| |
BGonline.org Forums
Speaking of clocks....
Posted By: Chuck Bower In Response To: drawsheet mishaps (Jason Lee)
Date: Friday, 11 April 2008, at 1:33 p.m.
To put things in perspective:Steve Hast has run a very good tournament in Pittsburgh for many years. Overall the tournament runs smoothly (IMO) so the things Bob and I are bringing up are by the far the exceptions. But I think we all can learn from the hiccups that occur so it is still beneficial to make them public.
The Open matches at Pitt were 11 pts in the Main, 9 pts in the Consolation, and 5 points in the LC. Competition started ~12:15 PM on Saturday and dinner break was 5:00-7:15. I played 2 1/2 matches before dinner break and finished my third match before 8:00 PM. I waited ~45 minutes for my fourth round opponent. My fourth finished sometime between 10:00 and 10:15. (All matches up to this point were 11-pointers.) Then I waited about a half hour for my next match -- Consolation so 9 points. It was a grueling mano-a-mano type match which ended about 12:15 AM. At that time I was approached by my next opponent and an ABT official carrying an analog clock!!!!!!!!!
I flew off the handle. There was no way I was playing on an analog clock and I said that. Usually I bring a digital clock but forgot this time. CJC's Boutique had closed. Fortunately she was there and agreed with me that using an analog clock today, with the new (much better) digital clocks and recent rules, was out of line. So I bought my THIRD digital clock just to be able to do things the right way. Of course by the time all this got sorted out (including borrowing batteries from Patrick Gibson) at least 30 minutes had been wasted.
Interestingly, my opponent had never before used a clock but it was his request (and director's consent) that a clock by used. We set the clock for 10 minutes bonus time and 12 seconds per move. The match took about half an hour with me using two minutes of bonus time and him using one minute. It was about 1:30 when we got finished and being the winner, I was scheduled to play in exactly 8 hours (9:30 AM Sunday).
I have for a few years now been a strong proponent of clocks -- digital clocks. My complaint wasn't that my match was being clocked but that it was to be done with outdated equipment and rules. However, the way clocks are currently often instigated (as was done here) is less than satisfying. They are usually installed in matches AFTER the damage has been done. If clocks were a standard feature then this seeming inequity wouldn't occur.
I've now bought four Excalibur GameTime-II clocks (the other one I gave to Jeb to give as a prize at his tournament). If I can buy four, I think others can buy one. Let's put our money where our mouths are. Many of us bring boards costing hundreds of dollars, dicecups costing $35 and up each, dice costing $5 each (and many people have an arsenal of these).
Some contend that it's up to the directors to provide clocks. I disagree. They don't provide boards, dice, dicecups. Clocks are $40 each, which is reasonable for one but costly to be forty. Despite the naive opinions of some players, most directors, after paying staff and buying trophies, etc. have only a small 'profit' for their many hours of effort.
Still, I think directors should help in some way. One suggestion is a small discount on the entry fee for players who bring clocks. Another is a special (and valuable) prize drawing (e.g. at the Calcutta) with entries only for those who bring clocks. There are ways for this process to get sped up. I agree with Jason and others that the progress has been painfully slow. At least five years have gone by since this topic became hot and we are only a little farther ahead (and that in one or two events/tournaments).
I'll bring my digital clocks to LV and (assuming he wants them) provide them to Howard to use as he wishes for the tournament.
| |
BGonline.org Forums is maintained by Stick with WebBBS 5.12.