Basic information

Gomoku Euroleague (GEL) = European team competition in gomoku (www.euroleague.cz)

History

All major gomoku online events (at least in Europe) take place on the server www.playok.com since 2003. The first international match between the Czech Republic and Poland was played there in September 2004 (btw. Czechs won). This match had plenty onlookers and held interest of many players. On the basis of such an interest and surely on account of players who were "bored" with individual games we have felt a great opportunity to offer something completely new. Something like a team competition, like in basketball. The primar idea has developed during a MSN discussion between Akosz Kiszely (Hungarian player hexlearner) and Aleš Rybka. To cut a long story short, Akosz - as an experienced programmer - has created a basic web structure which enabled to set up teams, I (Aleš Rybka) have started working on the playing system and on the rules.

The first season was played in 2005/2006 with 29 teams participating. Akosz has lost interest in further development of the Euroleague in the second season therefore I have asked a gomoku player from Hradec Králové Pavel Režný - another excellent programmer (he drinks Curacao) - who has created working web page accordant with the rules and a database during the following years. Graphics was made by Jan Fišera and Břetislav Krček helped with the final desing.

How is it played?

Euroleague is a team competition. Anyone can create his/her own team and if (s)he follows the conditions defined by the rules his/her team may be accepted. Teams play against each other according to the Swiss system. Each round lasts 3 weeks. Captains have opportunity to agree on a match date (according to the 3 day rule) during this period. If they do not reach an agreement, match is played on date which is set by the system. The games are played on the server www.playok.com. It is played 4 vs 4, 2 games, each player meets every other player from the opponent's team. All in all, there are 32 games in one match and according to the current system it is necessary to gain at least 16.5 points in order to win a match.

Rules

Rules are quite complicated. The original rules were established in September 2005 and consisted of only 8 lines. However, due to following problematic situations and other necessities (unexpected beforehand) has been the original rules extended and the document consists of 4 pages now. During the first 4 seasons has been everything successfully stabilized, a system of penalty points was created and the playing system was adjusted (by Tomo Drobnič, Slovenia). At this moment there are only operational problems from time to time, all crucial situations are described in the rules, even the web page itself was modified www.euroleague.cz (agreeing on Match Date and filling in Match Results)

Miscellaneous

Euroleague brings another dimension to the game. It encourages team spirit, players analyse their opponents, they try to win the league. Euroleague has a great popularity and winning in the Euroleague, although it is not financially rewarded, is a prestigious achievement.

Countries whose players participate in the Euroleague: Czech Republic, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Russia, Slovenia, Romania, Bulgaria, Estonia