Eight of the strongest Danish players have challenged The World to compete in the ancient board game "Backgammon". The winning team will walk away with at least a cool $400,000. The team match will be played as 5 separate sessions and a grand finale. During the final session all team members are allowed to consult and the points gathered in the first five sessions are the starting score. The match is then continued to 43 points.
1. Session (Thursday 13:00): Speed Gammon (18 points)
Three players from each team will play three 5 point matches (9 matches in total).
Each win is worth 2 points.
Clock 2 min/10 sec
Worth 10% of the prize pool
Matches:
1) Sander Lylloff vs Fernando Braconi
2) Gus Hansen vs Falafel Natanzon
3) Morten Holm vs Michihito "Michy" Kageyama
2. Session (Thursday 21:00) : Double Match Point (21 points)
Three players from each team will play 7 DMP matches each (21 in total).
Each win is worth 1 point.
Clock 4 min/12 sec
Worth 10% of the prize pool
Matches:
1) Mads Andersen vs Stick
2) Thomas Kristensen vs Matt Cohn-Geier
3) Marc Olsen vs Masayuki "Mochy" Mochizuki
3. Session (Friday 12:00): Doubles Consultation (8 points)
Four players from each team will be paired and play two consultation matches to 9 points.
Each win is worth 4 points.
Clock 27 min/15 sec
Worth 10% of the prize pool (Draw -> Carryover to next session)
Matches:
1) Marc Olsen/Thomas Kristensen vs Falafel Natanzon/Peter Heitmueller
2) Lars Trabolt/Mads Andersen vs Masayuki "Mochy" Mochizuki/Matt Cohn-Geier
4. Session (Friday 23:00): Heads Up (8 points)
Two players from each team will play two 11 point matches.
Each win is worth 4 points.
Clock 27½ min/12 sec
Worth 10%-20% of pricepool (Draw -> Carryover to next session)
Matches:
1) Sander Lylloff vs Michihito "Michy" Kageyama
2) Gus Hansen vs Fernando Braconi
5. Session (Saturday 23:00): Lady's event (9 points)
Two of the strongest female players in the world will play three 7 point matches.
Each win is worth 3 points.
Clock 17½ min/12 sec.
Worth 0% - 20% of the prize pool (depending on carryover)
Matches:
Pia Jeppesen vs Katja Spillum
Final (Sunday 22:00): Team match to 43 points
All team members are allowed to consult in this match. The starting score is equal to the accumulated number of points won in the first five sessions. The first team to reach 43 points will be crowned as the winner. If a team starts with 42 points in the final, the first game will be the Crawford game.
Clock 60 min/12 sec
Worth 60% of prize pool
Filmed event
The entire event will be streamed live online and all matches recorded for later analysis. Also, a tv crew will be filming the event - in this way we expect to share a lot of exciting moments with the entire backgammon world.
Rules
Everyone including the captain may play up to 3 sessions and everyone including the captain must play at least 2 sessions. (including the final session as 1 of the sessions). In the final only one player is allowed to move the checkers - but all team members can consult.
Timeout
During each matchup the captain can call one timeout where the team is allowed to coach the player. Timeouts can only be called between games.
Mads Andersen, Morten Holm (captain), Gus Hansen, Sander Lylloff,
Pia Jeppesen, Thomas Kristensen, Lars Trabolt, Marc Olsen
Fernando Braconi (Italy), Stick (US - captain), Matt Cohn-Geier (US),
Peter Heitmuller (Germany), Michihito "Michy" Kageyama (Japan),
Katja Spillum (Norway), Falafel Natanzon (Israel), Masayuki "Mochy" Mochizuki (Japan)
