clock.
		 Any match that is holding up the tournament flow is likely to have a clock inserted.
		 Director's decision is final.

VIDEO-FRIENDLY:  We are supportive of those who want to record Open or Advanced
                          matches. Also, opponent is entitled to a copy and may require no other sharing
                          of the match. Director's decision is final.


We are a U.S. Backgammon Federation “Prime Tournament” with $900 added money into our “DMP" event. 
You can become a member to be eligible to share it.  Please support our growing backgammon player’s 
organization.

     usbgf.org Vist their website & check it out. 

Gammon Associates will donate $1 to the USBGF for every main-division 
player who competes in our 2015 LOS ANGELES OPEN.

"HOSPITALITY FEE:" All participants must pay a $25 hospitality fee
		    that includes: Snacks on all three days; coffee & tea on both Sat/Sun mornings, 
                    as well as catered goodies.

MOCHY's Performance Exam: Take the 50 problem exam and identify your weak points. $20 to
                      be taken on Saturday morning (1 hour),then Sunday morning lectured answers explained.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________
HOTEL

Our venue:  The HILTON-LAX Hotel (Los Angeles Airport).
We have a preferred group rate of $137/nite, single or double occupancy.  When booking within
special group block, you will receive complimentary sleeping room Wi-Fi and discounted self-parking of
$12/day In/Out. Or, use VALET for $26/day.

Our event hotel has a cut-off date of NOV. 16th. Make your hotel reservations early,
to insure you get our group rate. RESERVE NOW and cancel later, if necessary.
 
Make your reservations directly at the phone numbers below.  Please use the group-code
	"BKG" for our backgammon tournament.

Reservations:  1.800.HILTONS or direct= 310.410.4000

The HILTON (LAX)
5711 West Century Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90045

Website:  please google "HILTON LAX" 

_________________________________________________________________________________________________


Transportation

    Free 5-minute shuttle ride from LAX to hotel.  Exit any baggage terminal and go to the OVERHEAd
RED (HOTEL SHUTTLES) SIGN. HILTON makes the rounds every 15-20 minutes.

_________________________________________________________________________________________________
     General Driving Directions

DRIVING-- From the 405 Fwy North (or South) (San Diego Freeway) exit at the 
Century Blvd off-ramp. Go West on Century Blvd ~1.0 mile. HILTON is on the right side at 5711 W.Century.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________

Entry Form (2017 CA_AT_CHMP)

Name: _________________________

Address: ______________________

City: _________________________

State/Zip: ____________________

Phone: (    ) __________________

Email: _________________________________

                 Deposit  	 In Full( 

Super-32	 __  $80	__  $450

  Start: 2pm __or 6:30pm __ 
       	    	   --Side pool	__  $150

Paul Dingwell Amateur
	 	 __  $40	__  $220

  Start: 2pm __or 7pm __
      	    	   --Side pool	__  $ 70

OPEN	 	 __  $40	__  $300
      	    	   --Side pool	__  $100

ADVANCED 	 __  $30	__  $150
      	    	   --Side pool	__  $ 50

LIMITED	 	 __  $10	__  $ 60


Hospitality (req'd for all plyrs) X $ 25


	Total submitted:       $25+ _______


In order to prepare for the drawings,
Registration MUST BE COMPLETED, for OPEN & ADVANCED, 
(fully paid) by Friday nite (DEC. 2nd) 9:00 pm
(LTD players can register on Saturday)
__________________________________________________

Make payable to:
  GAMMON ASSOCIATES-WEST

Mail to:  

	  Candace Mayeron
	  8117 W. Manchester BLvd #284
	  Playa Del Rey, CA 90293
	  
(Must be postmarked by NOV.16th, 2017)
__________________________________________________

Previous "OPEN"  Winners
 
 	1st	Jay Frydman    	 (1981)
 	2nd	Dimitrios Kontopides(1982)
 	3rd	Faramarz Borna 
 	4th	Gaby Horowitz  	 (1983)
 	5th	Faramarz Borna 
	6th	Bijan Ashkan 
	7th	Steve Goldman 	 (1984)
 	8th	Grigore Harutunian 
 	9th	Mike Thunstrom 	 (1985)
  
	10th	Bahman Fathi 
	11th	Bob Glass      	 (1986)
 	12th	Norm Wiggins 
 	13th	Joe Russell    	 (1987)
 	14th	Ron Bruns 
 	15th	Elli Nache 
 	16th	Sean Howard    	 (1988)
	17th	Peter Zacks
	18th	Rageb Shadallah     
	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	Joe Russell	 (2009)(California State Championship)
	65th	Richard Munitz	 (2010)(Los Angeles OPEN)
	66th	Malcolm Davis	 (2010)(California State Championship)
	67th	Harvey Gillis	 (2011)(Los Angeles OPEN) 	
	68th	Todd Crosner	 (2011)(California State Championship)
	69th	Howard Markowitz (2012)(Los Angeles OPEN) 
	
	70th	Steve Sax	 (2012)(California State Championship) 	
        71st	Ed O'Laughlin	 (2013)(Los Angeles OPEN) 
	72nd	Ray Fogerlund	 (2013)(California State Championship)	
	73rd	Ray Fogerlund	 (2014)(Los Angeles OPEN)	
	74th	Odis Chenault	 (2014)(California State Championship)
	75th	Cliff Pappas	 (2015)(Los Angeles OPEN)
	76th	Al Hodis	 (2015)(California State Championship)
	77th	Paul Baraz	 (2016)(Los Angeles OPEN)
	78th	Steve Sax	 (2016)(California State Championship)
	79th	(could be you?)	 (2017)(California State Championship)
	
