Hall of Fame
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PRIMETIME BACKGAMMON OFFICIAL MAGAZINE OF THE USBGF JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2015 2014 player of the year Ray Fogerlund wins the coveted ABT title for the 4th time online master American poinT leaderS backgammon Ted Chee tops the Online hall of fame Circuit leaderboard 13 of the game's most Early Game extraordinary contributors are Stick analyzes the 64 split, honored for their achievements 52 second roll sequence U.s. Backgammon federation visit us at usbgf.org HAND MADE IN ENGLAND HAND MADE IN ENGLAND Simply thethe World’s World’s nest nest Backgammon, since 1961 Backgammon, since 1961 www.georeyparker.com www.geoffreyparker.comwww.georeyparker.com USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 5 The Kansas City Backgammon Club, formed a decade ago by Eric Barr, is thriving with the addition of Julius High and his popu- lar Backgammon Study Group. It is the newest addition to the USBGF list of 15 Prime Clubs. Finally, USBGF President Bill Riles brings january - us up to date on the Federation with the recent election of Board members Julius February Issue High and Michelle Steinberg. Make plans to attend 2015 Prime Tournaments includ- PrimeTime Backgammon ing the upcoming D.C. Capital Classic, This issue features the the Ohio State Championships, the U.S. By Karen Davis, Managing Editor “ inaugural American Open in Las Vegas, Atlanta Spring Classic, special treat is in store for our for 2014, is reprinted with permission from Chicago Open, Los Angeles Open, and the readers. This issue features the his hometown Fitchburg, Massachusetts Backgammon Hall Michigan Summer Championships and inaugural American Back- newspaper, the Sentinel & Enterprise. of Fame inductees — take home added money exclusively for Agammon Hall of Fame inductees — with USBGF members! with snapshots of each snapshots of each of the 13 honorees, an Stick makes his debut as a regular columnist insightful essay by Jeremy Bagai on the for PrimeTime Backgammon with his first of the 13 honorees, Check out the live and online tournament class, a description by Karen Davis of the article on common errors in the early game an insightful essay by rankings, and Get in the Game! process used to select these individuals, and that result in significant match equity loss. plans going forward by Bill Riles, USBGF Jeremy Bagai on the - KAREN DAVIS President and Executive Director. This issue also showcases Bill Phipps, “The class, and a description Wolf of Wall Street,” in an article by Iancho Ted Chee, USBGF All-Time and 2014 Hristov. Other player profiles by Karen of the process used to Online Master Points winner was honored Davis include: Jonah Seewald, 2014 USBGF derive the winners … along with the Hall of Famers at the USBGF Grand Champion; and Zdeněk Žižka from Featuring the inaugural Awards dinner in San Antonio on January the Czech Republic, winner of the online 30, 2015. He is featured in a report on the Masters Divisional IV. online master point leaders since the launch American Backgammon of the USBGF Online Tournament Circuit And there are tournament reports galore: in the fall of 2012. the inaugural U.K. Open by Peter Bennet, Hall of Fame and the Japan Open by Jake Jacobs, and the 2nd Ray Fogerlund, who won the coveted #1 Merit Open in Cyprus by Sabri Büyüksoy KAREN DAVIS USBGF Awards! spot on the American Backgammon Tour on the international scene, and the Illinois Karen Davis is Chairman of the USBGF for 2014, is profiled by Karen Davis. A State by Linda Rockwell closer to home. Board of Directors and Managing feature on Frank Raposa, #2 ABT winner Editor of PrimeTime Backgammon. 6 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 7 In This Issue January - February 2015 BACK N GA A M FEATURED IC R M E O 16 AMERICAN BACKGAMMON M N A 2015 HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES INDUCTEES Respect paid to 13 inaugural Hall of Famers for their 32 accomplishments and contributions to the game. BY JEREMY BAGAI, KAREN DAVIS, & BILL RILES H E AL M L OF FA 2014 PLAYER OF THE YEAR 32 RAY FOGERLUND: ABT 2014 Ray Fogerlund employs psychology, PLAYER OF THE YEAR, AGAIN serious study, and lots of tournament 16 Ray Fogerlund tops the American Backgammon play to make it to the top of the ABT. Tour for the fourth time and takes the title. BY KAREN DAVIS HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES 40 USBGF AWARDS ONLINE American Backgammon Hall of Fame recognizes 13 inductees who paved the MASTER POINT LEADERS way for modern backgammon. Ted Chee is recognized for his outstanding perfor- mance in the popular USBGF Online Circuit. BY KAREN DAVIS 50 90 2ND MERIT CYPRUS OPEN The ultimate backgammon playing experience. 46 THE EARLY GAME: 64 SPLIT, 52 Stick analyzes the opening sequence of 64 split, 2014 USBGF GRAND CHAMPION followed by 52, and demonstrates the importance After a couple of years of disciplined study, of avoiding errors in second-roll positions. Jonah Seewald had a breakout year in 2014. BY STICK 50 JONAH SEEWALD: 2014 THE INAUGURAL U.K. OPEN USBGF GRAND CHAMPION Japanese team of World Champion Akiko with The coveted Grand Champion title goes to Jonah Giant #2 Michy (L) and Giant #1 Mochy (R) shown Seewald, winner of National Championship West. with UKBGF Board member Peter Bennet. BY KAREN DAVIS Questions or comments about PrimeTime Backgammon? We want to hear from you! Contact us via e-mail at [email protected]. 