2009 World Backgammon Championships - Day 1

by Stick
14 July 2009

Monte Carlo Casino

Current Ladder: Championship Flight

GammonVillage correspondent Stick reports from the 2009 World Championships of Backgammon, being held at the Fairmont Hotel in Monte Carlo, Monaco from July 13 to July 19.

Stick is also competing in the tournament, so join us in wishing him the best of luck!

MONTE CARLO, Monaco - The first day of the World Championships of Backgammon has quietly passed. I was told that they didn't used to open the playing room on Monday so that explains the quiet that I experienced today.

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Subject: Re: 2009 World Backgammon Championships - Day 1

From: Mr_Pedantic

Date: 14 Jul 2009 16:21 EST

I would prefer not to have to try and work out if Red is "user" or "gnubg".

Subject: Re: 2009 World Backgammon Championships - Day 1

From: *Stick*

Date: 14 Jul 2009 23:56 EST

For future reference 'gnubg' as the default is the top player. The bottom player is 'user' as you might suspect since when playing against gnu you'd be the bottom player, or 'user' of the program.

Stick

Subject: Re: 2009 World Backgammon Championships - Day 1

From: acepoint

Date: 15 Jul 2009 00:39 EST

Hi Stick,

good luck to you in the main event, hopefully you follow in my footsteps ... or maybe take a step or two further ;-).

It's astonishing that so many good players from Germany and Denmark are missing.

If you want to enjoy a really nice dinner with a lot of entertainment try to meet my friend Paul van Dijke from the Netherlands.

Ciao

Achim

PS. Did anything change compared to last year? Still no clocks in the main event?

Subject: Re: 2009 World Backgammon Championships - Day 1

From: *Stick*

Date: 15 Jul 2009 01:04 EST

I wish I could following your footsteps Achim, I was ousted in the first round. I played ok and my opponent played worse but we all know how that story ends.

The main event is to be clocked when it reaches the final eight. Never having been here before it's hard for me to tell you what has or hasn't changed. As I mentioned, they opened the playing room on Monday and there is no book this year.

There are backgammon boards provided by casinorip that are nicer than the other sets. They are also running small jackpots, 100E, from day 1 whereas in the past I think they waited to start these. That's all that has come to my attention but if anything else comes up I'll be sure to include it in one of my reports.

At some point I'll try to hunt down your friend and introduce myself, thanks for the recommendation. Cheers.

Stick

Subject: Re: 2009 World Backgammon Championships - Day 1

From: Mr_Pedantic

Date: 15 Jul 2009 05:17 EST

I have paid a subscription to read the articles on this site. Instead of you requiring people to think which side is which, why don't you do some work and fix it yourself. You are paid to write these articles.

Subject: Re: 2009 World Backgammon Championships - Day 1

From: Mr_Pedantic

Date: 15 Jul 2009 05:18 EST

Apologies for the omitted question mark above.

Subject: Re: 2009 World Backgammon Championships - Day 1

From: Karsten Bredahl Member has a photo available

Date: 15 Jul 2009 07:36 EST

Hi Stick,

Out of curiousity - what does this mean: "The score (after 0 games) is: gnubg 3, user 5 (match to 7 points)". Is that score possible after zero games? ;-)

Suggestion: Name the sides RED or WHITE to avoid misunderstandings. I had the same thoughts as the Mr_Temper_Pedantic ;-)

@ Acepoint: It is impossible to speak for everybody, but I think the abscence of Danes goes hand in hand with the very oldfashioned and very commerciel way this tournament is organized. Countless times the tournament directors has ignored a good ruling in various cases (I can give you a list of examples). Monte Carlo is a fantastic place - the tournament is ... hmm...:o) I doubt the tournament would survive with the current settings at any other place (ok, maybe in Dubai lol*).

Well, I look forward to read more reports from MC, Mr Stick :)

Subject: Re: 2009 World Backgammon Championships - Day 1

From: gibsonian Member has a photo available

Date: 15 Jul 2009 13:51 EST

Good going Stick! Most of us are not "nit-pickers" and both enjoy and understand the positions. And I am enjoying the "Monte Carlo" feedback from your 1st-time visit.

Best of luck and roll well!

____________patrick (the MFIC)

Subject: Re: 2009 World Backgammon Championships - Day 1

From: kerr

Date: 15 Jul 2009 14:41 EST

Thanks to Stick for the coverage. The world, even Monte Carlo itself, seems blissfully unaware that the World Championship is taking place.

10.

Subject: Re: 2009 World Backgammon Championships - Day 1

From: c_ray

Date: 15 Jul 2009 20:19 EST

Bob really owns a 2-cube trailing 4-away, 2-away? (Having read the other posts I surmise that some editing has been done with the names / scores. Possibly the score I see is reversed and will be fixed shortly....)

Chuck

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