The Victorian Chess Championship is just about to start and already there is a debate about formats. Unlike the poorly performed NSW Championships, the Victorian Championship usually attracts a stronger field, and isn't afraid to try different formats. For this years event they have moved from a multi week event (with 1 or 2 rounds a week) to a more compressed format with all games being played between the 15th and 25th of November.
Of course this change hasn't pleased everyone, just as the longer format didn't please everyone either. To me the obvious conclusion to draw is not that one format works better than the other, but that chess players will always whinge about something.
Following on from that is my question. Why don't State Associations organise their Championships over a long weekend? I've already flagged this before, with the suggestion that the Queens Birthday Weekend be the obvious (common) weekend (OK not all states celebrate it), to hold State Championships.
What would be the pros and cons of having a 3 day 9 round event to decide the State Champion? Sure it would be a grueling schedule (3 90m+30s games in day), but the format may change to 8 player RR's to alleviate this.
Certainly I would be interested in seeing the ACTCA move to this format (8 or 10 player RR's, with multiple sections seeded on rating, and with event winners being promoted next year), but then again I'd like to see the ACTCA do something (anything) in the area of chess.
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6 comments:
Brian Jones has been recommending a long weekend State Championship to NSWCA for many years. But nobody has been prepared to support him.
Yes, short 10 player round robins is definitely the way to go!
You guys just dont geddit. Get rid of Gletsos and everything will loosen up so good new and good old systems can be implemented.
DeNovoMeme said...
You guys just dont geddit. Get rid of Gletsos and everything will loosen up so good new and good old systems can be implemented.
A clear case of "One track mind syndrome."! ;)
to be fair to matt above - he has a point. bill has been in charge for 3 or so years and should step down to let someone else be president. we need to forget about the petty squabbles and simply run good quality tournaments that starts on time and are in a format that is popular to most people.
The Qld Championship has been run for the last two years under the 8 player round robin format over the QBW.
It was held with time controls of 80 + 60s and a friday night round to accommodate 7 rounds.
It has been rather unsuccessful in attracting Qld's top or near top players.
I think this has a variety of reasons in no particular order.
1) Larger prize-money and gp points on offer in NSW and VIC. (Qld Championship cannot be a gp event)
2) Unwillingness of the top players to play in events together, unless large prizemoney is on offer.
3) Not enough promotion by CAQ Council and the chess community in general
There are more factors, but I think the reader can get the picture.
I had thought that being only one of two long time control events in Qld, it would attract some of the top players, but it was not to be.
The 2007 CAQ Council has decided to revert to having the Qld Open and Qld Championship in alternating years from 2008.
As council members change this decision might change to of course.
Garvin
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