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01-09-2013, 08:12 PM
Matthew Turner Wrote:There is another alternative which is a hybrid system between an all-play-all and an open. For example players pay £50 and are split into groups (of not more than 20) based on rating. You could have prizes of £400, £200, £100.
This system has some advantages and it should mean that most of the games are very competitive. Personally, I am not a big fan, but they have used it at a tournament in Amersham for a good number of years and there are certainly players who like it a lot.
A few extra details about this English event. (I was on the control team last weekend and used to be a regular entrant).
This event is the Berks and Bucks championship. The venue switched from Amersham in Bucks to Twyford in Berks a few years ago. The 49th event took place last weekend and the 50th event is due to happen in 2014 precisely 50 years after the first one in 1964. The format remains as small sections preferably not above 14 players. These days the top two sections are FIDE rated.
The hot topic of debate at the moment is whether or not to insist that all players play all 6 rounds. That is will the tournament change its rules to allow half point byes. Some of the regulars are surprisingly vociferous on keeping the no half point bye rule.
Similar philosophy has applied in the same area to the Allegro event held annually at Bourne End. Next one will be 13th April 2014.
For both of these tournaments entry fee is in the normal range. Prize money is much lower than a big swiss tournament but the odds of making the prizes are much shorter than normal. The major plus for many players is that the grading spread within each section tends to be small (you play in the section allocated) and nearly all games tend to be competitive encounters between closely matched players.