Dots appeared in the Soviet Union in the second half of the 1970s and quickly became popular among schoolchildren and students. For several decades, the game remained a purely amateur game, leaving behind numerous rule variations, an undeveloped theory, and a lack of a structured community.
The first attempts to unite and develop the Dots in a targeted manner date back to the early 2000s, when informal groups of players emerged in Poland, Ukraine, and Russia, occasionally holding amateur competitions.
The first tournament, of which there are reliable records, took place in 2006 in Kerch, so it is symbolic that it was in Crimea that the first officially registered public organization, the Sevastopol Sports Dots Club, was founded.
The Club's birthday was January 20, 2017, and its founders were well-known people in the gaming community (highest achievements are listed):
- Alexander Parfenov (tournament participant since 2009, silver medalist of the I Points World Cup Classic 2012);
- Irina Parfenova (tournament participant since 2009, silver medalist of the Sport Dots Beauty Challenge 2017);
- Maxim Sizanov (tournament participant since 2012, quarter final at the Sports Dots League - Open Cup 2019);
- Tatyana Snitko (tournament participant since 2009, 4th place at May Tochki.org Open 2009).
The Club's goals include promoting the Dots, systematizing and codifying the rules of the game, developing theoretical and educational materials, and methodological recommendations for competition organizers. Furthermore, the Club awards sports ranks, calculates and publishes player ratings, and hosts the most significant official tournaments.
Official tournaments are Dots competitions that are held in accordance with the standards established by the Sevastopol Club and set out in the relevant methodological materials.
The organizer of an official tournament may be not only the Club itself, but also any other person (organization) possessing the necessary competence and adhering to the above standards. The mandatory minimum requirements are contained in the following documents:
Anyone can participate in the official tournament. The only requirement is verification, or proof of identity. Participation under a false name is not permitted. The verification procedure is outlined in the relevant instructions and depends on the tournament method. For in-person tournaments, the organizer verifies documents on-site; for remote tournaments, a preliminary verification is performed via video link. This procedure must be completed once, after which the player's name is added to the appropriate registry. Subsequently, to participate in competitions sponsored by the Club, such a player only needs to identify themselves.
Only at official tournaments can you obtain a sports rating and sports rank.
The highest individual achievement in Dots is the title of absolute champion. It is contested annually in a match between the reigning champion and the winner of the candidates tournament.
The highest team achievement is the title of olympic champion, which is awarded to players of the national team that wins the annual cup of nations.
The Club organizes candidates tournaments, championship matches and olympiads.
Preliminary tournament information is published in the calendar. Full details are available in the events section: upcoming and past.