______________________________________________________________________



	Gammon Associates' is a group of backgammon players that 
compete weekly for prizes and master points.  The weekly tournaments
are randomly drawn matches of 5 or 7-points in length.  They 
are single elimination events that accommodate re-entries into the 
first and second rounds.  
	We use the U.S.Backgammon Tournament Rules including
the "doubling cube".  The game of backgammon is several thousand
years old, with its origins in several civilizations (Persian, Egyp-
tian and Indian archaeological evidence).  The Persians call it 
"shesh besh", the Turkish and Farsi words for "6-5".  
	"Master points" are accumulated all year long, with the 
top-16 highest point winners being invited to compete in the 
"Tournament of Champions".  Please come visit us to either observe 
or to join in  --our "face to face" competitions allow for the 
skill of strategies and the luck of the dice.

_______________________________________________________________________________________







VIETOR CUP Invitational SEPTEMBER 16-17, 2017 (Carlsbad, CA)



Hot Link: Jon Vietor (artist & host) is proud to present 
          his latest release of fine art originals

__________________________________________________________

Previous Winners

1962  Juan de Sanz
1963  Barclay Cooke
1964  Gordon Leib
1965  Richard Osborne
1966  Barclay Cooke
1967  Paul A. Miller
1968  John A. Vietor
1969  Theodore Bassett III
1970  Juan de Sanz
1971  Claude Beer
1972  John Lucan
1973  Nicolos Toumanov
1974  Barclay Cooke
1975  Porter Ijams
1976  Alfred Dupont Dent
1977  Porter Ijams
1978  Alfred Dupont Dent
1979  Barclay Cooke
1980  Barclay Cooke
1981  Barclay Cooke
-------resurrected in 2000-------
2000  Odis Chenault
2001  Sho Sengoku
2002  Bob Glass
2003  Bob Glass
2004  Eliot Bean
2005  John Rockwell
2006  Steve Sax
2007  Dennis Rutkowski
2008  Simon Reeves
2009  Jason Lee
2010  Mark Andrus
2011  Ray Fogerlund
2012  Ernest Ho
2013  Steve Sax
2014  Bob Glass
2015  Ray Fogerlund
2016  Michael Ungerleider
____________________________________________________________
Backgammon Tournament by invitation 'only'. Continue the
tradition started in 1962 by Jon's father. The winner's name
will be added to the perpetual trophy.


The
JON VIETOR
Invitational CUP

September
16-17, 2016

directed by Patrick Gibson & Ergin Bayrak

SCHEDULE

Friday: (Sept. 15th)
   _____possible chouettes, check with us

Saturday: (Sept. 16th)
10-11am       Complete Registration 
11:00am      "to be named" catered lunch
11:45am   Calcutta Auction ??
12:00-1:30pm  1st Round of SWISS play format
1:30-3:00pm   2nd Round 
3:00-4:30pm   3rd Round
4:30-6:30pm     Dinner Break
   6:45pm       Drawing for door prizes
6:45-8:15pm   4th Round 
8:15-9:45pm   5th Round 
9:45-11:15pm  6th Round 

Jackpots ($50/100) (4-players) available
         as players demand (100% return)

SUNDAY:  (Sept. 17th)
---- Juices & snack trays during the day
   (8:00 am go out to breakfast in LaJolla Village)
10:00-11:30am 7th Rnd (continuing Swiss play)
11:30- 1:00pm 8th Rnd 
1:00-2:30pm   9th Rnd 
2:30-4:00pm  10th Rnd (might be the last round)
4:00-5:30pm  11th Rnd (if necessary)
5:30-7:00pm  12th Rnd (very rarely necessary)

     (Trophy awarded & pictures taken as
       winner is determined)

Tournament Conditions

1. 90% return of entry fees

2. ONE Divistion ONLY (28 max field) modified SWISS Movement
	
3. Guaranteed 4 matches: with 2 losses, you can still win the
    VIETOR CUP, and with 3 losses, you can still win cash prizes.

4. Nine (9) point matches, all played with "Digital Clocks & Rules".
     (e.g. 18 minutes RESERVE for each player and 14 seconds free per
	   move, prior to any time against your 18 minute "reserve")

5. $30 refreshments fee. Qualifies you for lunch and 
     refreshments, hosted at Jon's.

6. Please register by August 30th, 2017. We'll confirm your spot.

7. All deposits must be postmarked by Aug. 31st.  Cash only
    at the tournament.

Come Join us
for two days of Sun, Surf and
Backgammon

Nestled in lovely Carlsbad, California,
the Home of Jon Vietor is your Backgammon destination
for two fun filled and relaxing days of tournament action as
well as fun in the sun!

--'LODGING'--

(Use Hotels.com and search on "Carlsbad, CA 92011")
  [as of July 2017: $86-$260 per night]


Entry    Form
Name ________________
Address______________
    ___________________
    ___________________
Phone _______________
Email________________

 FEES:
VIETOR CUP...     $300.00 (full fee)
     deposit .... $100.00

Refresh.Fee .... $  30.00  
(optional)s/pool $ 100.00
            TOTAL: ________

Checks must clear prior to the 9th of September.

MAIL: checks to 
		Gammon Associates
		7641 Orion Avenue
		Van Nuys, CA 91406

    Inquiries:  818.901.0464

Tournament hosted at

Jon Vietor's home:
     7143 Tern Place
     Carlsbad, CA 92011
     (858) 245.5891