FLINT AREA BACKGAMMON CLUB

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BEN FRIESEN REPEATS AS FLINT'S 2013 PLAYER OF THE YEAR!
Top 3: Ben Friesen, Paul Farah, Carol Joy Cole

ALERT: March 9th is the start of Daylight Savings Time.
Move your clocks forward an hour to get to the Underwood on time.

March 9th: 31st Fleet Underwood Memorial & Benefit for the Food Bank.
Holiday Inn Gateway Centre, Flint, Michigan

March 20th: Flint Club Third Thursday Bonus at Sharky's Sports Bar.
Added Prize: Free entry into the 20th Ohio State Championship - ABT,
Cleveland, Ohio (March 28-30, 2014)

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Who are the best backgammon players in the world?

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HIGHLIGHTS OF INTERNATIONAL BG NEWS

2014

MOCHY WINS 3 TROPHIES AT TEXAS CHAMPIONSHIPS - ABT
Alfred Mamlet Wins Masters Jackpot / Complete Results

MATT REKLAITIS WINS NEW YORK OPEN OVER FRANK TALBOT
Sasha Bennett Wins Another Masters Jackpot / Complete Results

2013

KENJI SHIMODAIRA WINS JAPAN OPEN TWO YEARS IN A ROW!
Kiyokazu Nishikawa Wins Super Jackpot / Complete Results

EAT SUSHI WITH KENJI ~ WHO KNOWS WHAT YOU WILL MEET
Jake Jacobs Reports on the 19th Japan Open in Tokyo

JACK TAKALA IS FLINT'S 35th CLUB CHAMPION
52 Players Compete in Flint / Results & Photos

THE WIND OF CHANGE BY CHRIS BRAY
Mary Hickey Recommends Chris Bray's 7th Book

MALCOLM DAVIS WINS TWICE AT FLORIDA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP - ABT
Rod Covlin Wins Three Trophies / Complete Results

ALEX ZAMANIAN WINS 1ST CONNECTICUT STATE CHAMPIONSHIP - ABT
Newcomer Sasha Bennett Wins Yankee Masters / Complete Results

MICHIGAN'S GREG MERRIMAN WINS 1st CAPITAL CLASSIC - ABT
Malcolm Davis Wins Another Masters Jackpot / Complete Results

DANA NAZARIAN & STEPAN NUNIYANTS WIN BIG IN LAS VEGAS - ABT
Las Vegas Open Draws 180 International Players / Complete Results

RAY FOGERLUND WINS CALIFORNIA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP - ABT
Dana Nazarian Wins Super 32 Jackpot / Complete Results

JEFF BURDSALL WINS SUNSHINE STATE CLASSIC - ABT
Stacy Turner Wins Florida Masters / Complete Results

BULGARIA'S MAYA PEYCHEVA WINS CYPRUS OPEN - EBGT
Maya is First Woman to Win Cyprus Title / Complete Results

CHICAGO'S NEIL KAZAROSS IS ABT PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2013
Neil Tops the ABT for the 6th Time / Complete ABT Standings for 2013

IN MEMORIAM

Daniel J. Bryant, Mishawaka, Indiana
David Escoffery, Scotts Valley, California
Nancy Ishac, Farmington Hills, Michigan
Jack Kissane, Delmar, New York
Claude Lambert, Mougins, France
Al Lunder, Renton, Washington
Peter Mallen, Atlanta, Georgia
Tsuyoshi "Minack" Minakami, Sopporo, Japan
Veronica Mooney, San Carlos, Mexico
Bob Parmley, Ashington, England
Ernie Pong, Honolulu, Hawaii
Reginald "Reggie" Porter, Chicago Heights, Illinois
Rita Simon, North Babylon, New York
Matt Surecki, Istanbul, Turkey

Plus REGULAR MONTHLY FEATURES

2014 INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE (Daily updates)

FEEDBACK-GAMMON (Letters-to-the-Editor)

GAMBITS (Backgammon news tidbits)

2014 WINNING IS MORE FUN!!! (Tournament results from around the world)

2014 FLINT GAMMON POINT STANDINGS (plus Weekly Winners)

2014 AMERICAN BACKGAMMON TOUR (Current Standings, ABT Events)

BACKGAMMON A LA CARTE (Backgammon Boot Camp, Chris Bray, Hickey & Storer, Kershaw, Magriel and more)

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2014 FLINT AREA BG CLUB TOP 20 (thru March 6th)

(See Win/Loss & Nemesis Reports here.)

