FLINT AREA BACKGAMMON CLUB

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HAPPY NEW YEAR from the FLINT BG CLUB!

CONGRATULATIONS to our 2014 PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
JOHN CARRICO!

1st: John Carrico ~ 2nd: Ben Friesen ~ 3rd: Carol Joy Cole [Photo by Steve Grob]

Feb. 19th: Flint Club Third Thursday Bonus at Sharky's: Free entry to
CSI: Backgammon-ABT, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois (March 13-15).

March 19th: Flint Club Third Thursday Bonus at Sharky's: Free entry to
Ohio State Championships-ABT, Cleveland, Ohio (March 27-29).

March 22nd: 32nd Fleet Underwood Memorial & Benefit
Holiday Inn-Gatewood Centre, Flint, Michigan.

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Who are the best backgammon players in the world?

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HIGHLIGHTS OF INTERNATIONAL BG NEWS

2015

CARTER MATTIG DEFEATS FRANK TALBOT IN NEW YORK OPEN - ABT
Tuvya Felt of Memphis Wins Liberty Masters / Complete Results

2014

FOR THE 4TH TIME, RAY FOGERLUND IS ABT PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Ray Sits On Top of the Final ABT Standings for 2014

ODIS CHENAULT WINS CALIFORNIA STATE CHAMPIONSHIP - ABT
Norm Wiggins Wins Another Super-32 Jackpot / Complete Results

WORLD CHAMPION AKIKO YAZAWA WINS LAS VEGAS OPEN - ABT
Malcolm Davis Wins Another Super Jackpot / Complete Results

"CONEHEAD" MATT REKLAITIS WINS CONNECTICUT STATE TITLE - ABT
Jim Stutz Wins Milford Masters Jackpot / Complete Results

GREEK ATHANASIOS KATSIOS WINS MERIT OPEN IN CYPRUS / Photos
Steen Grønbech Wins Super Jackpot / 350 Players Gather in Cyprus / Complete Results

MICHIGAN NATIVE HARRY BROWN WINS FLORIDA STATE TITLE - ABT
Stacy Turner Wins Masters; Mary Hickey Wins 4 Events / Complete Results

CHICAGO'S TAK MORIOKA WINS ILLINOIS STATE TITLE - ABT
Petko Kostadinov Wins Land of Lincoln Masters Jackpot / Complete Results

MICHIGAN WINS OHIO-MICHIGAN CHALLENGE TOURNAMENT
Michigan Wins 4th Year in a Row / See photo results below.

2014 HAT TRICK: RAY FOGERLUND WINS CAPITAL CLASSIC - ABT
Ray Splits Masters Jackpot With Ed O'Laughlin / Complete Results

OREGON'S MARK FERRIN WINS SEATTLE CLASSIC - ABT
John Gamalielson Wins the Super Jackpot / Complete Results

DON FAIX WINS CAROLINA INVITATIONAL - ABT
Frank Raposa & Bill Riles Win Two Masters Events / Complete Results

WORLD CHAMPION AKIKO YAZAWA WINS MIRACULOUS TIE-BREAKER
USA's Doug Mayfield is Monte Carlo Finalist / Complete Results

GARY BAUER WINS MICHIGAN SUMMER CHAMPIONSHIP - ABT
Michigan Sponsor Dion Hogan Wins Masters Title / Complete Results

IN MEMORIAM

Allan Bass Jr, Brentwood, Tennessee
Jerry & Joann Feinstein, Skokie, Illinois
Janice Gillen, Simi Valley, California
Art Gillis, Saginaw, Michigan
Don Hatt, Isle of Man, Great Britain
Mickey LeGlaire, Los Angeles
Wanda Mortuk, Clinton Township, Michigan
Jerry Padova, Newport, New Hampshire
Liz Perry, Dublin, Ireland
Ion Ressu, Lausanne, Switzerland
Robert Rosen, Short Hills, New Jersey
Connie Tipton, Altoona, Pennsylvania

UPCOMING TOURNAMENT ADS

January 29-February 1, 2015: Texas Championships-ABT, San Antonio, Texas
February 20-22, 2015: 3rd Capital Classic-ABT, Herndon, Virginia
March 13-15, 2015: CSI: Backgammon-ABT, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois
March 22, 2015: 32nd Fleet Underwood Memorial & Benefit, Flint, Michigan
March 27-29, 2015: 21st Ohio State Championships-ABT, Cleveland, Ohio

