20-06-2016, 10:18 AM
While I'd say that digital + increments is nowadays the gold standard across all national and international championship tournaments, it's probably not really critical to the (welcome) 'big' idea of having a MacIsaac Scottish national rapid-play championship annually.
That said, I am slightly surprised that an 11 round event, over a Saturday and Sunday, hasn't been mentioned. That's not just 'big' but it would provide a highly welcome, really top-class, Scottish Rapid championship, something that many young (and even older) players would really feel worth striving to battle for.
The longstanding British Rapid Championships (which already attracts some Scots) already shows that this can be done. Whether there is a 1850 cut-off point or none (but with subsidiary rating, age, gender, junior prizes ... as felt worthwhile) is perhaps less important than a judgement as to whether an open format (as in Leeds) would be organisationally feasible / attractive.
I think a one day event (it might only be possible to squeeze in no more than 7 rounds, possible only 5-6 in one day) is less attractive but would nevertheless be a welcome addition. But that might not attract the interest from the ambitious players quite as much ... to win an 11 round championship is really 'something'!
I am not really attracted to Grand Prix type systems for this kind of championship at all ... we have never even considered running the annual national Scottish Championships at classical rates this way and you only have to start thinking about this for a few seconds to realise why this would never work.
So why force the Scottish Rapid Championship down such a Grand Prix route? MacIsaac's name is worth a true national (Rapid) championship ... and he would probably himself have raised three cheers for such a modern 21st century use of his memory and trophy. I hasten to add that I can hardly prove that!!
That said, I am slightly surprised that an 11 round event, over a Saturday and Sunday, hasn't been mentioned. That's not just 'big' but it would provide a highly welcome, really top-class, Scottish Rapid championship, something that many young (and even older) players would really feel worth striving to battle for.
The longstanding British Rapid Championships (which already attracts some Scots) already shows that this can be done. Whether there is a 1850 cut-off point or none (but with subsidiary rating, age, gender, junior prizes ... as felt worthwhile) is perhaps less important than a judgement as to whether an open format (as in Leeds) would be organisationally feasible / attractive.
I think a one day event (it might only be possible to squeeze in no more than 7 rounds, possible only 5-6 in one day) is less attractive but would nevertheless be a welcome addition. But that might not attract the interest from the ambitious players quite as much ... to win an 11 round championship is really 'something'!
I am not really attracted to Grand Prix type systems for this kind of championship at all ... we have never even considered running the annual national Scottish Championships at classical rates this way and you only have to start thinking about this for a few seconds to realise why this would never work.
So why force the Scottish Rapid Championship down such a Grand Prix route? MacIsaac's name is worth a true national (Rapid) championship ... and he would probably himself have raised three cheers for such a modern 21st century use of his memory and trophy. I hasten to add that I can hardly prove that!!