LOCATION: All International Backgammon
Alliance (IBA) Tournaments will be held at the Pogo game site located at http://www.pogo.com in the Tournament Room (behind
Backgammon’s Social tab).
Upon entering the Tournament Room, please be seated at Tables 1-4 for your Round 1 table
assignment. All instructions will be posted in the lobby
by your tournament host.
PLAYER ETTIQUETTE: 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 taken privately and NOT
expressed in the lobby. 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 also not allowed (host postings are exempted). Any player (regardless of player name) removed from
an IBA event either with Pogo Guide/Magna assistance or Host Disqualification (DQ) three
times within 180 days will be no longer welcomed at any IBA event. Your
cooperation will be admired by all.
PLAYER NAMES: Player names must be of a family nature and must be
approved by your tournament host to participate. If your host whispers to 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: Each IBA tournament will be overseen by an IBA
Tournament Host. It is the Host’s responsibility to maintain a friendly, fun and family atmosphere for tournament play. 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.
TOURNAMENT 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 (3) points. Use of the cube is allowed and encouraged.
The Move Forfeit
Timer will NOT be used. Tournaments consist of a minumum of 8 players and a
maximum of 64 players.
How to set up game options
Pogo
game tools and overview of game play
MATCH TIME LIMITS: All regularly scheduled three (3) point matches are limited to a
40 minute time limit, 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.
SIGN UPS: Signups will begin 30 minutes prior to the tournament’s
scheduled start time and will remain open for 20 minutes. Late players will be
tentatively accepted as substitute players and will play if at all possible. Round
1 table assignments for substitute players will NOT be made until after the rules are
posted and the tournament has started for the seated players. All Round 1 match
time limits will begin at the tournament start time. This includes late starts.
Signups will close at 5 minutes past the tournament start time.
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 boots/disappears for
whatever reason at the beginning of Round 1 and no markers have been moved, then the
match has not begun and a substitute player will be assigned. If markers have been
moved, then the missing opponent will be timed based on the BOOTS/DISCONNECTS/MISSING
OPPONENTS rule below. It is important that you notify your host whether or not the
match had begun.
If you are replaced, return to Tables 1-4 for possible substitute player assignment
as long as the signups have not yet been closed.
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 @ 32***************
BOOTS/DISCONNECTS/MISSING OPPONENTS: All Players leaving
the room/game, booted or by choice, will have 10 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 forfeit of the match. The same
applies if a player is booted 3 times during the same match regardless of length of
time. Players please report booted/missing opponents in the lobby like this:
**************YourOppsName missing @ 32***************
WATCHING: Any one may watch any of the matches in
progress SILENTLY unless invited to chat by BOTH opponents. No opponent may boot a
watcher; however, you may mute them so they are not distracting should they ignore your
request for silence. Your host is responsible for the behavior in the lobby and is
limited on intervention in the match itself; however, you may call for the
assistance of a Pogo Guide at any time you are experiencing vulgarity or rude behavior
from a watcher during your match.
MULTI-TASKING: You may NOT play in two matches at the same
time in ANY room. Anyone doing so will forfeit their IBA tournament match and
receive no points.
PERSONAL BREAKS: Personal breaks are limited to five (5) minutes between
matches and are requested from the Tournament Host in the lobby. This will enable the
tournament to continue to flow for everyone’s enjoyment.
Once your next round assignment has been posted, the match time limit has
begun. If you need a break at that time, your opponent must agree as they are
effected.
SPECIAL TOURNAMENTS:
Top Dog Tournament: On the first Saturday of the month,
the Top 50 in Winner Points from the previous month will compete in IBA’s Top Dog
Tournament. The Director may expand the number of participating players if 2 or
more players earning the same number of Winner Points exceeds 50. Format will be 5
point matches, 7 point Finals Match, single elimination.
Tournament of Champions: On the first Sunday of the month,
the winners of all IBA tournaments for the previous month will compete in IBA’s
Tournament of Champions. Format will be 7 point matches, 9 point Finals Match,
single elimination.
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 IBA event 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.
POGO TOKENS: With the acquisition of Pogo.com by EA.com,
the Pogo Tokens program for IBA Events has been put on hold and will be reconsidered by
EA.com in August. This decision by EA.com is effective January 1, 2001.
Pogo
Tokens will be awarded to EVERY 1st and 2nd place winners of our regularly scheduled
tournaments (listed on Pogo’s Events Page) and both the Tournament of Champions and Top
Dog Special Events:
Regular Scheduled Tournaments
First Place: 12,000 tokens
Second
Place: 7,000 tokens
TOC and Top Dog Invitations
First Place: 60,000 tokens
Second
Place: 35,000 tokens
NOTE: Currently Pogo Tokens are redeemable by residents of the
United States and Canada only. Those players who cannot use their earned Pogo
Tokens may gift them to another person by contacting ronnie@northernsworld.com no later than the
last day of the month in which the Pogo Tokens were earned. Provide the
recipient’s player Pogo player name and email address along with your request.
