IBA FREE EVENT RULES
LOCATION: All Free International Backgammon Alliance (IBA) Events will be
held at the GammonVillage PlayGammon game site located at
http://www.gammonvillage.com.
Click on the Play Now button on the right side of the page. Check the
schedule for the appropriate room.
Free events are
hosted manually. These procedures will differ from IBA’s Ticket Events which
will be automated. This requires patience and cooperation from the players. By
reviewing these rules, you will know what to expect.
Upon entering the
room, set up a table so that the host knows that you would like to play. Watch
the lobby closely. Your Host will acknowledge that you are in the tournament.
Then close the table. Please do not join an open table. All further
instructions will be posted in the
lobby by your tournament host. Sign-ups begin thirty minutes prior to
the tournament start time. You are encouraged to arrive early.
Pairings will be
announced at ten minutes to start time. At five minutes prior to the start time,
the rules will be run. Substitutes will be announced at the all start. Your
silence in the lobby is requested so that everyone can follow along.
IBA CODE OF CONDUCT: Within a family-style atmosphere, you will be
playing all ages, all levels of skill and will have opponents with slow
connections to the Internet. Patience is a virtue.
Any
arguments/negative comments between players will be expressed privately and NOT
in the public lobby chat. Disruptive or abusive behavior, as well as discussion
of sex, racism, alcohol or drugs will NOT be tolerated. The excessive use of
CAPS and flooding of text is NOT allowed (host postings are exempted).
Any player
(regardless of player name) not complying with IBA’s Code of Conduct (COC) and
Tournament Rules will become
unwelcome at IBA events. Additionally, your Tournament Host, having personal
knowledge, is not required to seat any player known to intentionally abuse or
disrupt IBA events. Any abuses, disruptions and COC violations will be
documented and action will be taken.
Complaints,
concerns or comments are to be submitted by email to
judy@northernsworld.com along with any supporting documentation.
PLAYER NAMES: Player names must be of a family nature and must be
approved by your tournament host to participate. If your host tells you that
your name is found to not be acceptable to participate in one of our
family-style events and requests that you change, we hope that your response
will be cooperative. Granted, what one person finds offensive may not be to
another; however, the bottom line is your host is responsible for the event and
is not required to sign in any players he/she believes will impact the enjoyment
of others.
TOURNAMENT HOSTS: An IBA Tournament Host will oversee each IBA
event. It is the Host’s responsibility to maintain a friendly, welcoming and
family-style atmosphere for tournament play while enforcing the IBA Tournament
Rules. The Host is there to help you with your questions or problems. You can
help ensure that your question is not missed in the speed of the lobby chat by
first typing **** then your question.
For example:
****format please?
There are times
when your Tournament Host may be very busy answering several simultaneous
questions or multi-tasking. There are also times when your Tournament Host will
need to ask the lobby for silence (when players are unable to see their
assignments, when the tournament rules are run, when numerous winner posts are
being posted). Please remember the host is only one person. Your consideration
and patience is truly appreciated.
EVENT RULES: It is your responsibility to be familiar with these rules
and to comply.
REGULARLY SCHEDULED TOURNAMENT FORMAT:
Each UNRATED single elimination match is for three points. Use of the cube is
allowed and encouraged. The Move Forfeit Timer will set for 10 minutes (to allow
for disconnected players). Tournaments consist of a minimum of eight players
and a maximum of sixty-four players.
MATCH TIME LIMITS: All regularly scheduled three point matches are
limited to forty minutes with the exception of the finals match, which has no
time limit. If any match is not completed within the time limit, the Host will
declare a winner based on points and pip count. The host has the discretion to
extend the match time limit IF no other player is waiting for the match
winner. Intentional delay of game may result in disqualification at the Host’s
discretion.
