Time to register for the annual Worl Championship Cribbage Tournament. Registration is underway for the 30th annual World Championship Cribbage Tournament (WCCT), slated this year for May 4, 5, and 6, at the Plumas Sierra Fairgrounds in Quincy.

Recognized as the oldest and most prestigious cribbage tournament in the country, the WCCT annually attracts nearly 300 cribbage players, both locally, and from around the country, to Quincy, which is considered by many to be the "cribbage capitol of the world" because so many past world champions have been Plumas County residents.

As an added incentive for local participation, the highest qualifier from Plumas County will win the annual Robert G. Moon Memorial Award-a special wall plaque, $100 cash and the winner's name added to the list of past winners on a handsome trophy kept on display at the Plumas County museum.

This special honor was created by Moon's widow, Barbara, who wanted to memorialize Bob's love of the game of cribbage and his work in starting the WCCT 30 years ago. Plumas Bank offers the cash prize money in his memory-Moon was also a founding director of the locally-owned bank.

The tournament is sponsored by the Quincy Rotary Club as their major fundraiser each year. Corporate sponsors include U.S. Playing Cards and Gold Cities Beverage's Quincy division.

On Friday evening, May 4, there will be the traditional doubles "warm-up" contest. Nine games will be played with the teams in the top 25 percent sharing in the prize fund which is 85% of the registration fees, less prorated expenses for the facility.

On Saturday, May 5, the main championship tournament gets underway, featuring 20 games against different opponents. Those finishing in the top 25 percent will qualify for the playoffs that begin after a tri-trip and barbecued chicken dinner served by Rotarians with the help of the T'Town Caterers.

While the first rounds of the championship playoffs begin Saturday evening, there are two satellite tournaments played concurrently for those who did not make the playoffs or for anyone else wanting to come to the fairgrounds and play-an eight-game "high rollers" contest and a "Saturday night special" seven-game contest. The "high rollers" game has a $50 entry fee and the "Saturday night special" is $20 to enter, for the more conservative. Both pay back 100 percent of the entry fees to the top qualifiers.

On Sunday morning, the quest to seat the 30th annual World Champion continues, while at the same time, a nine-game consolation tournament gets underway. All tournament play is expected to conclude in the early afternoon on Sunday.

Qualifiers for all contests are determined by the number of total game points, two for a win, three for a skunk and zero for a loss. Tie-breakers, in this order, are the number of total games won and net spread points.

Registration forms are available by calling tournament co-chair Mike Taborski at (530) 283-0800. Contestants can enter any or all of these contests that weekend. The Deadline to enter is April 26, 2001.

Walk-ins will be accepted, but there will be an additional fee for late entries for the main tournament on Saturday. Taborski said that a portion of the entry fee for that tournament includes the price of a buffet lunch and barbecued tri-tip and chicken dinner.

"It helps us greatly to have an accurate count for our meals to avoid both waste and not having enough food," Taborski said.

Proceeds benefit the Rotary Club's local community service projects.