01. John Carrico........9.49
02. Jim Slomkoski.......7.39
03. Jim Airgood.........5.31
04. Harold Rex..........5.14
05. Paul Farah..........4.06
06. Carol Joy Cole......3.50
07. Rick Todd...........3.41
08. Ben Friesen.........2.84
09. Gary Tong...........2.83
10. Jeff Clark..........2.49
11. Brad King...........2.00
12. David Pagnier.......2.00
13. Paul Berg...........1.88
14. Michelle Nassar.....1.65
15. Linda Pohly.........1.56
16. Dirk Hogan..........1.45
17. Steve Grob..........1.44
18. Greg Merriman.......1.34
19. Frank Talbot........0.67
20. Al Branham..........0.49

2014 PLAYERS OF THE MONTH...POINTS

JANUARY....HAROLD REX.........4.57
FEBRUARY...JIM SLOMKOSKI......6.24

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2013 FLINT AREA BG CLUB TOP 20 (Final Standings)

01. Ben Friesen........32.75
02. Paul Farah.........31.43
03. Carol Joy Cole.....29.60
04. Jim Slomkoski......23.18
05. Jim Airgood........22.75
06. Rick Todd..........22.43
07. Steve Grob.........22.40
08. Harold Rex.........21.04
09. John Carrico.......19.77
10. Paul Berg..........17.12
11. Judy Field.........15.20
12. Rod Covlin.........12.06
13. Gary Tong..........10.90
14. Linda Pohly........10.88
15. Michelle Nassar....10.21
16. Jeff Clark..........8.86
17. Brad King...........8.50
18. Dean Adamian........8.14
19. Greg Merriman.......7.92
20. Al Branham..........7.48

2013 PLAYERS OF THE MONTH...POINTS

JANUARY....GREG MERRIMAN......4.00
FEBRUARY...CAROL JOY COLE.....4.41
MARCH......BEN FRIESEN........6.08
APRIL......DEAN ADAMIAN/CJC...5.00
MAY........PAUL FARAH.........6.32
JUNE.......STEVE GROB.........4.67
JULY.......ROD COVLIN........12.06
AUGUST.....JOHN CARRICO.......5.00
SEPTEMBER..PAUL FARAH.........6.92
OCTOBER....JACK TAKALA........5.00
NOVEMBER...JIM AIRGOOD........4.83
DECEMBER...JIM SLOMKOSKI......4.16

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CONGRATULATIONS TO JACK TAKALA,
OUR 2013 FLINT CLUB CHAMPION!
Flint, Michigan, October 20, 2013

Open Champ: Jack Takala ~ Intermediate: Jim Lawrence ~ Novice Champ: Steve Minogue

OPEN (29)
1-JACK TAKALA (Ann Arbor)
2-Dan Smith (Berkley)
3-Dean Adamian (Canton)
4/6-Prince Barlow (Detroit) /
Paul Berg (Lincoln Park) / Bill Calton (Harper Woods)

INTERMEDIATE (16)
1-Jim Lawrence (Oak Park)
2-Jeff Clark (Linden)
3-John Claybourne (Detroit)
4/5-Reggie Harvel (Detroit) / Michelle Nassar (Metamora)

NOVICE (7)
1-Steve Minogue (Grand Rapids)
2-Victor De Oliveira (Maple, Ontario, Canada)

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2012 FLINT AREA BG CLUB TOP 20 (Final Standings)

01. Ben Friesen........32.11
02. Paul Farah.........27.58
03. Carol Joy Cole.....26.24
04. John Carrico.......25.31
05. Rick Todd..........24.93
06. Paul Berg..........21.21
07. Jim Slomkoski......20.46
08. Steve Grob.........19.78
09. Harold Rex.........14.87
10. Brad King..........13.03
11. Jeff Clark.........12.39
12. Gary Tong..........11.94
13. Michelle Nassar....11.86
14. Phil Simborg.......10.82
15. John Quinn.........10.57
16. Rhonda Masterson...10.16
17. Steve Sherbel.......9.85
18. Richard Hunt........8.99
19. Al Branham..........8.41
20. Dan Wittkopp........8.00

