General Event Information

• All of the information on this page applies only to players in the Championship, Advanced, or Intermediate divisions. For information about the novice workshop and tournament, please click here.
  
• Membership in the US Backgammon Federation is required for all events. Renew or join at usbgf.org.
• See the Terms & Conditions page for rule options in effect. Clocks are required in all events, including side events.​
• We are looking for sponsors! If you have a product or service you would like to advertise to the community, please contact Ben Friesen for details.
• There is a $100 registration fee that applies to all players (except novices). This covers the ABT fee, hospitality, technology, and access to the event space.
• Expected Payouts
  • ABT Main Events pay 10-15% of the field. Events with less than 32 participants may pay up to 25%.
  • Jackpot events pay 12.5% of the field. Jackpots that use byes may pay up to 20%.
  • Other side events will generally pay 12.5% of the field, but may vary based on other factors such as added money.
• ​Registration Cut-Offs
  • ​ABT Main Event Registration closes Friday night. Players must check in on site by Friday.
  • Jackpot & Side Event registration closes 30 minutes before each event starts. Late entry and re-entries (if available) will open once the initial draw has been posted.

Local Club Events

Hosted By	Karen Davis and the Sunny Florida Backgammon Club ​Director: Nano Cabrera
Location	Duffy’s 3969 NE 163rd St ​North Miami Beach, FL
Schedule	Miami Masters Jackpot at 5:30pm on Monday, August 14th Chouette at 6:30pm on Monday, August 21st
Fees	​Miami Masters Jackpot: $150 entry
Format	Miami Masters Jackpot will have a G2 format.

American Backgammon Tour Main Events

The main event starts Saturday, with competition taking place over two days. As part of the American Backgammon Tour, this event is one of 15-20 each year that count towards the ABT points race!

Format	Three divisions: Championship, Advanced, and Intermediate Double-elimination with a progressive consolation 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 of 7% of the prize pool before other prizes are determined.
Match Lengths	Championship Division 11 point matches in the Main 9 point matches in the Second Chance and Consolation Advanced Division 11 point matches in the Main and Second Chance brackets 9 point matches in the Consolation Intermediate Division 9 point matches in the Main and Second Chance brackets 7 point matches in the Consolation
Schedule	Registration closes at 11:00 PM on Friday night. If you will not arrive until Saturday, full payment in advance is required. Up to six rounds on Saturday and played to completion on Sunday. Scheduled lunch and dinner breaks on Saturday.
Fees	Championship Division $400 entry fee, 90.0% return $200 side pool, 95.0% return Advanced Division $300 entry fee, 86.7% return $150 side pool, 95% return Intermediate Division $200 entry fee, 80% return $100 side pool, 95% return
Eligibility	The Championship division is open to all players Advanced division players generally have an eXtreme Gammon performance rating (PR) between 7 and 10. Intermediate division players generally have an eXtreme Gammon performance rating over 10. Eligibility is subject to director approval in consultation with the USBGF eligibility committee. Decisions may be based on win %, ELO, PR, and recent results.
Clock Settings	Championship division: 2m/12s Advanced division: 2m/15s Intermediate division: 2m/15s

Jackpot Events

Format	Four jackpots: Masters, Open, Advanced, and Intermediate (not including the Sunny Florida Classic Super Jackpot which is listed separately on this page). Single Elimination Limited to 32 entries per division Re-entries allowed until full. Side pools carry over on re-entry!
Match Lengths	Masters Jackpot: 13 points Open Jackpot: 11 points Advanced Jackpot: 9 points Intermediate Jackpot: 9 points​
Schedule	Two start times:  6pm Thursday 5pm Friday Players who register for the Friday start may have less opportunity for re-entry. Players who register for the Thursday start may be required to shift to the Friday start if they are still alive in the Doubles tournament (which begins at 12pm Thursday).
Fees	Masters Jackpot $400 entry fee, 90.0% return $200 side pool, 95.0% return Open Jackpot $300 entry fee, 86.7% return $150 side pool, 95.0% return Advanced Division $200 entry fee, 80% return $100 side pool, 95% return Intermediate Division $100 entry fee, 70% return $50 side pool, 95% return
Eligibility	The Masters Jackpot is open to all players, and recommended for players of exceptional skill. Players eligible for the Open Jackpot generally have an eXtreme Gammon performance rating (PR) over 5.5. Players eligible for the Advanced Jackpot generally have an eXtreme Gammon performance rating (PR) over 7. Players eligible for the Intermediate Jackpot generally have an eXtreme Gammon performance rating over 10. Eligibility is subject to director approval in consultation with the USBGF eligibility committee. Decisions may be based on win %, ELO, PR, and recent results.
Clock Settings	Masters & Open Jackpots: 2m/12s Advanced & Intermediate Jackpot: 2m/15s

Sunny Florida Classic - Super Jackpot

Format	Single Elimination​ 15 point matches ​Limited to 16 entrants.
Schedule	Begins at 10am Wednesday and will play through until finalists are determined.
Fees	$1200 entry fee, 92.5% return $400 side pool, 95.0% return
Clock Settings	2m/12s

BMAB Tournament

The Backgammon Masters Awarding Body (BMAB) confers mastership titles and proficiency level certificates based on calculated error rate performance using eXtremeGammon in live clocked matches in tournament conditions. 

