Attention all tailgaters, university students, and backyard-game enthusiasts: the bags tournament is back. 

The Don Moyer Boys and Girls club will be hosting their second Champaign Urbana Bags Tournament this Friday and Saturday, March 13 to 14, at Lincoln Square Mall in Urbana.  

The Bags Tournament, which replaced the Boys and Girls Club’s annual duck race event at Crystal Lake Park, will have the same format as last year, consisting of 2-person teams, each required to pay a $20 entry fee. Teams will have the chance to enter any of the three divisions: Pro Division, Open Division and University Division.  

After a successful run last September, and numerous requests from past participants, the club has decided to take the tournament indoors for winter, said Development Director Michael Byrd.  

The increasing popularity of bags, also known as “corntoss” or “cornhole,” has made the Bags Tournament a success, said Byrd. Last September, the tournament had 450 teams compete for cash prizes, raising almost $17,000 for the Boys and Girls club.  

One hundred percent of the entry fees go to the Boys and Girls club, making it vital for funding. Grants, which make up to 16 to 17 percent of the club’s budget, have been affected by the recession, said Byrd.  

“We’re seeing that all grants are up for review because of things that are happening in the economy,” he said. “Therefore it makes events and individual donations that much more important to us.” 

This weekend, participants will have the chance to compete at Lincoln Square Mall, where restaurants, bars, and stores will allow for different social activities. The club will also set up big screen TVs for any fans wanting to catch the Big Ten basketball tournament.  

Participants are invited to join any one of the three divisions. Pro Division first-prize winners get $500, and both Open and University Divisions first-prize winners get $250 each. Second-place winners in every division get a custom-built set of boards. 

“We had countless e-mails, and phone calls and communications from people who played in the tournament and said that they truly enjoyed it,” said Byrd. The tournament had participants from six different states last September, he said, all of whom complimented the club on the tournament’s success.  

The Bags Tournament will kick off with the Pro division from 6 to 10:30 p.m. on Friday, and will continue with all three divisions from 1:00 to 10:00 p.m. on Saturday. To register visit  www.bmbgc-cu.org. Plenty of positions to play are still open.