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I agree going to five boards would be a bad idea...
Also playing two games in a day would be a bad idea - think the strength of the cup could suffer with less of the top players playing.
Why not an 8 team league? Top two qualify for the European club cup, bottom team relegated, 2nd bottom has a playoff with 2nd top in the Spens group.
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Some teams already play 4 games in the Richardson, would another 3 games in the calender year be so difficult?
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maybe...
OK so the main problem seem to be the 'qualifying round' before the quarters. If there is 10 teams then it may be deemed unfair that 2 of them have to play a qualifier... so why not just have 8 teams in the Richardson. The winner of the Spens is promoted into the Richardson. The four losers of the quarter finals in the Richardson, play a losers semi final and then losers final... with the team losing the final being relegated. It would probably be best to seed the quarter final draw...
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I agree with David, 7 games should not be too many either to play in or fit in.
Promotion and relegation does seem to be a popular choice, but I am not sure that is the way to go. There are a few teams who choose to play in the Spens rather than the Richardson, and I can not recall the last team that got relegated from the top event. Perhaps any new format should break the historical link between the two events.
Personally, I would like to see the Richardson open to any club team or regional team that is strong enough to take part. This would involve the average strength of a team being of a certain standard. The Spens would be open to teams below this.
As someone who has never played in either competition on a regular basis, I am sure my views will differ from those who take part year in, year out. It may be a good idea to ask these players what they want from the competitions as well as formats.
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No more changes please ! I have done consultations on FIDE rated, k/o v league, seedings, bona fide, saturday v sunday, spens/richardson separate squads etc. Too much work to do every year
May/June not good for final since many clubs close in April
Going from 16 to 8 is not good since hastens decline of OTB chess.
More than 4 games not good since GMs have other commitments.
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RICHARDSON-8 teams (of 6 or 8 players, preferably 8)
-2 groups of 4 (=3 matches per team)
-top 2 from each group into semis
-central venue for semis and final (semis on Saturday/ final on Sunday, 3rd/4th play-off also on Sunday)
-(max = 5 games per season)
-FIDE rated, 1 game per day, 40 in 2 hours + 30 allegro (or equivalent increment control)
-Live boards for finals, live commentary also (I'll do it if not playing!) [This is our 'sponsorship selling point' - sponsorship covers venue costs over 'final' weekend.]
-both finalists get Euro Club Cup spot
SPENS CUP
-as above as far as possible
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Like the format Andy, but what 8 teams would get in?
And what if a new team wanted to join, how can they get in... for example, Bon Accord this season are new and may still steal our trophy from Edinburgh CCs cabinet
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D-Oswald Wrote:... for example, Bon Accord this season are new and may still steal our trophy from Edinburgh CCs cabinet
We're not new
. But we will be having that trophy!
