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Questions for 13-0 Michigan Open & Seniors Champ Phil Simborg
Posted By: Phil Simborg In Response To: Questions for 13-0 Michigan Open & Seniors Champ Phil Simborg (Paul Weaver)
Date: Thursday, 26 July 2012, at 3:59 p.m.
First, I strongly resent that you mentioned I went 13-0 in Michigan. I won my first match in the after-tournament against Coolrey and that made me 14-0 and then I went down in flames to the great Justin Nunez, ending the streak.
The masters starts officially at 6PM though anyone there at 5:30 starts early...many of us get there around 3 or so for chouette. Masters are 9 point matches. We use the baffle box in the chouette and several players own baffle boxes and use them unless there is an objection. Bill allows us to play right on the computer, and many of my matches are recorded, and I send a copy of each match to my opponents.
First round in the Open are 5 points, then 7, and consolation is 5. I believe that any match that has to start after 11 gives either opponent the right to split the finals, but we are usually out by midnight or much sooner.
I have not seen clocks used at all, except when there is slow play and then Bill requires it. There are about 5 players known to be slow, and they are watched and often clocked. Herb Roman is a good example...he's a very fine player...most of his PR's in 9 point matches are between 4.0 and 4.5. But he is very slow. When we put a clock on him he plays much faster and his PR rating generally improves! (By the way, I think Herb is the best player in the US who has not won an open or masters event.)
Hope that answers your questions. Now, what would I change?
I would have baffle boxes and clocks on every match in the Masters...we're all tournament players and it's good practice and both make the game more professional and run more smoothly. I have no problem with the "illegal moves" rule when there is a clock, but hate it when 4 dice are used, so I almost always get my opponents to agree to play legal moves. (When we play on the computer, they can try to make all the illegal moves they like.)
As for the point system, it works well, however, I would award some points for every win with extra for cashing...that way even the players who don't win very often accumulate points just for coming and are given a greater incentive to keep coming. I would do the same in the ABT and all major tournaments. (I know the argument is the bookkeeping headache, but with modern computers and a $1 per player surcharge to pay someone to input, the increased attendance would pay off well.)
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