CHERRY BLOSSOM BACKGAMMON CHAMPIONSHIP
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EVENTS

ABT Registration
Beginner Players Click Here

​AMERICAN BACKGAMMON TOUR

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​ABT Main events are eligible for American Backgammon Tour (ABT) master points.

Total registration fee for all players is $100 and includes registration fee, ABT fee, and a boxed lunch during the Saturday lunch & lecture with Kent Goulding.

Looking for SPONSORS - Have a service or product that you want to advertise to the community? Become a sponsor of the Lecture! Contact Ben Friesen for full details.


Membership in the U.S. Backgammon Federation required for all events. Renew or join at usbgf.org.

ABT Championship Division - $3000 Added Money!

Entry Fee: $300, 90% return.
Optional Side Pool: $150, 95% return.
Eligibility: Open to all players.
Format: Double elimination with progressive consolation. 11 Point matches in the Main bracket, 9 point matches in the Second Chance bracket, 7 point matches in the Consolation bracket
Finals: The finals will be one match between the winners of the Main bracket and Second Chance bracket. The last undefeated player will receive a payout from the prize pool before other prizes are determined.
Clocks required: 2m/12s settings.

ABT Advanced Division - $1500 Added Money!

Entry Fee: $200, 85% return.
Optional Side Pool: $100, 95% return.
Eligibility: Advanced division players generally have a performance rating (PR) between 7 and 10 based on eXtreme Gammon. Subject to eligibility approval based on win %, ELO, PR, and recent results.
Format: Double elimination with progressive consolation. 9 Point matches in the Main bracket, 9 point matches in the Second Chance bracket, 7 point matches in the Consolation bracket
Finals: The finals will be one match between the winners of the Main bracket and Second Chance bracket. The last undefeated player will receive a payout from the prize pool before other prizes are determined.
Clocks required: 2m/15s settings.

ABT Intermediate Division - $500 Added Money!

Entry Fee: $200, 85% return.
Optional Side Pool: $100, 95% return.
Eligibility: Intermediate division players generally have a performance rating (PR) over 10 based on eXtreme Gammon. Subject to eligibility approval. based on win %, ELO, PR, and recent results.
Format: Double elimination with progressive consolation. 9 Point matches in the Main bracket, 9 point matches in the Second Chance bracket, 7 point matches in the Consolation bracket
Finals: The finals will be one match between the winners of the Main bracket and Second Chance bracket. The last undefeated player will receive a payout from the prize pool before other prizes are determined.
​Clocks required: 2m/15s settings

FEATURED EVENTS

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$5000 Added Money!

One free initial entry to the qualifier for USBGF members.
Re-Entry Fee: $50, available until 128-player bracket is full, 80% Return. Re-entries monies will be paid to the winners of the qualifying event. The National Championship prize pool will be the $5000 added money.
Optional Side Pool: $100 Championship, $50 Advanced, 95% Return. Side pool entry caries over on re-entry.
Clocks required: Clock setting varies by skill level. If both players are championship level, 2m/12s. Otherwise, 2m/15s. Both players use the same delay.
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DC*METRO OPEN (ABT Satellite Event)
​$800 Added Money!

Winners will receive entry into the ABT Main Event

Championship Division
Entry Fee: $80,
70% return
Optional Side Pool: $40
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Clocks required: 2m/12s


Advanced Division
Entry Fee: $60
, 70% return
Optional Side Pool: $30

​Clocks required: 2m/15s


Format: 2-Loss Modified Swiss
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Sponsor
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Sponsor

BMAB

Registration Fee: $100, includes BMAB player fee (45 Experience Points), match recordings and transcriptions
Entry Fee: $100, 100% return
Multiple optional side pools: $50 win/loss side pool A, $100 win/loss side pool B, 95% return
Format: The BMAB (Backgammon Masters Awarding Body) event is a modified swiss; 5 rounds, 9 point matches
​Clocks required: 2m/12s

JACKPOTS 

Cherry Blossom Classic

Entry Fee: $1200, 92.5% return
Optional Side Pool: $400, 95% return
Format: Best 2 out of 3; 9 point matches
Clocks required: 2m/12s
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This event will be capped at 16 entrants.

Martha Washington Masters Jackpot

Entry Fee: $400, 90% return
Optional Side Pool: $200, 95% return
Format: Single elimination 13 point matches
Clocks required: 2m/12s
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This event will be capped at 32 entrants. Pre-register to ensure you are able to participate. Start times at 11am Thursday & 2pm Friday.

Susan B Anthony Open Jackpot

Entry Fee: $300, 86% return
Optional Side Pool: $150, 95% return
Eligibility: Players of low Open/Championship skill level (generally PR over 5.5) are eligible for this event, subject to director and eligibility committee approval​
Format: Single elimination 11 point matches

Clocks required: 2m/12s

This event will be capped at 32 entrants. Pre-register to ensure you are able to participate. Start times at 11am Thursday & 2pm Friday.

