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2015 Texas Backgammon Championships -- San Antonio -- Reflections
Posted By: neilkaz In Response To: 2015 Texas Backgammon Championships -- San Antonio -- Reflections (Bill Riles)
Date: Tuesday, 10 February 2015, at 10:11 p.m.
(Bill)"We need to do a bit better job of policing side event entries and side event execution. Some players enter everything, assuming they'll be successful in some and not successful in others. Some are successful in nothing and some successful in everything. This creates scheduling problems. A few are most conscientious -- such as Phil Simborg and Dennis Culpepper, as examples -- racing from event to event and even, on occasion, forfeiting their places in some side events to ease the crunch. Some are not. We can all do better.
We'll do some things differently in the future, and for the better we think. There must be requirements put on the progress of the Tournament of Stars, the Jackpots, and the main events, as examples. Two rounds of the TOS must be finished on Friday. Players will not be allowed to play in the early starts of the Jackpots if they alive in the TOS. Two rounds of the main must be finished before the resumption of play after the dinner break on Saturday. These were not always the case this year, and we all paid the consequent price. All considerations are on the table. We're looking at an extra day, we're looking at main event rebuys, we're looking at every imaginable permutation. We want it to be the best experience for all. Give us your feedback and suggestions."
(NK) We spoke about many of these issues and I chatted with Tara a bit as well.
Again I will strongly suggest an extra day starting on Weds with things like the D-D and the USBGF National Champ qualifiers. IMO, there are simply too many side events going on for a 4 day event. Also if starting on Weds, the main can start Friday, even if it is just one round Friday night.
Please no..1000 times no to buy backs in the main. Where's the time for an extra round even if starting on Friday? Perhaps if you run it like Howard does in Vegas and start Friday and you have to win by dinner to qualify..ie basically rd 1 losers can buy back once.
Much of this applies to many more events than just Texas
Re: side events. TOS needs to go away, and for good. Haven't the founding sponsors had several of these? Enuf is enuf. Doubles should be doubles and ONLY start on Sunday for those totally eliminated from ALL other play. Maybe limit dubs to 16 and 5 pt matches so as to finish on Sunday.
Re: USBGF free roll. No player alive in any major event like Masters or Main (except LC) should be put into the draw for these.
Good... all players much finish two matches in the main prior to going to dinner.
Re: quickies and/or USBGF free rolls. Good..they were 1 pt matches. Bravo to those directors who understand what idiocy a 2 pt quicky is. Many players double very quickly like they should and it just becomes a 1 pt match, whereas other plays wait to cube so they can eek out maybe $3 extra expectancy vs a dufus opp that doesn't understanding doubling at 2a2a. Two point quickies and free rolls need to be PERMENANTLY replaced by 1 pt matches to save time.
I understand the need to have so many side event both to keep players busy and so that the directors aren't taking a financial loss for so much work, but there simply are too many side events now at many ABT's.
Two or three years ago I bitched to a director somewhere as to why my 9 pt conso semi was resked to 9am from 10:30. He said the loser had to go into LC. I replied "so what, there's plenty of time on Sunday" and he replied that they need to finish the LC so the After Tournament Tournament can start !! OMG..how about letting your staff go home and letting players socialize and not worry about an ATT? Anyhow, that director relented and we started at 9:30.
To the players, many of you need to pay better attention to what is happening in your brackets. If you're in multiple side events as well, pay attention. Don't go wandering off when the main match you're waiting on has just started, but your next opp in the blitz (for example) is down 8-4 Crawford in conso and close out. Check on your potential upcoming opps etc etc. Be diligent to keep the events moving forward.
I know one player who always records his matches and usually shows up 5 minutes late and then has to set up his board and camera etc. I won't mention names and don't think he posts here, but he can certainly be a source of delay and should know better.
Bill and Tara did a superb job running things along with their staff. They'll have an easier time next year with a side event or two less and with the extra day I recommend.
Unfortunately, much of what Bill and Tara had to do was to chase down players. Then again, who can blame someone for wandering off after waiting almost an entire day to start rd 1 of the 1 pt free roll bcuz they were paired against a player who was still winning in the Championship and not available to play.
I look forward to being in S.A. next year .. neilkaz ..
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