Bristol Open is the penultimate event of the 2010
European Series of Backgammon Tour
Bristol Open is an International Backgammon Tournament
August 20-21-22, Artillery Grounds,
Whiteladies Road, Bristol BS8 2LG
Bristol Open 2010

Register Now - Main Features - Seminar - Optional Pools - Format - Rules and Clock Rules - Satellites
 Trophies - Prize splits - Schedule of Events - Accommodation - Travel - Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Contact & Staff Details - Feedback & Comments - Attendees List - Local Attractions - Other Tournaments

Main Features of BSO 2010
Date & Venue: Weekend; Fri, Sat, Sun 20^th-22^nd August, 2010 : Artillery Grounds, Whiteladies Road, Bristol BS8 2LG, UK
All taking place in a secluded, spacious venue, which boasts one of the cheapest bars you'll find anywhere, in one of Bristol's best areas,
with accommodation, a wide variety of restaurants, bars and shops all within walking distance. See Maps: Exact Location, Centre & Regional
Warm Up : The main event starts 1 pm Saturday, but there's an optional 5-point warm-up Friday evening 7pm
Sponsorship : We are currently arranging sponsorship for 2010
Live Qualifiers : Further qualifiers and satellites may take place on Fri 20th @ venue, evening
Added Money : There will be a bounty prize for this event in the Championship Category
Optional Prize Pools available - 100% of entry fees returned as prizes
Auction : Championship Player Group Auction before start of tournament.
Categories : Championship (£165 entry + £35 registration), Advanced (£50 + £25), and Intermediates (£10 + £10)
Three flights in each category: Main, Progressive Consolation, and Last Chance
Format : All clock Format 15 Point Championship Flight: Progressive Consolation to 9 points
No-Byes : Players with no bye will be guaranteed (*as long as enough are available) a bye in the Progressive Consolation
Side Events : A few events for those with time; Jackpots, Blitz tourneys, Stop Pots, Consulting Doubles etc.
Poker: Late Night (Freezout) Texas Hold'Em Tournament(s) £50 buy-in.
Tournament Management Systems by Bristol Backgammon - Open Draw sheets, manual input for all to see.
Educational : Discussions, Commentary, Final match recorded, Quiz games, and Live Reports and possibly Streaming Video
Free 45 min Seminar on Saturday evening 9pm-9:45pm by World Class Professional:  Paul Weaver USA
 

Free Early Blitz Seminar Sat. 9pm
This year we are delighted to welcome Paul Weaver, Co-Author of "Backgammon Openings"
The Seminar is entitled "Early Blitzes"
(it includes 3rd roll positions and how to apply correct cube action).
Three 15' segments will be included in the Seminar
The remainder will be available from Mochy's Educational Site
Targeted @ Intermediates & Beginners
Poker players will be allowed to leave after 45 minutes;
but the Seminar will continue with Q&A session
Copies of "Backgammon Openings" will be available for £30
Why not get your copy signed at the tournament?
 

Optional Pools (this is money you pay into an optional side pool)
Championship Category will be enhanced by an optional pool of £100 on top of the full Entry of £200
Advanced Category will be enhanced by an optional pool of £50 on top of the full Entry of £75
Intermediate Category will be enhanced by an optional pool of £10 on top of the full Entry of £20
In all categories the Winner of the pool receives 70% and the Runner up wins 30% of the pool money.

Format: Match Lengths & Conditions (All Categories)
Championship Category Matches are to 15 / 9 / 5 points (all with clocks)
Advanced Category Matches are to 11 / 7 / 5 points
Intermediate Category Matches are to 9 / 7 / 5 points

Backgammon Rules
BSO2009 will follow DBgF Rules (version 3.0 Aug 15^th 2007) excepting the section on clock premature action where we follow BIBA rules.
We will post and announce the important points and rule highlights to remember before the tournament starts.
Check here tomorrow for further details.
Clock Settings and Clock Rules
Clock rules: We will follow DBGF Clock rules, except the penalty for premature action will be the forfeit of the 12 second delay
(Instead of a 30 second penalty) This is in accordance with BIBA clock rules (used with permission).
We will post some highlights to both clock and non-clock rules here and at the tournament.
Clock settings; 12 seconds per move; 2 minutes per point; ie. 15 point match will have 30 Minutes on the Clock
For some examples of current clock rules see BG in London and BIBA Clock Rules ; We will post highlights.. see below.

Live Qualifier Events
On Thursday 5th August, here in Bristol at the Bristol County Sports Club from 7pm
Your chance to win an entry to BSO_2010! Both Championship and Advanced division 4 or 8 player satellite knockout event tonight
Satellite Entry: Championship = £20 and Advanced £7.50 - For more Information click here
Subsidised £40+40 Championship, £15 Advanced and £20 Intermediates for a £115 Total subsidy by BSO_2010

Congrats. to Winners:
Champ_Sat_1 = Julian Fetterlein
Champ_Sat_2 = Stuart Mann
Adv_Sat1 = Phil. Hill