Sacagawea Advanced Jackpot

Entry Fee: $200, 80% return
Optional Side Pool: $100, 95% return
​Eligibility: ​Players of Advanced and Intermediate skill level (generally PR over 7) are eligible for this event, subject to director and eligibility committee approval

Format: Single elimination 9 point matches
Clocks required: 2m/15s
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This event will be capped at 32 entrants. Pre-register to ensure you are able to participate. Start times at 11am Thursday & 2pm Friday.

Harriet Tubman Intermediate Jackpot

Entry Fee: $100, 70% return
Optional Side Pool: $50, 95% return
Eligibility: Only intermediate and beginner level players (generally PR over 10) are eligible for this event, subject to director and eligibility committee approval
Format: Single elimination 7
 point matches
Clocks required: 2m/15s

This event will be capped at 32 entrants. Pre-register to ensure you are able to participate. Start times at 11am Thursday & 2pm Friday.

SPECIAL EVENTS

Nation's Capital Doubles

Entry Fee: ​$150 per player ($300 per team), 80% return
Optional Side Pool: $50 per player ($100 per team), 95% return
Format: Single elimination 7 point matches
Clocks required: 3m/15s

​This event will be capped at 32-teams and does not conflict with any other events.

FTH Board Event

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Entry Fee: $200
Format: 
Single elimination 9 point matches
Clocks required: Clock setting varies by skill level. If both players are championship level, 2m/12s. Otherwise, 2m/15s. Both players use the same delay​

This event will be capped at 8 registrants.​
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1st: FTH backgammon board
​2nd: $200
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Sponsor

Gammon Guys Board Event

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Sponsor
Entry Fee: $100
Format: 
Single elimination 7 point matches
Clocks required: Clock setting varies by skill level. If both players are championship level, 2m/12s. Otherwise, 2m/15s. Both players use the same delay.​

This event will be capped at 8 registrants.​
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1st: Gammon Guys backgammon board
​2nd: Gammon Guys doubling cube

Cherry Blossom Women in Backgammon Cup
​$1000 Added Money & Prizes

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Sponsor
Entry Fee: $100, 80% return - $500 Added Money
Optional Side Pool: $50, 95% return
Eligibility: This event is only open to women
Format: G2. All entrants will play at least two 7-point matches
Recording & Transcription: Women in Backgammon has donated full service recording and transcription services for this event. All matches will be submitted to BMAB ($500 Value)
Clocks required: Clock setting varies by skill level. If both players are championship level, 2m/12s. Otherwise, 2m/15s. Both players use the same delay

​Additional Prizes will be awarded to women playing in any Cherry Blossom event, including boards, tote bags, and backgammon equipment.

Two women will receive free recording/transcription service for their matches all weekend.
​Please let us know cherryblossombackgammon@gmail.com if you are interested in being considered.

Sponsored by Women in Backgammon.

Learning Opportunities

Friday 7pm: Rookie & Intermediate Lecture with Jason Lee

Saturday 1pm: ABT & rookie participants enjoy lunch & a lecture by backgammon legend Kent Goulding

SIDE EVENTS DAILY

​$200/$100/$50/$20 Jackpots

8-player $200/$100/$50/$20 jackpots run continuously throughout the tournament. Each jackpot ends the day it starts.
Clocks required: Clock setting varies by skill level. If both players are championship level, 2m/12s. Otherwise, 2m/15s. Both players use the same delay.

Registration
tournament Brochure
2023 Cherry Blossom
​Backgammon Championship
​19-23 April 2023
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Tournament Directed & Organized by the following team:

Ben Friesen - Tournament Director
Paul Horton - 1st Assistant Director
Andy Lindeberg - Technical Director
Jonathan Hardigree - 2nd Assistant Director
Julius High - Director of Beginner Events

Contact Us

​Contact Ben Friesen for any questions or assistance.
Mobile: 810-348-1695
E-mail: cherryblossombackgammon@gmail.com

Rules Committee

​TBD

Eligibility Advisory Committee 

Ben Friesen
TBD

​Corporate Sponsors

U.S. Backgammon Federation National Championship Fund
Gammon Stuff
Gammon Guys
Women in Backgammon
​The Board Room DC
​The Board Room VA

Individual Sponsors

Karen Davis – Hospitality
Bill Finneran - Chocolate Prizes
Tom Jayne – Rookie Sponsor

John Klein – Board Prize
Marcy Kossar - Chocolate Prizes
Jason Lee – Beginner Seminar
Roberto Litzenberger - Streaming Sponsor
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