54 MACFARLANE IAN OPEN: CYPRUS STARTIN DAVID OPEN: U.K. 8 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 9 In This Issue In This Issue January - February 2015 ON THE COVER Another amazing achievement by Ray Fogerlund to FEATURED win the title of American Backgammon Tour Player of the Year for 2014, photographed by Tara Mendi- 54 THE INAUGURAL U.K. OPEN cino at the recent Las Vegas Open in November. Peter Bennet captures the highlights of the inaugural U.K. Open, with photos by David Startin. CONGRATULATIONS UKBGF BY PETER BENNET The U.S. Backgammon Federation congratulates Peter Bennet, Sean Williams, Raj Jansari, Ian Tarr, 64 THE STORY OF BILL PHIPPS Jon Barnes, Simon Morecroft, and Eric McAlpine as Bill Phipps has found success on Wall Street and newly elected members of the Board of the UKBGF. over the backgammon board. We look forward to working with you in the future. BY IANCHO HRISTOV 74 LOTS OF FISH: THE JAPAN OPEN Jake Jacobs provides witty and insightful coverage 13 USBGF BOARD OF DIRECTORS of the highly acclaimed 2014 Japan Open. TOURNAMENT NEWS Elections bring fresh enthusiasm and BY JAKE JACOBS 94 ILLINOIS STATE CHAMPIONSHIPS energy to the USBGF Board of Directors. Illinois, with its Halloween-themed tournament, is a 88 TOUGH MIDDLE-GAME PLAY consistent standout on the ABT tour. 14 FOUNDING SPONSORS Master teacher Phil Simborg discusses the BY LINDA ROCKWELL We thank Vladimir Gudgenov, Stuart Domeshek, intricacies and pitfalls of middle game play. Frank Talbot, John Bird, Victor Ashkenazi, Jason BY PHIL SIMBORG 108 LIVE TOURNAMENT RESULTS 100 ZDENĚK ŽIŽKA Pack, and Albert Steg for their support. See all the results from ABT tournaments held in Young star Zdeněk wins the Cyprus intermediate 90 THE 2ND MERIT OPEN Florida, Connecticut, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles, division in his first international tournament foray. The 2nd Merit Cyprus Open raises the bar on plus results from the Merit Cyprus Open. USBGF LIVE & ONLINE RATINGS BY KAREN DAVIS backgammon tournament perfection. 114 LIVE LEADERBOARD BY SABRI BÜYÜKSOY 113 ONLINE CIRCUIT WINNERS Open, Advanced, and Novice leaders in USBGF Elo 102 KANSAS CITY BG CLUB View recent winners of USBGF Online Circuit ratings in live events and 2014 ABT Points. Everything is state-of-the-art in this recently PLAYER PROFILES & CLUB NEWS tournaments from late June through October 2014. BY BARRY SILLIMAN designated Kansas City USBGF Prime Club. 98 FITCHBURG'S KID IS NO. 1 BY KAREN DAVIS 116 ONLINE LEADERBOARD Hometown boy Frank Raposa makes it to the big USBGF NEWS See the latest leaders from USBGF online tourna- time in this featured piece from the Fitchburg, 104 QUALIFYING PRIME CLUBS 12 HAPPY NEW YEAR TO THE USBGF ments, plus wins, losses, and tournaments won. Massachusetts Sentinel & Enterprise. USBGF Prime Clubs reflect growing local club Bill Riles provides succinct insight into 2014 BY ANNE O'CONNOR, CORRESPONDENT interest and participation. achievements and 2015 priorities. FOR THE SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE 118 UPCOMING TOURNAMENTS BY BILL RILES Mark your calendar for upcoming ABT events. TARA MENDICINO TARA GAMES PARKER GEOFFREY 10 USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine USBGF PrimeTime Backgammon Magazine 11 publisher Bill Riles editor USBGF Board PRIMETIME Bob Wachtel BACKGAMMON Founding Editor Matt Cohn-Geier of Directors Managing Editor President; vice president; Vice-Chair, Staff & Karen Davis Executive Director; Membership and Marketing Production Editor Treasurer Committee; Governance Tara Mendicino William Riles and Nominating Committee Tara Mendicino Volunteers Assistant Editor Chair, Education Mark Antranikian Committee Chief Technology Officer; Assistant Editor Art Benjamin Chair, Ratings and Stats and Design Analyst Committee; Governance MARK ANTRANIKIAN Lisa Rockwell Governance and and Nominating Nominating Committee Mark Antranikian, Assistant Committee; Rules and USBGF Photographer Dorn Bishop Editor, was a member of the Steve Sax Ethics Committee USBGF Team Championships Richard Munitz Rankings Editor Board Chair; Co-Chair, winning team, Scared Hitless. Barry Silliman Membership and Marketing Director, Local Club Committee Initiative; Rules and Feature Editor, Karen Davis Annotated Matches Ethics Committee Marty Storer Executive Committee; Justin Nunez Chair, Tournament Executive Committee Editorial Advisory Board Directors liaison; Rules Joseph Russell Karen Davis (Chair), Chuck Bower, and Ethics Committee Matt Cohn-Geier, Carol Joy Cole, Patrick Gibson Membership and Marketing TARA MENDICINO Gus Contos, Mike Corbett, Committee Tara Mendicino, Production Editor, Bill Riles, Justin Nunez, Membership and Marketing Michelle Steinberg Vice President and member of Bob Wachtel, Kit Woolsey Committee the USBGF Board of Directors, Julius High Special Adviser to Board BOB WACHTEL and co-director of the Texas information Rules and Ethics of Directors Bob Wachtel, Editor of PrimeTime Backgammon Championships.