Scottish Tournaments - bring back the Challengers?

[robin moore]

Sadly it comes down to finances. If for example you had 96 entrants for a congress, you could have four sections (including a challengers) of 24 players. Alternatively you could have three sections (without the challengers) of 32 players. There is a difference of eight players say at an entry fee of £25 so a total of £200 per section. That's a lot of money without a sponsor to contribute to the shortfall.
If you then consider that another arbiter may be required to run the challengers and if you can't source one local to the venue, the organiser may have to find one farther afield and pay his/her travel and accommodation expenses plus a fee.