2012 PLAYERS OF THE MONTH...POINTS

JANUARY....PAUL FARAH.........5.34
FEBRUARY...JOHN CARRICO.......4.67
MARCH......BEN FRIESEN........5.06
APRIL......STEVE GROB.........6.33
MAY........PAUL FARAH.........5.00
JUNE.......BRAD KING..........4.00
JULY.......PHIL SIMBORG......10.82
AUGUST.....BEN FRIESEN........4.41
SEPTEMBER..HAROLD REX.........4.75
OCTOBER....JOHN QUINN.........5.00
NOVEMBER...RHONDA MASTERSON...4.67
DECEMBER...PAUL FARAH.........4.08

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2011 FLINT AREA BG CLUB TOP 20 (Final Standings)

(See Win/Loss & Nemesis Reports here.)

01. CAROL JOY COLE.....33.53
02. Paul Farah.........32.06
03. John Carrico.......25.98
04. Rick Todd..........25.46
05. Paul Berg..........23.39
06. Steve Grob.........22.90
07. Ben Friesen........21.52
08. Harold Rex.........13.40
09. Frank Talbot.......12.56
10. Judy Field.........12.32
11. Jim Airgood........10.91
12. Jeff Clark.........10.22
13. Dean Adamian.......10.00
14. Jim Slomkoski.......9.99
15. Dick Hunt...........9.34
16. Brad King...........9.27
17. Ray Fogerlund.......9.12
18. Art Gillis..........8.26
19. Linda Pohly.........7.78
20. Gary Bauer..........7.50

2011 PLAYERS OF THE MONTH...POINTS

JANUARY.....PAUL BERG.........4.12
FEBRUARY....STEVE GROB........4.00
MARCH.......CAROL JOY COLE....6.14
APRIL.......FARHAD FORUDI.....4.00
MAY.........FRANK TALBOT......4.75
JUNE........PAUL FARAH........9.53
JULY........RAY FOGERLUND.....8.48
AUGUST......CAROL JOY COLE....6.33
SEPTEMBER...JUDY FIELD........6.91
OCTOBER.....DEAN ADAMIAN......5.00
NOVEMBER....RICK TODD.........6.08
DECEMBER....JOHN CARRICO......6.24

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2010 FLINT AREA BG CLUB TOP 20 (Final Standings)

01. CAROL JOY COLE.....34.18
02. Paul Berg..........31.45
03. Rick Todd..........31.09
04. John Carrico.......25.62
05. Paul Farah.........25.56
06. Frank Talbot.......20.30
07. Art Gillis.........17.95
08. David Pagnier......17.47
09. Richard Hunt.......15.13
10. Jim Slomkoski......12.69
11. Greg Merriman......11.52
12. Brad King..........10.98
13. Kit Woolsey........10.98
14. Dirk Hogan.........10.20
15. Jeff Clark.........10.03
16. Harold Rex..........9.64
17. Gary Tong...........8.30
18. Larry Yudin.........8.24
19. Michelle Nassar.....7.67
20. Judy Field..........7.59

2010 PLAYERS OF THE MONTH...POINTS

JANUARY.....GREG MERRIMAN.....4.00
FEBRUARY....GREG MERRIMAN.....4.00
MARCH.......FRANK TALBOT......6.34
APRIL.......CAROL JOY COLE....5.08
MAY.........JOHN CARRICO......4.37
JUNE........JEFF CLARK........6.33
JULY........KIT WOOLSEY......10.98
AUGUST......CAROL JOY COLE....6.37
SEPTEMBER...CAROL JOY COLE....4.42
OCTOBER.....PAUL BERG.........7.25
NOVEMBER....JOHN CARRICO......4.37
DECEMBER....JACK TAKALA.......4.00

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2009 FLINT AREA BG CLUB TOP 10 (Final Standings)

01. CAROL JOY COLE.....33.82
02. Jeff Clark.........28.32
03. Paul Berg..........26.56
04. John Carrico.......23.28
05. Greg Merriman......23.27
06. Paul Farah.........19.04
07. Art Gillis.........18.50
08. Richard Hunt.......18.16
09. Brad King..........17.85
10. Jim Airgood........17.43

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2008 FLINT AREA BG CLUB TOP 10 (Final Standings)