Plus REGULAR MONTHLY FEATURES

2015 INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE (Daily updates)

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

GAMBITS (Backgammon news tidbits)

2015 WINNING IS MORE FUN!!! (Tournament results from around the world)

2015 FLINT GAMMON POINT STANDINGS (plus Weekly Winners)

2015 AMERICAN BACKGAMMON TOUR (Current Standings, ABT Events)

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

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2015 FLINT AREA CLUB TOP 20
(Standings as of Jan. 22nd)

01. Richard Hunt........4.61
02. David Pagnier.......4.00
03. Steve Grob..........2.69
04. Paul Farah..........2.23
05. Paul Berg...........2.17
06. Troy Longman........1.71
07. Jeff Clark..........1.07
08. Carol Joy Cole......0.98
09. Ben Friesen.........0.91
10. Judy Field..........0.75
11. Michelle Nassar.....0.66
12. Dirk Hogan..........0.53
13. Greg Merriman.......0.50
14. Harold Rex..........0.40
15. Brad King...........0.32
16. Linda Pohly.........0.32
17. Rick Todd...........0.24
18. John Carrico........0.16
19. Jim Airgood.........0.08
20. Al Branham..........0.00

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2014 FLINT AREA CLUB TOP 20
(Final Standings)

(See Win/Loss & Nemesis Reports here.)

01. JOHN CARRICO.......34.38
02. Ben Friesen........30.62
03. Carol Joy Cole.....27.08
04. Jim Slomkoski......25.90
05. Paul Farah.........24.22
06. Harold Rex.........22.93
07. Rick Todd..........22.12
08. Jim Airgood........19.91
09. Paul Berg..........15.56
10. Steve Grob.........11.92
11. Michelle Nassar....11.23
12. Gary Tong..........10.77
13. Greg Merriman.......9.91
14. Jeff Clark..........9.82
15. Brad King...........9.29
16. Dion Hogan..........9.06
17. Richard Hunt........8.89
18. Gary Bauer..........8.32
19. Dirk Hogan..........8.25
20. Prince Barlow.......8.22

2014 PLAYERS OF THE MONTH...POINTS

JANUARY....HAROLD REX.........4.57
FEBRUARY...JIM SLOMKOSKI......6.24
MARCH......PRINCE BARLOW......5.48
APRIL......JOHN CARRICO.......4.24
MAY........HAROLD REX.........5.16
JUNE.......BEN FRIESEN........4.32
JULY.......GARY BAUER.........8.32
AUGUST.....CAROL JOY COLE.....4.24
SEPTEMBER..DIRK HOGAN.........4.24
OCTOBER....JOHN CARRICO.......7.32
NOVEMBER...STEVE GROB.........4.41
DECEMBER...JOHN CARRICO.......4.16

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Congratulations to Flint Club Champion JOHN QUINN!
October 19, 2014

Open Champ: John Quinn ~ Intermediate: Amber McLean ~ Novice Champ: Tony Zimbalatti

OPEN (31)
1-JOHN QUINN (Westland)
2-Dion Hogan (Westland)
3-John Carrico (Flint)
4/6-Gary Fritzsche Ypsilanti) /
Emil Mortuk (St. Clair Shores) / Dan Smith (Berkley)

INTERMEDIATE (16)
1-Amber McLean (Rochester Hills)
2-Carl Bommarito (Harper Woods)
3-Jenna Longman (Saginaw)
4/5-Paul Bortell (Plymouth) / Michelle Nassar (Metamora)

NOVICE (8)
1-Tony Zimbalatti (Novi)
2-Daniel Posen (Oak Park)

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Captain CJC won the final deciding match against Ohio, so Michigan
retains the Ohio-Michigan Challenge Trophy, 4th year in a row.
Final score after 64 round-robin matches: Michigan - 33, Ohio - 31.



Michigan Team - Front row: Carol Joy Cole, Jim Slomkoski, Harold Rex;
Back row: Dion Hogan, Bill Calton, Paul Berg, Dmitriy Obukhov, Ben Friesen
[Photo courtesy of Karen Davis]
Ohio Team - Captain Joe Miller, Karen Davis, Farhad Forudi, Mary Hickey,
Alireza Saatchi, Howard Shirey, Mike Vasilatos, Christopher Yep

Mary Hickey & Jim Slomkoski split the Side Pool with top records of 6-2.
They were also awarded USBGF Premium memberships.
Bill Calton & Joe Miller Split the Warm-Up Tournament.
Hosted by Karen Davis and Susan-Jane Berson in Toledo, Ohio.

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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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