Tournament Rules

Annual Marcus M. Garvey's Domino Tournament

MENTAL Pardy (Pairs) Tournament Rules

Version 2026.4 - Effective July 21, 2026

Official rules for players, referees, managers, and tournament officials.

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Important: By registering, each player agrees to follow the current posted rules. Both doubles players must accept the rules before team approval. The latest published version governs tournament play.
Section 1Registration
  1. 1.1Each participant must read the posted Tournament Rules before registering. By registering and accepting the rules, participants agree to be governed by the current rules version.
  2. 1.2Teams and players should pre-register for the tournament.
  3. 1.3The registration fee is $100 per person. Teams must register by August 4, 2026 at 11:59 PM ET.
  4. 1.4(a)Registration fees are non-refundable. Refunds will not be issued because a participant failed to read or understand the posted Tournament Rules.
  5. 1.4(b)Exception: If the tournament is cancelled by the organizers, registration fees will be refunded.
  6. 1.5Both doubles players must confirm their own tournament account and accept the current rules version before the team can receive final approval and an active Tournament Pass.
  7. 1.6The advertised $10,000 CAD prize board is conditional upon paid and approved player registrations reaching at least 80% of the published 128-player capacity (103 player spots) by the registration deadline. Pending, unpaid, rejected, cancelled, refunded, expired, and waived registrations do not count toward this threshold.
  8. 1.7If the full-prize threshold is not reached, the tournament will use the published tiered Prize Board Schedule. The final prize board will be confirmed after registration closes and before tournament play begins.
Section 2Tournament Format
  1. 2.1Each team will play three (3) preliminary-round matches.
  2. 2.2The tournament bracket will be randomly generated using an approved tournament application.
  3. 2.3The bracket will be fixed once generated. Participants will be able to view matchups through to the final round in a World Cup, NCAA Basketball, or Wimbledon-style format.
  4. 2.4Playoff qualification and standings will update as results are entered. Winners advance through each playoff round. The championship final will be a best-of-three set match: each set is played first to ten (10) game wins, and the first team to win two (2) sets is the champion.
  5. 2.5The bracket will update automatically after round scores are entered and confirmed.
  6. 2.6Preliminary rounds are first to six (6) game wins. Playoff rounds are first to ten (10) game wins. Time limits may be imposed when necessary to maintain the schedule.
  7. 2.7If a player leaves after play begins, the team forfeits and the opposing team advances. Team members cannot be replaced once the tournament has begun.
  8. 2.8The Tournament Director may make reasonable schedule or table adjustments for safety, emergencies, delays, or tournament operations while preserving competitive fairness.
Section 3Shuffling and Start of Play
  1. 3.1Either team may shuffle before the start of play.
  2. 3.2The team that shuffles last should allow the opposing team to draw first.
  3. 3.3If shuffling order is disputed, the team with the lower score shuffles last. If tied, the team that won the previous game shuffles last.
  4. 3.4The first game begins with double six (6-6). Play proceeds anti-clockwise until blocked or a player plays all seven dominoes.
  5. 3.5If a player draws more than seven dominoes, extra dominoes remain face down and available for blind selection. No player may identify or reveal them.
  6. 3.6The winning team poses the remaining games.
  7. 3.7Either member of the winning team may pose.
  8. 3.8A player may instruct their partner to pose once. The partner may accept or decline.
  9. 3.9If a player interrupts their partner after instructing them to pose, that player must pose immediately. The first offence is a warning. A further breach in the same round awards the game to the opposing team, followed by a reshuffle.
  10. 3.10Players must maintain a reasonable pace. Continued delay after a warning may result in a fifteen-second turn limit and possible loss of the game in progress.
  11. 3.11Players must be seated within five minutes of the official match or table call. After five minutes the absent team forfeits the opening game. After ten minutes the absent team forfeits the match. The referee or Tournament Director may adjust the penalty for tournament-caused delay, verified emergencies, or circumstances beyond the team's reasonable control.
Section 4Switching Sides
  1. 4.1A team may not switch sides until the opposing team has reached three (3) game wins.
  2. 4.2At least one game must be completed before either team may switch sides.
  3. 4.3After switching, a team must play at least three completed games before switching back or switching again.
  4. 4.4Each team is permitted a maximum of two side switches per round.
Section 5Tables and Domino Holders
  1. 5.1Each player must place dominoes in a holder so all players can see how many dominoes remain in each hand.
  2. 5.2Teams receive a few seconds at the start of each game to arrange their dominoes.
  3. 5.3Hands must remain below the table except when drawing or playing. A player must not hover over the dominoes before their turn.
