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BGonline.org Forums
Eradicating Slow Play by Using Watches
Posted By: Paul Weaver
Date: Tuesday, 28 October 2008, at 10:52 p.m.
The biggest headaches encountered by directors and players result from slow play. A six-step plan is herein presented that will enable directors to run a tournament on schedule without resorting to clocking every match.
1. The director shall print the schedule of start and finish times for each round in the brochure. For example, if 11pt matches are being played, the first round might begin at 12 Noon and end by 2 PM. 2. The director shall print score sheets with a large box at the top labeled “Starting time.” At the beginning of every match, each player is required to write in the box the time the match begins. 3. After every game, each player shall make the following trivial calculation to determine if a match is on schedule. Add the scores of the two players and call the sum TP (total points). Multiply TP by 5 to obtain TPx5. Then compare TPx5 to the elapsed time of the match. If the elapsed time is greater than TPx5, the match is behind schedule. For example, if the score is 4-3, then TP = 7 and TPx5 = 35. If more than 35 minutes have elapsed since the match began, it is behind schedule. 4. After any game, if the match is five minutes or more behind schedule, the players are required to notify the director and a clock will be used for the duration of the match. 5. The players cannot take a break unless the match is at least five minutes ahead of schedule, in which case they may take a five-minute break. If the players are ten minutes ahead of schedule, they may take a break of no more than ten minutes. 6. If a match is not finished on time, both players shall play the next round with a clock. If a match is no more than fifteen minutes late, each of the late players will be penalized by having less time on his clock in the next round. If a match is more than fifteen minutes late, then each player will be given both a time and a point penalty. The same penalties shall apply to a player who finishes on time but shows up late for his next match.
Many players are afraid to report an opponent’s slow play because they do not want to annoy or offend him. Previously, slow play was a subjective matter, but now it has been objectively defined (in Step 3 above). Each player is given a strong incentive for reporting that his match is behind schedule: he does not want to be hit with a clock penalty in his next match.
If directors would follow this six-step plan and begin the first round promptly at 12 noon on Saturday, then each round (of 11pt matches) could be completed in two hours; three rounds could be finished by 6 PM, before dinner break. Three consolation rounds of 7pts or 9pts (scheduled ninety minutes apart) could be played after dinner starting at 8 PM. There would be plenty of time to play 13pt quarterfinals, 15pt semifinals and a 17pt final.
It would be enjoyable to participate in a tournament with a schedule of matches published in the brochure. If you finished a match ahead of schedule, you could play in a chouette, go for a swim, get something to eat and/or go to the bar and down a few drinks before your next match. Directors would eliminate a lot of headaches for both themselves and the players. There would be more time for participation in side events, allowing directors to benefit financially.
Most players appreciate directors for the tremendous amount of work they perform in planning and running a tournament. However, players are beginning to have very little patience and support for directors who fail to effectively deal with the problem of slow play.
Here is the frank message that more and more players are sending to tournament directors: “I do not enjoy a tournament in which I wait around in limbo for hours, not knowing when my next match will be played. Methods are available (using clocks or my six-step plan) to solve the problems created by slow play. If you are unwilling and unable to effectively address this important issue, then I will skip your tournament.”
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