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BACKGAMMON OFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the USBGF JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2016 2015 ABT PLAYER of the YEAR Dorn Bishop's Superb Results in 2015 Earn Him the ABT Title

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BACKGAMMON OFFICIAL MAGAZINE of the USBGF JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2016 2015 ABT PLAYER of the YEAR Dorn Bishop's Superb Results in 2015 Earn Him the ABT Title PRIMETIME BACKGAMMON OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE USBGF JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2016 2015 ABT PLAYER OF THE YEAR Dorn Bishop's superb results in 2015 earn him the ABT title goulding & senkiewicz Bob Stoller interviews two American of backgammon's most backgammon notable innovators hall of fame Merit Open Four of the game's greatest Highlights from the colossal contributors are lauded 408-player international event U.s. Backgammon federation visit us at usbgf.org geoffreyparker.com PRIME We are pleased to announce that TOURNAMENT Geoffrey Parker Games is the newest USBGF Corporate Prime Benefactor. Simply the World's finest Backgammon, since 1961 Now available at the USBGFBGSHOP 4 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 5 PrimeTime Backgammon January - February Issue member Art Benjamin. The second “person of interest” we introduce to our readers is a Rip Van Winkle character: Cleveland’s Ray PRIMETIME Cifani, who is attacking the game with fresh BACKGAMMON enthusiasm after a three-decade layoff! OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE USBGF JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2016 2015 ABT This issue opens with USBGF President PLAYER OF January - Bill Riles’ updates on the recent Board of Directors election and his thanks for the THE YEAR generous contributions of 32 Founding Dorn Bishop's superb February Issue results in 2015 earn Sponsors, Prime Benefactors, and major him the ABT title PrimeTime Backgammon donors — who contributed over $40,000 in 2015. Looking towards a bright 2016, By Karen Davis, Managing Editor Bill previews his plan to implement a 1000-member campaign. ishing the whole backgam- top performers in 2015 — including the nament reports from our far-flung corre- goulding & mon community a happy ABT point list topped by Dorn Bishop, the spondents: Ray Fogerlund on the Seattle Check out the live and online tournament senkiewicz new year, we kick off 2016’s USBGF cumulative Elo over the period from Backgammon Classic; Jake Jacobs on the rankings and master points, Prime Clubs, Bob Stoller interviews two Wfirst issue of PrimeTime Backgammon by 2009-2015 headed by Joe Russell, the newly Japan Open; and Sabri Büyüksoy on the upcoming events, and Get in the Game! American of backgammon's most notable innovators announcing the induction of four new instituted USBGF National Master Point 3rd Merit Open in Cyprus. backgammon members to the American Backgammon list for 2015 with Ray Fogerlund finishing “Get Into the Game — Become a Member” Hall of Fame. The ceremony honoring first, and the USBGF 2015 Online Master A craftsman, the saying goes, is only as hall of fame Merit Open these backgammon greats took place at Points Leaderboard headed by Jan Honza good as his tools. It is 2016, and by now Four of the game's greatest Highlights from the colossal contributors are lauded 408-player international event the Texas Backgammon Championships Černý from the Czech Republic. we all know how to use programs like XG, U.s. Backgammon federation visit us at usbgf.org in San Antonio on February 5, 2016. Bill but how many of us can remember all the Riles presented plaques to the inductees All these champions! Can you become replies to the opening moves? The solution who are profiled in this issue, and Jeremy one too? Improve your game with Marty may lie with an app created by American Bagai contributes an essay on the honorees. Storer, our Feature Editor for Annotated expert Jeremy Bagai. Jeremy calls his app, Matches. Next up in this issue: Marty which uses the efficient learning-technique Featuring the 2016 In our first feature, we train the spotlight on analyzes 11 key positions from the USBGF of flashcards, “FlashBack.” But before we two of last year’s Hall of Famers, as USBGF Online Tournament of Champions final rush to buy the app, let’s read the reviews. historian Robert Stoller presents a lively match, between Israel’s David Presser Canadian Bruce Farquhar lets us do just American Backgammon interview with Kent Goulding and Michael and Germany’s Frank Simon. David and that, ably assessing FlashBack’s features Senkiewicz: pioneers whose acute analysis Frank were among the 23 winners of 2014 and promise. Hall of Fame and of the game in the pre-bot era helped raise USBGF online tournaments who qualified the level of professional play. for a coveted slot in the event. But backgammon is played by people, KAREN DAVIS USBGF Awards! so we move from mathematical apps to Karen Davis is Chairman of the USBGF Next, we move from the distant past to After doing your homework with Marty, mathemagicians, profiling the extraordi- Board of Directors and Managing the recent past. This issue includes lists of relax and let your mind wander with tour- nary accomplishments of USBGF Board Editor of PrimeTime Backgammon. 