Selection procedure.

The Selection Committee (SC) has established a selection procedure to choose the 6 (or 7) players who will make up the Belgium Backgammon Team.

1. Three players have been selected : Michel Lamote, Walter Meuwis and Geert Van der Stricht.  The three other players will be selected by means of a Selection Tournament (ST).

This ST will be held on Saturday and Sunday 20-21 June 2015.

A 7th player will join the team in case the Captaincy goes to a player who did not qualify (see 4. below).

2. Maximum 8 players will be allowed to enter the ST.  Candidates need to be member of BGFed and 2015 BIC participant.  They should have at least Advanced/Expert level.

Registration is possible till 25 May 2015.  Mail to : guy.van.middelem@telenet.be.

3. The SC will carefully consider the merits and skill levels of the candidate players.

The list of players selected to compete in the ST will be made public on 1 June 2015.

4. When the results of the ST are known and the 6-player team is assembled, the SC will choose a Team Captain (TC) in concord with the team.

The TC will represent the intrests of the team, starting from the moment he is appointed.  He will be responsible for administrative duties and make sure the team players can fully focus on their game.

During the Championship in Budapest, the TC will have the prerogative to decide who plays in which encounter.  It should be his policy to field the strongest team possible, as long as Belgium has a chance of securing a place among the last 4.  Once prospects of success have vanished, the TC is no longer bound by this restrictive directive and it becomes his full discretion to decide who plays and who does not.  However, his decisions should always be made with the general intrest of the team in mind.

Selection Tournament : 20-21 June 2015.

1. Format.

Complete round robin.  All matches with clock.

If 6 players : 5 rounds of 15-point matches (30 minutes + 12 seconds increment).

If 7/8 players : 6/7 rounds of 11-point matches (22 minutes + 12 seconds increment).

To ensure the integrity of the outcome, all players must play all rounds, even if they cannot qualify anymore.  Penalties may be considered in case of non-compliance.

Standings will be based on number of victories.  In case of a tie, mutual results will be considered.

If necessary, a tie-breaking round will be played.

The winner of the ST will at least play 3 matches in Budapest.  Runner-up and 3rd placed will at least play 2 matches.

The 4th/5th ranked players will be nominated 1st/2nd Substitute.  They will be first in line to complete the team should one of the team players drop out.

2. Venue and schedule.

The ST will be held at Longchamp, Brussels.

Saturday 20 June, 11 am : start Round 1.  Clocks started.

If 5 rounds : Saturday 11.00, 15.00, 19.00 + Sunday 11.00 and 15.00.

If 6 rounds : Saturday 11.00, 14.00, 17.00, 20.00 + Sunday 11.00 and 15.00.

If 7 rounds : Saturday 11.00, 14.00, 17.00, 20.00 + Sunday 11.00, 15.00 and 18.00

3. Entry fee.

The entry fee is set at 100€.

For the 3 players who qualify for the team, this sum will be deducted from their proportionate part of the total Entry and Registration Fee in Budapest.  This ERF is 1100€. This ERF will be paid in 6 (or 7) equal shares by the 6 (or 7) team members.

First/Second Substitute will get a 50€ refund.

Should the Belgium Backgammon Team win money prizes in Budapest, then the money will be equally divided among the team members, regardless of the number of matches played.

Entry fees from the eliminated players will be used as contribution to the ERF.

4. ST Director.

Michel Lamote will act as TD.

The 2015 Budapest Open.

This individual tournament is organised in conjunction with the 2nd EBTC.  It starts on Thursday 17 September 2015.  Players can compete in two divisions : Intermediate and Champions.

Players scheduled to play for Belgium on Friday are advised  not to participate in this individual event.

Players who joined the team through the ST, however, are encouraged to compete in this event.

More info.

Details about accommodation, flights, etc. can be obtained via guy.van.middelem@telenet.be.

M.