01. JIM SLOMKOSKI.......32.90
02. Carol Joy Cole......28.75
03. Paul Berg...........27.37
04. John Carrico........22.89
05. Rick Todd...........22.08
06. Miriam Bureson......16.64
07. Brad King...........14.98
08. Gary Fritzsche......14.78
09. Greg Merriman.......13.26
10. Jim Airgood.........12.74

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2007 FLINT AREA BG CLUB TOP 10 (Final Standings)

01. DAN KIURSKI......39.65
02. Frank Talbot.....26.63
03. Paul Berg........24.94
04. John Carrico.....23.92
05. Rick Todd........21.28
06. Jim Slomkoski....20.31
07. Carol Joy Cole...19.95
08. Greg Merriman....18.79
09. Brad King........18.57
10. Miriam Bureson...14.23

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2006 FLINT AREA CLUB TOP 10 (Final Standings):

01. GARY FRITZSCHE...35.01
02. Greg Merriman....34.00
03. Paul Berg........26.50
04. Frank Talbot.....25.98
05. Carol Joy Cole...23.95
06. John Carrico.....23.36
07. Rick Todd........22.00
08. Dan Kiurski......15.90
09. Dave Brotherton..15.24
10. Jim Slomkoski....13.88

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2005 FLINT AREA CLUB TOP 10 (Final Standings)

01. JIM SLOMKOSKI.....29.62
02. Paul Berg.........28.64
03. Carol Joy Cole....28.05
04. John Carrico......25.79
05. Frank Talbot......22.31
06. Greg Merriman.....20.04
07. Dan Kiurski.......19.94
08. Dave Brotherton...18.33
09. Brad King.........15.77
10. Gary Fritzsche....14.48

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2004 FLINT AREA BG CLUB TOP 10 (Final Standings)

01. FRANK TALBOT......40.97
02. Greg Merriman.....36.98
03. John Carrico......35.05
04. Dave Brotherton...21.91
05. Paul Berg.........21.18
06. Art Gillis........20.49
07. Carol Joy Cole....20.37
08. Jim Slomkoski.....18.19
09. Gary Fritzsche....17.34
10. Walt Smith........16.92

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2003 FLINT AREA BG CLUB TOP 10 (Final Standings)

01. FRANK TALBOT......34.13
02. Paul Berg.........33.40
03. Carol Falk........23.44
04. Dave Brotherton...22.33
05. Rick Todd.........21.23
06. Jim Slomkoski.....20.20
07. Carol Joy Cole....20.07
08. Dan Kiurski.......19.29
09. Len Dangremond....18.64
10. John Carrico......18.33

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2002 FLINT AREA BG CLUB TOP TEN (Final Standings)

01. RICK TODD.........35.23
02. John Carrico......33.33
03. Jim Price.........29.23
04. Greg Merriman.....24.12
05. Len Dangremond....18.58
06. Jim Slomkoski.....18.43
07. Carol Joy Cole....17.66
08. Jeff Clark........17.37
09. Carol Falk........15.86
10. Gary Fritzsche....14.95

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2001 FLINT AREA BG CLUB TOP TEN (Final Standings)

01. RICK TODD.........33.30
02. Jim Slomkoski.....27.38
03. Len Dangremond....22.11
04. Gary Fritzsche....20.43
05. Dan Kiurski.......19.80
06. Paul Berg.........19.39
07. Carol Joy Cole....17.93
08. Frank Talbot......16.61
09. Dave Brotherton...14.84
10. John Carrico......14.58

2000 FLINT AREA BG CLUB TOP TEN (Final Standings)

01. PAUL BERG.........41.74
02. Jim Slomkoski ....26.63
03. Rick Todd.........24.97
04. Dave Brotherton...24.31
05. John Carrico......22.31
06. Carol Joy Cole....22.02
07. Jim Price.........17.31
08. Art Gillis........16.75
09. Troy Longman......15.51
10. John Salomon......14.61

1999 FLINT AREA BG CLUB TOP TEN (Final Standings)

01. JOHN CARRICO......30.30
02. Paul Berg.........29.45
03. Rick Todd.........25.51
04. Carol Joy Cole....24.45
05. Jim Slomkoski.....22.33
06. Art Gillis........21.13
07. Dave Brotherton...19.45
08. Maurice Barie.....18.34
09. Judy Field........14.94
10. John Salomon......13.85

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