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Following on from an earlier attempt to organise a backgammon tour based upon regional tournaments, Biba has set up the Biba Backgammon Tour (BBT). It is a non-contributory, non-fee event that takes its final 8 players from the entrants of the following UK events:

The organisers of the above events are not directly involved with the UK Tour (except Biba events), but if they want to assist they are welcome to do so. All that is required of them is to make available the names of the Last 8/16 players in the Main. This is purely a Biba project and any funding is via Biba and the event sponsor, PlayWSOB.

For the Last 8/16 of the Main in each of the tour events, points will be awarded thus: 1st = 20, 2nd = 16, 3rd & 4th = 12, 5th/8th = 9, 9th to 16th = 5. A running points total and leader board will be published on the Biba web site following each event, and in the Bibafax upon publication. After the final event, the Irish Open, the top 8 scorers will become the qualifiers. These 8 qualifiers will be invited to take part in the Grand Final to be held on the Saturday evening at the 2011 Bright & Breezy tournament, 8 January. The Finals will be a 15-point Knockout with a winner-takes-all prize of at least £250 and trophies supplied by PlayWSOB.

Qualifiers must confirm their attendance for the Final by 7 November. If any of the qualifiers cannot attend the Final then the 9th scorer will be invited, and thereafter, 10th, 11th etc. until such time as we have an 8 draw. Any vacant places that occur on the day of the Final will be decided in the same way.

Remember. There are no fees to pay to enter the BBT - the only fees you incur are those to enter each event. The BBT is not an official part of the above events (excepting those organised and run by Biba) but it is hoped that its involvement will result in more entrants for each event.

Because the BBT is being introduced retrospectively we already have 8 potential qualifiers from the Scottish Open and Manchester One-Day events, and others will soon be added upon their conclusion. Below is the calendar of all events including those already completed.

If your club is staging a local tournament that is open to all and you would like to be part of the BBT, please email and let us know. It is also very likely that Biba Grand Prix Points can also be applied to your event.

Questions & Answers (latest at the top)

Q: I was an entrant at the Liverpool Open and although I didn't make the last 8 I was an entrant and would have earned 1 appearance point. This lost point might prove crucial towards the end of the tour. Is there any way that attendance points be given if not actual tour points?

A: I understand your frustration but I regret I cannot award any points at all for Liverpool. It was a club decision not to be part of it this year, and even though I could award points, I respect their decision. Don't forget, you do have four more events in which to recoup that lost AP and perhaps even increase your overall score.

Q: I notice from your calendar that the Liverpool Open isn't part of the 2010 Tour. Why not?

A: Liverpool were invited to join a few months back. The club had a meeting and held a vote and it was decided that they would not take part this year but would do so in 2011. It was felt that with it being retrospectively applied their members were not able to fully benefit from the entire Tour.

Q: Will the sponsors be putting any added money into the Tour? If not cash, what about online credit?

A: Not to my knowledge; however, should they decide to do so then I would be delighted to add it to the Finals. There is a possibility of online credit - but that is at their discretion.

Q: Now that you have an online games server sponsoring the BBT do the entrants have to be members of PlayWSOB.com to play in or qualify for the tour?

A: No, not at all. You are under no obligation to join or play online, that is entirely up to you. At (some) of the Biba staged BBT events PlayWSOB.com will have a desk and will be pleased to answer your questions regarding their backgammon and poker site and sign you up if you wish to do so.

Q: Isn't it a bit like 'sleeping with the enemy' having a sponsor who can be seen as a rival?

A: Interesting thought. I don't see PlayWSOB.com as a rival, more as a partner. They are dedicated more to online events whereas Biba is solely about the social side of backgammon and face-to-face matches. We each depend upon the other to a certain degree and we have a mutual interest in promoting backgammon. PlayWSOB looks like a really exciting new online platform and an excellent partnership for Biba. PlayWSOB is not a gambling site, it is a skill gaming site with lots of tournaments, which is what Biba does. Already PlayWSOB.com have made an announcement on their NEWSROOM about the partnership and this can be seen as a positive for all backgammon.

Q: Do the 8 qualifiers have to be Biba members?

A: No. The Tour is open to any backgammon player. It is designed to promote regional backgammon and (hopefully) increase entry levels for them. Of course, if any of the finalists in January are not members of Biba they could join if they wanted to.  To get the Tour going this year Biba has added a few 'extra' events which will be replaced next year with more local ones.

Q: Why are you restricting it to the last 8 of each event?

A: Not all events have a last 16; however, I have decided to extend it (where appropriate) and the points allocated will be 5 for 9th to 16th. The leader board reflects this with the Scottish Open results.

Q: It is possible that two or more of those topping the chart at year end could share the same number of points thus giving a greater field of 8 qualifiers. How would you decide who is in the Final?

A: Good point! I have decided to add 'attendance points' (AP) as a tie-breaker. All event entrants will get 1 AP for each event they enter. Those that support the tour the most will have more AP than those that enter only one or two events. Of course, if any entrants are not in the top 16 (or top 8) of any event then I might not have a record of their attendance, therefore it is incumbent upon such entrants to ensure the event TD informs Biba of their attendance or to notify me themselves.