Technology Refresher
Zoom
Joining a zoom meeting
To join the tournament zoom meeting, click this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6432162222?pwd=QlV3cjk2SVZvRHdNOHJDS2p5K3RyQT09
If prompted for a meeting number or password, input this information:
Meeting ID – 64 32 16 2222 | Passcode – Backgammon
If you need help creating an account or other getting started type help, see the zoom getting started guide here.
Audio & Video Settings in Zoom
You can watch/read the zoom audio help here.
You can watch/read the zoom video help here.
Break Out Rooms
We will be using break out rooms to meet with our opponents each round. You can learn more about how to navigate the break out rooms by reading the zoom help article here.
To join the tournament zoom meeting, click this link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6432162222?pwd=QlV3cjk2SVZvRHdNOHJDS2p5K3RyQT09
If prompted for a meeting number or password, input this information:
Meeting ID – 64 32 16 2222 | Passcode – Backgammon
If you need help creating an account or other getting started type help, see the zoom getting started guide here.
Audio & Video Settings in Zoom
You can watch/read the zoom audio help here.
You can watch/read the zoom video help here.
Break Out Rooms
We will be using break out rooms to meet with our opponents each round. You can learn more about how to navigate the break out rooms by reading the zoom help article here.
Challonge
Registering for an account
To create a new account, go to https://challonge.com/users/new, enter you email address, a username, and a password, then click “Create an account”. Once created, check your email account for a confirmation email with a link that you must click to finish registration.
Email Notification Setting
Everyone should verify that they have “Email new match notifications - recommended” enabled. You can check this in the settings section of your challonge account, towards the bottom of the page. With this setting enabled you will receive an email notification whenever you have a new match to play.
Accepting tournament invitations
Each player must accept a challonge invite at the beginning of each tournament. To do this, log into challonge and navigate to your notification center. Your most recent notification (at the top) should say, “You have been challenged!” Click that message, then click the link after, “To accept or reject this invitation, visit”. Once that page loads, click the green check mark to the right of your challonge username in the middle of the page. If you are unable to accept the invite, or if you do not have the notification at all, please notify the director so that they can ensure that you have been correctly added to the bracket.
Navigating the bracket
Once the tournament has started you will see your opponents name at the top of the bracket along with an orange “Report Results” button. You can scroll through the bracket using your mouse scroll wheel (if yu have one), by clicking the up and down triangles on the ride side of the page, or by clicking on the bracket then tapping/holding the arrow keys on your keyboard.
Finding Opponent, Match Length, Start Time, & Table Number
After finding your name in the bracket, the match length, start time, and table number information will be posted in the match header and the round header (see highlighting in picture below)
Reporting Results
After you win your match, click the “Report Your Scores” button at the top of the bracket and click on your name. The winner of the match is responsible for reporting the result, so if you do not win then you do not have to take this step. If there is an error in an reported results please inform the director so that it can be corrected.
To create a new account, go to https://challonge.com/users/new, enter you email address, a username, and a password, then click “Create an account”. Once created, check your email account for a confirmation email with a link that you must click to finish registration.
Email Notification Setting
Everyone should verify that they have “Email new match notifications - recommended” enabled. You can check this in the settings section of your challonge account, towards the bottom of the page. With this setting enabled you will receive an email notification whenever you have a new match to play.
Accepting tournament invitations
Each player must accept a challonge invite at the beginning of each tournament. To do this, log into challonge and navigate to your notification center. Your most recent notification (at the top) should say, “You have been challenged!” Click that message, then click the link after, “To accept or reject this invitation, visit”. Once that page loads, click the green check mark to the right of your challonge username in the middle of the page. If you are unable to accept the invite, or if you do not have the notification at all, please notify the director so that they can ensure that you have been correctly added to the bracket.
Navigating the bracket
Once the tournament has started you will see your opponents name at the top of the bracket along with an orange “Report Results” button. You can scroll through the bracket using your mouse scroll wheel (if yu have one), by clicking the up and down triangles on the ride side of the page, or by clicking on the bracket then tapping/holding the arrow keys on your keyboard.
Finding Opponent, Match Length, Start Time, & Table Number
After finding your name in the bracket, the match length, start time, and table number information will be posted in the match header and the round header (see highlighting in picture below)
Reporting Results
After you win your match, click the “Report Your Scores” button at the top of the bracket and click on your name. The winner of the match is responsible for reporting the result, so if you do not win then you do not have to take this step. If there is an error in an reported results please inform the director so that it can be corrected.
