What Is the American Backgammon Tour (ABT)?
The American Backgammon Tour, commonly known as ABT, is one of the most recognized organized live backgammon competition circuits in North America. Contrary to what its name might initially suggest, ABT is not a single tournament. Instead, it is a series of established tournaments held throughout the year, with players' results contributing to an annual points competition.
The tour operates under the supervision of the U.S. Backgammon Federation (USBGF). Players earn ABT Points by achieving qualifying placements in sanctioned tournaments, and their accumulated points determine their positions in the annual standings.
The purpose of this system is to recognize players who demonstrate strong and consistent performances throughout a competitive season. At the end of the year, the leading player in the tour's points race receives the prestigious ABT Player of the Year title.
How Does the ABT Work?
ABT stands for American Backgammon Tour. It consists of live tournaments held in various cities across the United States and, in some cases, outside the country.
At each event, players compete not only for the tournament championship and prizes but also for points contributing to the annual ABT standings.
For example, a player might participate in several tournaments throughout the year, win one event, and reach the later stages of several others. The combined points earned from these results determine their position in the annual ABT Point Race.
Therefore, the defining feature of ABT is that it evaluates players' performances across an entire season rather than judging them solely on the outcome of a single tournament.
History of the American Backgammon Tour: From 1993 to Today
The history of the American Backgammon Tour dates back to 1993. The tour was originally established by Bill Davis, who drew inspiration from the annual points competition model used by the American Contract Bridge League.
The original objective was to create a unified framework connecting independent backgammon tournaments and evaluating players' performances throughout the year.
In 2017, the U.S. Backgammon Federation acquired ownership of ABT and assumed responsibility for its administration, policies, and oversight.
As a result, ABT represents a competitive structure with more than three decades of history, having played an important role in American backgammon long before its transfer to USBGF.
What Is USBGF and What Role Does It Play in ABT?
Understanding professional backgammon in the United States requires distinguishing between USBGF and ABT.
- USBGF: The U.S. Backgammon Federation, responsible for establishing policies, developing regulations, and overseeing sanctioned competitions.
- ABT: The live tournament circuit and annual points competition operating under the federation's supervision.
USBGF establishes the standards tournaments must meet to become part of the ABT. Organizers seeking official sanctioning must comply with the federation's requirements and regulations.
When the phrase USBGF Sanctioned — American Backgammon Tour appears on a tournament announcement, it indicates that the event has been approved as part of the official ABT circuit and that eligible results may count toward the tour's points standings.
What Are the Requirements for Official ABT Tournaments?
Not every backgammon tournament can join the American Backgammon Tour simply by displaying its name or logo. The U.S. Backgammon Federation establishes specific standards for sanctioning events.
According to the official ABT policy, key requirements include:
- At least 80 unique players participating across the main tournament divisions.
- A tournament duration of at least two days.
- A suitable public venue, typically a hotel or facility offering accommodation.
- A tournament structure allowing players to remain eligible for ABT Points until they have suffered at least three losses.
- Compliance with USBGF tournament rules, conduct regulations, and organizational requirements.
When submitting an official application, organizers must also provide information about their tournament plans, organizational experience, and strategies for attracting participants.
These requirements demonstrate that ABT is more than a points system; it also provides a framework for standardizing live backgammon tournaments.
How Are ABT Points Calculated?
One of the most important features of the American Backgammon Tour is its ABT Points system, designed to evaluate players' performances in official tour events.
Simply entering a tournament does not automatically earn a player points. Participants must finish in a position designated as eligible for points.
The total number of points available in each division is calculated according to the number of unique participants and the division's skill-level multiplier.
Skill-Level Multipliers in ABT Scoring
Under the official scoring formula, tournament divisions are generally divided into three skill-level categories:
- Championship / Open: Multiplier of 1.
- Advanced / Intermediate: Multiplier of 0.5.
- Beginner / Novice and lower divisions: Multiplier of 0.25.
These multipliers mean that the total points available vary between divisions. For example, if two divisions have the same number of participants, the Championship division will distribute more points than the Intermediate division.
However, a player's final points also depend on their finishing position and the tournament structure.
Why Does Consistent Performance Matter in ABT?
The ABT system does not focus exclusively on winning individual tournaments. Instead, it aims to recognize players who consistently achieve strong results throughout the year.
Consider two hypothetical players.
Player One participates in only a few tournaments but wins one major event.
Player Two competes in more tournaments and repeatedly reaches the later stages without necessarily winning every event.
Player Two may finish the season with more points because their combined results across multiple events contribute to their annual total.
This characteristic makes ABT a system for evaluating sustained competitive success throughout a season.
The Role of Main, Consolation, and Last Chance Flights in ABT
Many ABT tournaments feature multiple competitive paths, commonly referred to as flights.
A typical tournament structure may include three flights:
- Main Flight: The primary tournament bracket, with a points multiplier of 1.
- Consolation Flight: A secondary competitive path, with a points multiplier of 0.5.
- Last Chance Flight: A final opportunity bracket, with a points multiplier of 0.25.
This structure allows players who have been eliminated from the main bracket to continue competing for qualifying placements and points, provided the tournament format includes such opportunities.
Flight multipliers, together with participation numbers, skill levels, and finishing positions, contribute to the calculation of final points.
Winner Points Cap in Major ABT Tournaments
To prevent exceptionally large tournaments from having a disproportionate influence on the annual standings, the U.S. Backgammon Federation has introduced a mechanism called the Winner Points Cap.
The purpose of this mechanism is to ensure that winning one exceptionally large event does not create an excessive advantage in the annual points race.