Format	Five round modified Swiss 9 point matches All matches will be recorded, transcribed, and sent to Backgammon Masters Awarding Body for official rating
Schedule	Begins at 10am Wednesday and will finish the same day.
Fees	Separate $100 registration fee, which includes recording, transcription, and submission to BMAB. $100 entry fee, 100% return $50 side pool A, 95% return $100 side pool B, 95% return Must enter side pool A to be eligible for side pool B. Both side pools are based on W/L record.
Clock Settings	​2m/12s

Palm Beach Doubles

Format	Two-player teams Single elimination Initial rounds will be 5 point matches. Semi-finals and finals will be 7 point matches. Limited to 64 team entries. Side pool carries over on re-entry
Schedule	Two start times:  12pm Thursday 10am Friday Re-entries will be taken until 10am Friday or until full. Players who register for the Friday start will not have the opportunity for re-entry.​
Fees	$100 entry fee per player ($200 per team), 80% return $50 side pool per player ($100 per team), 95.0% return Both players must agree on whether to enter side pool
Clock Settings	3m/15s

Sunny Florida Open (Satellite Tournament)

Format	Swiss format Two divisions: Championship & Advanced 7 point matches in both divisions Winners gain free entry to the ABT main event of the same division.
Schedule	Event begins at 6:30pm Wednesday and will play at least four rounds that evening. Event will resume Thursday morning and finish before the Doubles.
Fees	Championship Division $150 entry fee, 80% return (in the form of free ABT entries) $50 side pool, 95% return Advanced Division $100 entry fee, 80% return (in the form of free ABT entries) $50 side pool, 95% return
Clock Settings	Championship division: ​2m/12s Advanced division: 2m/15s

Sunny Florida Backgammon. Winning. Women. Cup

Backgammon. Winning. Women. is proud to sponsor the Sunny Florida Backgammon. Winning. Women. Cup!

Format	G2. All entrants will play at least two 7-point matches. Recording & Transcription: Backgammon. Winning. Women. has donated full service recording and transcription services for all matches in this event. All matches will be submitted to BMAB ($500 Value) $500 added money! This event is only open to women.
Schedule	Begins at 1pm Friday and will continue until finalists are determined.
Fees	​$100 entry fee, 80% return ($500 added) $50 side pool, 95% return
Clock Settings	Clock setting varies by skill level. If both players are championship level, 2m/12s. Otherwise, 2m/15s. Both players use the same settings.​
Backgammon. Winning. Women. Sponsorship	Additional prizes will be awarded to women playing in any Sunny Florida event, including boards, tote bags, and backgammon equipment! Two women will receive free recording/transcription service for their matches all weekend. Please contact us if you are interested in being considered.

Board Tournaments

Enter the tournament of your choice to win a beautiful, high quality backgammon board!

Format	Three events to choose from: ​FTH Board Tournament, sponsored by Gammon Stuff GammonGuys Board Tournament Crisloid Board Tournament Single elimination 9 point matches for the FTH event, 7 point matches for the GammonGuys & Crisloid Event Each tournament limited to 8 players
Schedule	Each bracket will be limited to 8 players. Play will begin on-demand once bracket is full, no earlier than 2pm Friday, and will finish the same day.
Fees & Prizes	FTH Board Tournament $200 entry fee Winner receives an FTH backgammon board Finalist recieves $200 GammonGuys Board Tournament $100 entry fee ​Winner receives a GammonGuys backgammon board Finalist receives a GammonGuys doubling cube Crisloid Board Tournament $70 entry fee Winner receives a Crisloid backgammon board Finalist receives a Crisloid doubling cube
Clock Settings	Clock setting varies by skill level. If both players are championship level, 2m/12s. Otherwise, 2m/15s. Both players use the same settings.​

USBGF National Championship Qualifier

Format	Single elimination​ 5 point matches Unlimited re-entries for the first two days! Side pool carries over on re-entry $500 added money! In addition to prize pool, winner receives free entry to the USBGF National Championship playoff to complete for the title of US National Champion! Playoff will take place at the Cherry Blossom Backgammon Championship in April 2024.
Schedule	Begins at 2pm Wednesday, with competition taking place over three days. Limited to 64 entries. Unlimited re-entries until 2pm Friday, or until full.
Fees	$50 entry fee, 70% return ($500 added)​ $50 side pool A, 95% return $100 side pool B, 95% return Must enter side pool A to be eligible for side pool B.
Clock Settings	Clock setting varies by skill level. If both players are championship level, 2m/12s. Otherwise, 2m/15s. Both players use the same settings.​

Speedgammon

Format	Single elimination​ 5 point matches Unlimited re-entries Wednesday through Friday afternoon! Side pool carries over on re-entry. Very fast clock settings! Players will have only 2 minutes of reserve time (total, not per point) and an 8s delay.
Schedule	Begins at 2pm Wednesday, with competition taking place over three days. Limited to 64 entries. Unlimited re-entries until 2pm Friday or until full.
Fees	$50 entry fee, 90% return $50 side pool, 95% return
Clock Settings	24s/8s

8-Player Jackpots

Format	Available on-demand every day to all players who are not alive in any other event! Single elimination Every jackpot finishes the same day that it starts $20 jackpots are reserved for players of Intermediate skill level. All other jackpots are open to players of any skill level.
Fees	Four options: $200 entry fee, 87.5% return $100 entry fee, 87.5% return $50 entry fee, 85% return $20 entry fee, 75% return
Match Lengths	$200 Jackpots: 9 point matches $100 Jackpots: 7 point matches $50 Jackpots: 5 point matches, 7 point final $20 Jackpots: 5 point matches
Clock Settings	Clock setting varies by skill level. If both players are championship level, 2m/12s. Otherwise, 2m/15s. Both players use the same settings.​