6 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 7 In This Issue January - February 2016 BACK N GA A M FEATURED IC R M E O 22 2016 AMERICAN BACKGAMMON M N A 2016 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES INDUCTEES The second cohort of Hall of Fame awardees 46 includes two outstanding directors and two greats H who made important contributions to the game. A E LL A M OF F BY BILL RILES AND JEREMY BAGAI FRANK SIMON REACHES FINALS Frank Simon, one of Germany's top players, was finalist 28 ABRIDGED INTERVIEW WITH in the 2014 Online Tournament of Champions, losing to GOULDING AND SENKIEWICZ David Presser who tops the USBGF Online Leaderboard. 22 Robert Stoller revisits the impact Kent Goulding and Michael Senkiewicz had on the modern game 2016 HALL OF FAME of backgammon 30-40 years ago. The 2016 American Backgammon Hall BY ROBERT STOLLER of Fame inductees are revealed. 46 PRESSER VERSUS SIMON: EXCELLENT RESULTS FINAL OF THE 2014 ONLINE TOC Michael Senkiewicz, , shown here at his 2015 Hall of Fame induction, recently won the Marty Storer captures the highpoints of the Online 60 28 New York Metro Open Championship, and Tournament of Champions final between Israel's finished second in the Liberty Cup Masters. David Presser and Germany's Frank Simon. BY MARTY STORER AND DAVID PRESSER ENDLESS LIGHTS OF TOKYO International visitors to the Japan Open 60 ONE MAN'S MEAT took in the breathtaking sights of Tokyo and feasted on its outstanding cuisine. Jake Jacobs takes us to the Japan Open and the splendid feasts and high level of play. 3RD MERIT OPEN BY JAKE JACOBS Sabri Büyüksoy, a top Turkish modern backgammon player, shares his photos and insights at the 3rd Merit Open. Sabri 72 3RD MERIT OPEN ; UNKNOWN; ROBERT AMADOR ROBERT UNKNOWN; ; won the 2012 European Pro Championship and 2012 Euro- Sabri Büyüksoy captures the beauty, glamour, and pean Backgammon Tour, and is currently ranked #58 on the GROUCHO celebration of the 3rd Merit Open. Giants list. Sabri works as a human resources consultant. ESGUERRRA BY SABRI BÜYÜKSOY USBGF; USBGF; Questions or comments about PrimeTime Backgammon? We want to hear from you! Contact us via e-mail at [email protected]. 72 LEFT: FROM TOP: FROM 8 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 9 In This Issue In This Issue January - PRIMETIME February 2016 BACKGAMMON OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE USBGF JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2016 ON THE COVER PLAYER PROFILES 2015 ABT Dorn Bishop, member of the USBGF Board of Directors, won the Chicago Open, finished second 80 ART BENJAMIN PLAYER OF in the Las Vegas Open (losing to Akiko Yazawa), The USBGF Board of Directors includes the world's THE YEAR and won the Consolation at the California State leading mathemagician, popular TED speaker, and Dorn Bishop's superb Backgammon Championship to claim the #1 spot on exhibition mesmerizer. results in 2015 earn the 2015 ABT. Photo courtesy of Tara Mendicino. him the ABT title BY PHIL SIMBORG HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AKIKO! 84 RAY CIFANI At the recent Las Vegas Open, Akiko Yazawa invited everyone present at the Calcutta to join Ray Cifani enthusiastically returned to backgam- her in celebrating her birthday. Carter Mattig mon after raising his family and building his career. goulding & pulled out all the stops by bringing boxes BY KAREN DAVIS senkiewicz full of beautiful and delicious cupcakes! Bob Stoller interviews two TOURNAMENT NEWS American of backgammon's most notable innovators 88 2015 SEATTLE backgammon BACKGAMMON CLASSIC hall of fame Merit Open Ray Fogerlund explores the great Northwest, Four of the game's greatest Highlights from the colossal describes a boat ride around Bill Gates' home, and contributors are lauded 408-player international event USBGF NEWS USBGF NATIONAL & ONLINE STATS U.s. Backgammon federation visit us at usbgf.org recounts his misfortunes at Seattle. 12 PRESIDENT'S COLUMN 106 MASTER POINT LEADERS BY RAY FOGERLUND Bill Riles gives us a preview of his plans for the Ray Fogerlund finishes at number one in the 2015 TOURNAMENT RESULTS USBGF in 2016. We are off and running! USBGF National Master Points race, while Jan Černý APP REVIEW BY BILL RILES tops the list in 2015 USBGF Online Master Points. 102 LIVE TOURNAMENT RESULTS 94 FLASHBACK APP BY BAGAI: See all the results from ABT tournaments held BY RICH MUNITZ 14 NEWEST USBGF DIRECTORS BACKGAMMON FLASHCARDS in Las Vegas, Los Angeles, and New York. Bruce Farquhar applies his consulting expertise on We are pleased to announce that Marty Storer 108 NATIONAL LEADERBOARD and Frank Talbot have been elected to the Board. learning theory to a review of the FlashBack app. 111 ONLINE CIRCUIT WINNERS Open, Advanced, and Novice leaders in USBGF Elo BY BRUCE J. FARQUHAR View recent winners of USBGF Online Circuit ratings in live events and 2015 ABT Points. 20 FOUNDING SPONSORS tournaments through mid January 2016. BY BARRY SILLIMAN LOCAL CLUB NEWS Thanks to our newest Platinum Founding Sponsor Bruce Newberg and Gold 112 UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS 110 ONLINE LEADERBOARD 98 QUALIFYING PRIME CLUBS Founding Sponsor Kevin Finch.
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