Under the scoring regulations, the alternative winner points cap formula generally does not apply to events with fewer than 100 unique players.
For larger events, if the calculated winner's points exceed the established cap, the winner's score is limited, and the remaining points are redistributed among other eligible players according to the official formula.
Under the official formula, the winner's points cap equals five times the base-2 logarithm of the number of unique players in the relevant division.
This approach helps maintain balance in the annual competition and prevents an excessive concentration of points from a single tournament result.
What Is the ABT Player of the Year Award?
One of the most prestigious annual distinctions on the tour is the American Backgammon Tour Player of the Year award.
This title is awarded to the player who finishes the calendar year with the highest total in the tour's annual points competition.
For example, in 2023, John O’Hagan earned the ABT Player of the Year title.
During that season, he recorded several significant results, including victories at the Cherry Blossom Championship and Viking Classic, along with deep runs in other tournaments.
Therefore, the ABT Player of the Year title should be understood as recognition of the strongest points-based performance during the tour season, rather than necessarily identifying the world's best backgammon player.
American Backgammon Tour Tournaments in 2026
The 2026 ABT calendar includes a series of live tournaments held in various cities throughout the United States.
Events listed for the season include:
- New Orleans Backgammon Championships
- Music City Backgammon Open
- Las Vegas Open
- Boston Open
- Miami Open Backgammon Championship
- California State Championships
According to the official USBGF calendar, the Las Vegas Open takes place in October 2026, while the Boston Open, Miami Open, and California State Championships are also scheduled for later in the year.
The published calendar also includes events extending into 2027. Players and fans can check tournament dates and locations through the official American Backgammon Tour calendar.
Can International Players Participate in ABT?
Yes. Despite its name, the American Backgammon Tour is not restricted to American players.
Players from different countries may participate in official ABT tournaments, provided they meet the requirements of each event and the applicable membership conditions.
USBGF membership is required for participants in ABT divisions, and players must comply with tournament regulations and registration requirements.
Therefore, players from Iran, Europe, Asia, and other regions can compete in these events if they meet the necessary travel, registration, and membership conditions.
For newcomers, the official Attending Your First ABT Tournament guide provides useful information about participating in an ABT event.
Are ABT Points the Same as World Backgammon Rankings?
No. ABT Points do not represent an independent global ranking of all backgammon players.
These points are specifically designed to evaluate performances within the American Backgammon Tour.
If a player leads the ABT standings, the most accurate statement is that they have achieved the strongest points-based performance during that ABT season.
Such a position does not automatically establish that player as the best backgammon player in the world.
This distinction is particularly important for tournament analysis and sports reporting because several different systems exist for evaluating competitive performance, skill, and player achievements.
What Is the Difference Between ABT Points and USBGF Master Points?
The U.S. Backgammon Federation maintains two separate but complementary scoring systems: ABT Points and USBGF Master Points.
ABT Points
ABT Points focus on top placements in sanctioned ABT tournaments and form the basis of the tour's annual points competition.
Their primary purpose is to recognize players who achieve strong results in official tournaments throughout the season.
USBGF Master Points
Master Points represent a broader system for recording player achievements and may be awarded based on final placements or match victories in eligible competitions.
In addition to major ABT events, this system also covers certain other important competitions, including USBGF National Championships.
Consequently, ABT Points are primarily used for the tour's annual competition, while Master Points serve as a complementary measure of players' competitive achievements.
Why Is ABT Important for Professional Backgammon?
The significance of the American Backgammon Tour extends beyond the number of tournaments or the prizes awarded.
The tour demonstrates how independent tournaments can be connected into a unified competitive season, where each event's results may influence players' annual standings.
For players, this system creates an incentive to participate consistently and achieve better results.
For tournament organizers, joining an official tour means operating within shared standards and becoming part of a larger competitive network.
For media outlets and fans, annual standings make it possible to follow the competition between players throughout the season.
Questions such as who leads the standings, which players are gaining ground, and who will become Player of the Year add depth and interest to tournament coverage.
ABT from the Perspective of Iranian Players and Tournament Organizers
The ABT structure can serve as a valuable model for Iran's backgammon community, particularly tournament organizers and those involved in player ranking systems.
The key is not necessarily to replicate the American model exactly, but to study the principles that have helped establish a unified competitive structure.
These principles can be summarized in five stages:
- Organizing independent tournaments across different cities and regions.
- Establishing shared standards for tournament eligibility.
- Developing a transparent and measurable points system.
- Creating annual player standings.
- Recognizing and honoring the leading player at the end of the season.
Such a structure could help evaluate players' performances over time and give greater significance to results achieved across an entire season alongside individual tournament victories.
How to View ABT Standings and Tournament Schedules
The U.S. Backgammon Federation publishes official information about tournaments, points standings, and tour regulations on its website.
- View Official ABT Points and Standings
- View the ABT Tournament Calendar
- Learn How ABT Points Are Calculated
- Read Official ABT Policies and Regulations
The standings may change as new results are recorded, so consulting official information is essential for following the latest developments in the annual points race.
Conclusion: What Is the Significance of the American Backgammon Tour?
The American Backgammon Tour is an annual circuit of live backgammon tournaments sanctioned and overseen by the U.S. Backgammon Federation, evaluating players' performances through a unified points system.
The tour was established in 1993 by Bill Davis and came under USBGF ownership in 2017.
Its defining feature is the connection of independent tournaments into an annual competition where consistent success, finishing positions, and performances across multiple events all matter.
For professional players, ABT offers opportunities to compete in established tournaments and build a record of performance throughout the year. For tournament organizers and backgammon communities, it provides a practical example of a professional tour built around shared standards, transparent scoring, and unified annual standings.