Backgammon Studio Heroes (Server 3)
Navigating to Heroes 3
The tournament will be played on Backgammon Studio Heroes Server 3. The URL for the server is: https://heroes3.backgammonstudio.com/. Note the “3” in the URL. If you cannot find the tournament rooms then you are likely on the wrong server.
Registering for an account on heroes
Note: Account creation is a manual process, please request an account well before your first event of the tournament. To register for an account you must navigate to the original heroes server, https://heroes.backgammonstudio.com/. Click “Login”, then on the login page click, “Register a new user”. Enter the required information, read and accept the eula, then click Register. Terje will send you an email confirmation once your account has been created (you may need to check your spam folder).
Upgrading to premium (This step is not required.)
Terje has spent significant time and money developing the heroes server to include features that greatly improve both the tournament and match experience. This will also give you easy access to your match files even if you do not download them in real time. Please upgrade if you are able.
To upgrade, first log into the server, then click the menu button in the top left corner, then the premium button. At the bottom of the pop up box will be an “Upgrade” button, click there to view the payment options.
USBGF members qualify for a $10 discount on the full premium rate, contact Ben Friesen for assistance accessing that rate.
Joining an external tournament room
Each event will have a private room that participants should join. Each room will have preset clock and match length settings specific to that event. To join an external tournament room, first log into heroes server 3, then click the word “main” above the player list. This should bring up a list of options; click “External tournaments”, then scroll through the list until you find the correct room for the tournament that you are playing.
Starting a match
To start a match, first ensure that both you and your opponent are in the proper zoom break out room and are able to communicate. Then, set your status to “looking for any match”. To do this, click on your name in the player list and select the appropriate option. Lastly, click your opponents name in the player list to open the match challenge window. In this window you should see most settings already set. Verify that the match length and clock settings are correct, then click challenge. If you r opponent challenges you then you should instead see the option to accept their challenge.
Saving match files
At the end of the match you will see a dialogue box that states the result of the match and the PR of each player. Towards the bottom of this window is an option to download the match file. If you forget to download a file you can also request that the director send the file to you after the match (match files are automatically sent to the director).
The tournament will be played on Backgammon Studio Heroes Server 3. The URL for the server is: https://heroes3.backgammonstudio.com/. Note the “3” in the URL. If you cannot find the tournament rooms then you are likely on the wrong server.
Registering for an account on heroes
Note: Account creation is a manual process, please request an account well before your first event of the tournament. To register for an account you must navigate to the original heroes server, https://heroes.backgammonstudio.com/. Click “Login”, then on the login page click, “Register a new user”. Enter the required information, read and accept the eula, then click Register. Terje will send you an email confirmation once your account has been created (you may need to check your spam folder).
Upgrading to premium (This step is not required.)
Terje has spent significant time and money developing the heroes server to include features that greatly improve both the tournament and match experience. This will also give you easy access to your match files even if you do not download them in real time. Please upgrade if you are able.
To upgrade, first log into the server, then click the menu button in the top left corner, then the premium button. At the bottom of the pop up box will be an “Upgrade” button, click there to view the payment options.
USBGF members qualify for a $10 discount on the full premium rate, contact Ben Friesen for assistance accessing that rate.
Joining an external tournament room
Each event will have a private room that participants should join. Each room will have preset clock and match length settings specific to that event. To join an external tournament room, first log into heroes server 3, then click the word “main” above the player list. This should bring up a list of options; click “External tournaments”, then scroll through the list until you find the correct room for the tournament that you are playing.
Starting a match
To start a match, first ensure that both you and your opponent are in the proper zoom break out room and are able to communicate. Then, set your status to “looking for any match”. To do this, click on your name in the player list and select the appropriate option. Lastly, click your opponents name in the player list to open the match challenge window. In this window you should see most settings already set. Verify that the match length and clock settings are correct, then click challenge. If you r opponent challenges you then you should instead see the option to accept their challenge.
Saving match files
At the end of the match you will see a dialogue box that states the result of the match and the PR of each player. Towards the bottom of this window is an option to download the match file. If you forget to download a file you can also request that the director send the file to you after the match (match files are automatically sent to the director).
