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 no dark dates yet in 2018 (--------)
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 4-08-2018 (PIPS has a booking)
We will NOT PLAY on Sunday 4-15-2018 (Las Vegas "U.S. OPEN")
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
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--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