London Live Qualifier Monday 9th Aug @ 7pm
Winner = Simon Gasquoine

Bristol on Monday 9th Aug @ 7pm
Intermediate Qualifier @ BCSC = Alan Parfitt

Back to top of page

 Trophies Supplied (15 Trophies for Backgammon winners!)
Championship Category Main: Winner & Runner up / Consolation: Winner & Runner up / Last Chance Winner & Runner up
Advanced Category Main: Winner & Runner up / Consolation: Winner & Runner up / Last Chance Winner & Runner up
Intermediate Category: 1^st Prize, 2^nd Prize 3^rd Prize

££ Prize & Pool Split

Schedule of Events

Back to top of page

Accommodation Details
Find your own accommodation – start looking now as Bristol does get busy in the Summer.
Urgent notice to Local Players: If you wish and are able to accommodate visiting players please contact Roland
For groups of up to eight, try the student flats at Goldney Hall, Lower Clifton Hill, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1BH. Tel: +44 (0)117 9034880. (www.bristol.ac.uk/goldney/)
For a list of hotels and apartments close to the venue, visit www.laterooms.com/ Enter your requirements in the SEARCH HOTELS panel on the left hand side, including the postcode of the venue (BS8 2LG), then select “Distance” or “Price” to display the resultant list in the desired order. Alternatively, check out any of the hotels and guest houses listed below, where players have stayed in previous years:

Richard Owsley's Flat no longer available; This has now been booked... if anyone else has similar accommodation on offer for visiting players, please let us know urgently !
"Regarding our flat, I generally let it at £150 a week through the Hippodrome digs list. They have no long-running shows during August so I can make it available at that price, or £25 a night, during the Bristol Open period. Be nice to let to someone who wanted 4-5 days rather than 2. It's a spacious ground level flat - large bedroom with double bed, private entrance and hallway, own WC, bath and shower, large kitchen/living area, includes all utilities and internet available through house's wireless router. Our washing machine is down there so we need access once a day (when tenants are out) but other than that it's self-contained really. We're in Hope Square, see attached map, BS8 4LX if you want to see map or satellite view. So I generally walk everywhere - BCSC or Whiteladies takes me 20 mins, though I'm a fast walker. Clifton Village is a few mins walk. Book it through me at this email address or 07855 488580. I'm away 21 July - 7 Aug".

One Player attending BSO 2010 reports a good accommodation deal (£90 for 2 nights) @ Premier Inn

Travel to Bristol; hints

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Question: "What's the deal with the championship flight closing @ 64? I've got my name on the list so am I guaranteed a place ?"
Answer: If your name is on the list of attendees then you are guaranteed a place up until close of registration @1pm on Sat 21st Aug.
But, if you have not shown up by then, your place will go to the players (in order) on a standby list.
Question: "What if I turn up to register on Friday night, out of the blue, and the Championship division has reached 64 and is therefore closed ?"
Answer: If you are not on the attendees list and the Championship division has closed then we put you on a standby list.
The earlier you get your name on this list the better your chances of playing in the Championship division.
If you are at the top of the standby list you are extremely likely to get a place in the Championship division.
Alternatively you may enter the Advanced category and we will propose a larger (& additional) optional prize pool of £150 for those interested.
Question: "Why does the Championship category / division have to close @ 64 players ?"
Answer: We aren't able to fit another round of 15 point matches within the time constraints we have.

Contact & Staff

Roland Herrera (Coordinator) Mobile +44(0)790 4546188 / Home +44(0)117 9241145
Ian Tarr (Tournament Director) Mobile +44(0)7940 284652 / Home +44(0)117 9556862
Mike Main (from Bg in London) Tel: +44-(0)7985-941729
BSO_2010 welcomes assistants Philippa & Francesca
Directing Sat. evening poker : Blaine Buchanan

Click on above underlined names to send emails

Back to top of page

Bristol Open 2009 Tournament Comments

“A big Thank You to all the organisers, sponsors and others associated with the staging of this event, which I enjoyed enormously.
I just “pay and play”, but I do appreciate the effort put in to arrange everything" Regards, Brian Lever

"Huge thanks to you all for putting on such a very good tournament.  Superb organisation, excellent competition, great venue.  Nice to see so many people enjoying themselves.
Mochy’s seminar was a memorable highlight.  Cashing at the end in a modest way, after the usual run of Morris buy-backs, was an unexpected bonus  :-) Altogether, a brilliant weekend!" Steve Morris

"Roland & Simonetta, Many thanks for finding the space for me.  It was a thoroughly enjoyable and well run tournament. See you next year" Wayne Felton

"I am back in Madrid. My congratulations for the event. It was the first tournament for me, but the organizers and the people made me feel at home.
And I discovered Bristol, a city that I love. Count on me the next year" Carlos Madrid

"I will be there next year, I promise" Lars Trabolt

Attendance & Attendees (excluding side-events and Poker)
BSO2005 : 078 Players ; Championship 40 / Advanced 32
BSO2006 : 067 Players ; Championship 34 / Advanced 17 / Intermediate 14
BSO2008 : 058 Players ; Championship 36 / Advanced 16
BSO2009 : 100 Players ; Championship 64 / Advanced 26 / Intermediate 10

*Unknowns have said they are coming, but have not informed us which division they're in.

Back to top of page

Local Attractions & Things to see

Other Tournaments held late Summer

Back to top of page

Email wps@blueyonder.co.uk with questions about Westbury Park Strings
Copyright © 2011 Westbury Park Strings - Last modified: December 19, 2011 10:48