  4. 5.4The first domino touched should normally be played. If it cannot legally be played, stop and call the referee without concealing or exchanging it. An accidental first offence may receive a warning and correction. Deliberate conduct, an unfair advantage, or a repeated offence may result in the game being awarded to the opposing team.
Section 6Exposed Dominoes
  1. 6.1If a domino is exposed before the pose, reshuffle.
  2. 6.2If a domino is accidentally exposed during play, the referee decides whether it may be played on the next turn or whether the game is forfeited.
  3. 6.3A domino that accidentally falls while being played remains in play. If it cannot legally be played, the referee applies Rules 5.4 and 10.3.
  4. 6.4Only a player whose team is leading and who has a winning hand may expose remaining dominoes. Wait for the opposing team to concede before breaking up the layout.
Section 7Talking, Signalling, and Player Conduct
  1. 7.1Unnecessary talking during a game is not allowed.
  2. 7.2Players may speak when necessary during posing, declaring or verifying a pass, or resolving a game situation.
  3. 7.3A player without a legal play must clearly say "pass" or "no play."
  4. 7.4Partners may discuss strategy only between games.
  5. 7.5A knock is not a pass. A pass must be verbally declared and verified before the next domino is exposed. Non-verbal conduct intended to induce an opponent to expose a domino is improper and may be penalized.
  6. 7.6Signs, gestures, eye movements, facial expressions, body language, deliberate domino handling, or contact with objects may not be used to communicate with a partner or influence play.
  7. 7.7Dominoes must be placed normally. Slamming, excessive force, intimidation, and exaggerated actions are prohibited.
  8. 7.8Players must not unnecessarily touch or handle dominoes.
  9. 7.9No outside players in the ring. Only active players, the assigned referee, and authorized officials may enter the playing area unless invited by an official.
  10. 7.10All participants must treat opponents, partners, referees, volunteers, staff, and spectators with respect. Threats, harassment, discrimination, or aggressive behaviour may result in removal.
Section 8Blocked Game Scenarios
  1. 8.1If a game is blocked, the player with the lowest individual remaining pip count wins the game for their team.
  2. 8.2If the count is tied, double six (6-6) poses the next game.
  3. 8.3The winner of the first tie-breaker receives two (2) points, the maximum score available for the blocked-game tie-breaker.
  4. 8.4Additional games continue until there is a decisive winner.
Section 9Scoring and Scoresheets
  1. 9.1Either team may complete the scoresheet.
  2. 9.2The scorekeeper must announce or display the recorded score before submission so the opposing team can verify or dispute it.
  3. 9.3Each team is responsible for verifying the reported score.
  4. 9.4The winning team submits the completed scoresheet to the Tournament Official.
  5. 9.5The referee maintains or confirms the official scoresheet and result.
  6. 9.6After both teams have had a reasonable opportunity to verify the score, corrections require referee or Tournament Director approval.
Section 10Warnings, Penalties, and Appeals
  1. 10.1Slow play: warning, then a fifteen-second turn limit, with possible loss of the game for failure to play legally within the limit.
  2. 10.2Late seating: opening game forfeited after five minutes; match forfeited after ten minutes, subject to Rule 3.11 exceptions.
  3. 10.3Domino handling: a first accidental offence normally receives a warning. The referee may immediately award the game when conduct is deliberate, creates an unfair advantage, disrupts fair play, or is repeated during the same round.
  4. 10.3(a)Touching a domino without playing it, including unnecessary or out-of-turn touching.
  5. 10.3(b)Failing to play the first domino touched, subject to the referee decision described in Rule 5.4.
  6. 10.3(c)Attempting to play one domino and then choosing another.
  7. 10.3(d)Shuffling or rearranging the hand after viewing the dominoes in a way that violates table procedure or signals information.
  8. 10.3(e)Slamming dominoes or displaying excessive, intimidating, or aggressive behaviour.
  9. 10.3(f)Exposing dominoes when the player is not in the lead or the hand is not winnable. The referee may award the game to the opposing team.
  10. 10.4The referee may issue proportionate warnings or penalties for conduct that harms fairness, safety, tournament flow, or game integrity.
  11. 10.5Disputes should be raised immediately and before the next game whenever reasonably possible. The referee rules first. The Tournament Director decides any requested review, and that decision is final.
  12. 10.6Spectators, eliminated players, and other non-official persons may not coach, signal, interrupt, or interfere with a match.
Section 11Rule Updates and Final Authority
  1. 11.1These rules are published as Version 2026.4, effective July 20, 2026.
  2. 11.2Updates may be made for safety, fairness, clarity, tournament operations, or dispute prevention. Each update receives a new version and effective date.
  3. 11.3The latest website version governs. Registered players will be notified of substantive changes and may be required to accept the updated version before their Tournament Pass remains active.
  4. 11.4The Tournament Director has final authority to interpret the rules and resolve matters not expressly covered, applying fairness, consistency, safety, and sportsmanship.

The Tournament Director has final authority to interpret these rules while applying fairness, consistency, safety, and sportsmanship.

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