sundance: The only way to solve that would be to play 2 games against each opponent, which i would agree with. Even if S-B was eliminated, if they beat you playing first, there's nothing you can do to stop them from winning all their games and winning the section alone.

hrlqns: You're right - no system is perfect. However, in games like backgammon where there is the luck factor, you have a chance of beating anyone, unlike say chess where i'll never beat the top rated players. In fact, the game of backgammon is a lot luck, so everyone who goes to the next round in a backgammon tournament will have some luck. Also, they cannot have a high S-B without winning games. Maybe those games have been won by time-outs, but that's how it works on sites like this. Yes, you're right it's random - you don't choose who you play against. Several times at IYT i have been put in a section with very good players and several times i have been put in sections with quite weak players. But what does that have to do with S-B exactly? :-) And why do you assume players who go on to the next round by time-outs will not go on and win the tournament? :-)