15-07-2013, 01:40 PM
Probably my final reply of the day!!
The top players are more likely to play people 400 points below them if acceleration isn't used. That was one of the reasons for having acceleration. The fact that no bottom half player reached 2/2 did make the third round draw look stupid, though it was effectively a normal round 1 draw with the top half dozen removed.
TPR favours the lower rated player because they are lower rated. Consider A v B where A is lower rated and they draw. A has the better performance because he scored against a higher rated player whereas B scored against the lower rated player. In an all play all in which all the players tie at the end then the TPR would be opposite to their ratings.
A play-off is not fair either unless staged as a separate event. Playing at a reduced time control immediately after the event is not a good idea. You are choosing a winner under different criteria. Also imagine one player has a quick win and his opponent has a long drawn out game. Immediately one player has a significant advantage.
(On a purely personal point we also need to get packed up. Dougie will atest to the fact that the gear used occupied 4 cars at the end of the event. Two of them to overflowing.
For years we had a closed championship. The result was a dead event which was only getting worse. Moving to the Open format revived the event. I accept it is not ideal, but in the absence of companies throwing money our way a closed event is just not viable. The difference in overall costs between a closed Championship and the International Open is very small, especially when increased entries are taken into consideration.
Finally, I hope everyone will again join with me in thanking the anonymous benefactor.
The top players are more likely to play people 400 points below them if acceleration isn't used. That was one of the reasons for having acceleration. The fact that no bottom half player reached 2/2 did make the third round draw look stupid, though it was effectively a normal round 1 draw with the top half dozen removed.
TPR favours the lower rated player because they are lower rated. Consider A v B where A is lower rated and they draw. A has the better performance because he scored against a higher rated player whereas B scored against the lower rated player. In an all play all in which all the players tie at the end then the TPR would be opposite to their ratings.
A play-off is not fair either unless staged as a separate event. Playing at a reduced time control immediately after the event is not a good idea. You are choosing a winner under different criteria. Also imagine one player has a quick win and his opponent has a long drawn out game. Immediately one player has a significant advantage.
(On a purely personal point we also need to get packed up. Dougie will atest to the fact that the gear used occupied 4 cars at the end of the event. Two of them to overflowing.
For years we had a closed championship. The result was a dead event which was only getting worse. Moving to the Open format revived the event. I accept it is not ideal, but in the absence of companies throwing money our way a closed event is just not viable. The difference in overall costs between a closed Championship and the International Open is very small, especially when increased entries are taken into consideration.
Finally, I hope everyone will again join with me in thanking the anonymous benefactor.