A Recommendation to Ontario Organizers: Swiss Chess Tournament Registration

[Bob Armstrong]

Swiss Tournament Registration System: A Recommendation to Ontario Organizers

1. Pre-registration: only pre-registrations get into the first round "first pairings group". There is a cut-off date for pre-regs. Once the date passes, the organizers post the first round pairings (it is recognized that some may not show and pay, or some may withdraw, and the pairings will have to be redone before Rd. 1 on-site). On the day of the tournament, there are two registration desks in two different areas - one for pre-regs check-in & payment; a second for "On-site Registrations". The clocks for the Pre-registration group start for Rd. 1 when they are supposed to (novel idea!)

NOTE: The only suggestion I have for the "repairing problem", due to withdrawals, no shows, etc., is that you only get into the Pre-registration pairings group if you have pre-paid as well....this requires the organizer to have a simple credit/debit card payment system on pre-registration.

2. On-Site Entries Before On-site Cut-off: All on-site entries go into a "second pairings group".....there is a cut-off time for accepting them on-site. They are processed at the "On-site Registrations" Desk. At the on-site cut-off time, all then in line are sent to a separate area to be registered (the now clear Pre-regs desk?). They are paired (move them from the lobby so that the line-up doesn't just continue growing, and then the late-comers complain that it is the long line that made them miss the cut-off time). Then this second group can start playing as well (maybe even at the start time for Rd. 1!)

3. On-site "Late" Registrations: They missed the pre-reg cut-off; they missed the on-site cut-off - process them at the "On-site Registrations" desk as was being done. BUT they are advised they will NOT be paired for Rd. 1 - they are given a 1/2 pt. Rd. 1 "bye". The reason...to process them now into Rd. 1 delays the tournament Rd. 1 starting and ending time.

NOTE: I know there will be vigorous complaining by this late, last-minute group. But if you don't do this, how do you woodshed people into pre-registering, if no serious penalty? One could again pair this final group as a third pairings, but when are they going to start playing.....late......delaying the ending of round 1. Also, when do you exercise cut-off? Wait 'til there is no one else in line?...how late past the Rd. 1 starting time will this be? And what happens when you are ready to pair them, and Mr/Ms Late Late shows up and demands to play Rd. 1 and to be included now in the final Rd. 1 pairings group?
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This issue/post first arose in the Mississauga Open thread (tournament ended Sun., Aug. 30). I am starting a new thread here, just on the one issue, because I did not want anyone to think I was particularly centering that tournament out for its Rd. 1 registration/Rd. 1 start time problem (I played, and the traditional late Rd. 1 occurred). This is a historical problem here in Ontario (and elsewhere) that always affects weekend swisses.

Hal Bond, and Bob Gillanders, two NOTED (?!) Ontario organizers, have agreed that the system does need improving......just difficult to satisfy many competing interests....no matter what the system, someone will claim they are being hard-done-by.

So this has been my idea.....let's try to build a Ct Consensus (Such is Possible, you say???) on a new recommended system for organizers.

To do this, let's have everyone shoot down as much of my proposal as possible.....with the one condition....you must give actual wording amendments and propose a "better" alternative (not perfect maybe, but fewer downsides), or, type up and present your own "alternate proposal"! Concepts are easy to throw around......but hard to discuss. If we are to make progress, we must be actually drafting a recommendation to Ontario chess organizers.

Maybe we could get some consensus among Chesstalkers (??? have I lost my mind?), as to what downsides the majority will accept in a good, but less-than-perfect, registration/tournament Rd. 1 Start procedure.

So massacre my proposal! :(

Bob A

[Erik Malmsten]

Re: A Recommendation to Ontario Organizers: Swiss Chess Tournament Registration

Two lines is good: one for preregister and one for late. I course all pretty regularly ratings were entered into the computer. How long does it take to generate and print psi rings? So desk cuts off receiving entries at ten to. Those late comers not paired can be paired with a time penalty or given a bye. Hopefully players have already set up all the boards and board numbers. Players who preregister and don't show up should have to pay a financial penalty at their next event.

[Roger Patterson]

Re: A Recommendation to Ontario Organizers: Swiss Chess Tournament Registration

Swiss Tournament Registration System: A Recommendation to Ontario Organizers


Bob A

1)pre- publishing pairings that you say will change is a waste of time.

2) as to the problem of getting the first round started on time, it's a proposal - should work but it's not the only solution. I will say that for the tournaments Victoria Chess organizes - they start on time. The components to making that happen are:

a) making online registration and payment available and easy. We get 90-95% of our entries in pre-registration [and those are basically all paid. Not paid? you pay the onsite registration rate].

b) doing as much of the paperwork (checking ratings, memberships, yada yada yada) before hand [and you hound those with out of date CFC membership on how they are going to handle that]

c) making onsite registration significantly more expensive.

d) staffing the registration desk adequately. For us, that's usually 3 people (plus the TD). My observation is that is is the step most organizers fall short on.

e) enforcing the cutoff for onsite registration 30 minutes before round time.

Works for us. One final ingredient is that the organizing team and TD must be committed to the idea that the round will start on time. I have seen too many people who just accept that the first round will start late and drift into it. Doesn't have to be that way if you put the work and planning to make it happen on time.

[David Gordon]

Re: A Recommendation to Ontario Organizers: Swiss Chess Tournament Registration

I categorically disagree with the initial post

[Paul Leblanc]

Re: A Recommendation to Ontario Organizers: Swiss Chess Tournament Registration

Further to what Roger has said above, you don't get on the pre-registered list unless you pay ahead of time.
The pre-registered list is posted near the registration desk and if your name is on the list you will be paired - no need to clutter up the registration area by reporting that you have arrived.
One of my pet peeves is players who do not take their places in the hall at the beginning of the round in time to hear the TD's announcements. Somehow it just seems rude to the organizers, the TD and one's opponent to show up late.

[Steve Karpik]

Re: A Recommendation to Ontario Organizers: Swiss Chess Tournament Registration

I categorically disagree with the initial post

Why? Perhaps you might elaborate.

[David Gordon]

Re: A Recommendation to Ontario Organizers: Swiss Chess Tournament Registration

Let Organizers organize how they like.

[John Brown]

Re: A Recommendation to Ontario Organizers: Swiss Chess Tournament Registration

I agree with David. Let Local organizers run a tournament the way they want.
Organizers can take advice but they should not have to follow a set way of running tournaments. If Robert Armstrong wants to set a bunch of rules to run tournaments then we should all follow Fide rules then. Maybe he should have taken up the torch and run the Toronto Labour Day Open this year.