SIGNUPS: Open Signups will begin at least thirty minutes prior to the
tournament’s scheduled start time and will remain open until ten minutes prior
to the tournament’s scheduled start time. Those players sitting at table for
signups at the close of Open Signups will be penciled onto the Tournament Host’s
event brackets and given their assignment following the ALL START.
Those players
arriving later will be considered Substitute Players and will play if at all
possible. Please wait patiently for possible assignment following the posting of
the rules. Any assigned player missing from a game table at the ALL START will
be replaced.
All Round 1 match
time limits will begin at the tournament start time, including late starts. IBA
encourages players to arrive early for signups to be guaranteed a seat in the
event.
TOURNAMENT START: Do not start Round 1 until instructed to do so
by the Host in the lobby. Following rounds may begin as soon as both players are
seated.
Round 1 Rule: If a player disconnects/disappears for whatever reason at
the beginning of Round 1:
DOUBLING: Doubling/using the cube is allowed and encouraged! The
Crawford Rule is used for IBA tournaments.
WIN REPORT: Winner only please report wins in the lobby chat like
this:
****Winner/Loser ****
BOOTS/DISCONNECTS/MISSING OPPONENTS:
All Players leaving the room/game booted or by choice, will have ten minutes to
return. The current match game window must NOT be closed until told to do so by
the tournament host. Failure to return in ten minutes will result in forfeiture
of the match. Forfeiture also applies if a player is booted three times during
the same match regardless of length of time.
Players: Please
report booted/missing opponents in the lobby:
****YourOppsName missing @ 32****
Missing Players:
Please announce your return in the public lobby:
****back
WATCHING: Any one may watch any of the matches in progress SILENTLY
unless invited to chat by BOTH opponents. You may mute any player that is
distracting or offensive.
Your host is
responsible for the behavior in the lobby and is limited on intervention in the
match itself.
MULTI-TASKING: You may NOT play in two matches at the same time in ANY
room nor utilize any assistance. Anyone doing so will forfeit their IBA
tournament match and receive no Winner Points.
PERSONAL BREAKS: Personal breaks are limited to three minutes
between matches and are requested from the Tournament Host in the lobby at the
same time you post your win. This will enable the tournament to continue to flow
for everyone’s enjoyment. In the later rounds, additional break time may be
available.
Post as *****
winner/loser – need break.
Requesting a
personal break during a match affects your opponent because the match time limit
clock is running. Your opponent must agree to the break.
SPECIAL EVENTS:
Signups for
special events must be completed at least a half hour before the event.
Top Dog Invitational: On the Saturday of the second weekend of the
month, the Top sixty-four in Winner Points from the previous month will compete
in IBA’s Top Dog Tournament. Format will be five point matches, seven point
Finals Match, single elimination with a forty-minute match time limit (no time
limit on the Final Match).
Substitute Player
Rule: If two or more players earning the same number of Winner Points exceed
sixty-four eligible players, they shall become Substitute Players and will
replace ‘no show’ players. Additional Substitute Players may also be assigned to
complete the brackets by using the next highest-ranking player(s) in Winner
Points present at the event.
Tournament of Champions Invitational:
On the Sunday of the second weekend of the month, the winners of all IBA events
for the previous month will compete in IBA’s Tournament of Champions. Format
will be seven point matches, nine point Finals Match, single elimination with
fifty-minute match time limit (no time limit on the Final Match).
Special Events: Periodically IBA will announce special events
that will replace our regularly scheduled tournaments. IBA’s Player Email List
and the website will be used for these announcements. You are encouraged to
ensure IBA has your current email address.
IBA WINNER POINTS: With each regularly scheduled IBA tournament
you participate in, you will receive winner points as follows:
0 points for a bye
2 points for each
match win
5 bonus points for
second place
10 bonus points for
first place
Winner Points for
each event are credited to the player name worn for that event. To accumulate
Winner Points, players are encouraged to select one player name to use in all
IBA events. IBA does not combine player names without an approved reason.
Winner points may
be awarded for other IBA events.
