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Several comments on tournaments..all directors please read
Posted By: neilkaz In Response To: BARRED IN FLORIDA (Coolrey)
Date: Tuesday, 26 August 2008, at 5:37 p.m.
Nearly every ABT event can make better use of the alloted time and certainly can make lots better use of Sunday than is usually done. There are many side events sometimes almost too many for a short weekend, and conflicts arise when players are allowed to play too many events and also because scheduling and priorities aren't always what my 30+ years playing events like this tell me that they should be. I certainly don't have all the answers, and I'm sure I'd face issues if I were in charge of a tourney or two per year, but here's some strong suggestions noting these are for the typical weekend from Fri to Sun and apply less strongly to several day events over long weekends.
1) The ABT event has to take priority !! Players should not have to wait around for an hour to play an important ABT match on Sunday, while their opp is in doubles and arguing over how to play an opening 64. For those who don't believe me, consider that playing side events is optional and those players who choose to play lots of them, should book later flights home, or stay over Sunday night. The ABT event has to take priority. Just consider what attendence, especially championship attendence would be without the ABT ? I'd expect 5-7 fewer players per tourney in championship on average and a couple fewer in advanced.
2) The Last Chance simply MUST be made PROGRESSIVE. This will minimize so many BS scheduling hassles and also prevent the torture of having to play a conso match or two starting at midnight and then start Sunday morning at 9:30 just so that all non prize winner can start as equals in the LC at 11 AM. OK sometimes the conso semis starts at 10 AM and they losers (getting no prize) get seeded into round two of the LC.
But it makes so much more sense to have the LC as Progressive and note that many players will be knocked out on day 1 and thereby freed up to finish Masters or Amateur Jackpots, doubles, blitzes or whatever. Also, isn't it more fair for someone who almost made it to the money in conso, to flow into LC a few rounds ahead of someone who lost 2 straight ?
Some of the worst conflicts on Sundays involve Blitz playoffs and LC but fortunately they are 5 pt matches. Even worse conflicts involve doubles semis or finals on Sunday mornings, early afternoons vs the LC. But if you have a progressive LC, many of those players will be done with LC and the LC will have only 2 or 3 rounds to go, so conflicts are less likely and less critical.
3) Directors, when you have conflicts on Sunday please be aggressive about clocking and esp doubles. Clock doubles at 2.5 +15 and the 7 pt match that can take 3 hours will be done in 90 minutes or less.
4) Re: doubles. Pat Gibson in LA does things very well in this regard and doubles START on Sunday at about noon to 12:30. You must be knocked out of the main T (almost all are) and the Masters and any Amateur JP (not sure he has one) to be allowed to play. Those from out of town who want to play doubles on Sunday can book late flights home or stay overnight ! To directors, PLEASE don't allow players still alive in Master's or Amateur JP's on Friday to play doubles Friday night unless you have a really long weekend and even then, there will be conflicts.
Anyhow, the most important point I am trying to make is that Last Chance must be Progressive. I urge all directors to give it a try, and you'll see fewer conflicts, and fewer complaints on Sunday about silly 9 AM start times, or having to play an midnight Saturday. The usual concern about players losing 3 and out and going home doesn't matter, since many will be freed for the blitz, and also freed for impromptu Sunday Jackpots. With players knocked out, it shouldn't be hard to fill 4 or 8 player jackpots on Sunday, if you only rake 10% and if you have Open level, and Amateur level small jackpots on Sunday.
For the good of ABT events, make Last Chance PROGRESSIVE ... neilkaz ..
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