Chicken points

[Erik Malmsten]

The USA used to have "chicken" points awarded at tournaments across the country, won by active players like Igor Ivanov. Prizes were from Church's Fried Chicken. We have had a few Grand Prixes in Eastern Ontario, South-Western Ontario, Mississauga and Toronto. Some masters play in many weekenders, while some don't play the minimum required to qualify for the Olympiad team. This will keep the active players busy, create more competition and excitement.

I was wondering what would be a reasonable prize fund for such a program across Canada. $2,000 first prize, $1,000 second, $500 third? Any regular CFC-rated tournament with two masters is illegible, and sponsor must be on tournament ad and poster onsite. All wins against masters count as 1 chicken point (nothing for draws). (Could also have a weighted system: 1 chicken point for win over 2200 opponent, 1.5 for 2300, 2 for 2400, 2.5 for 2500, 3 for 2600, 3.5 for 2700.) At the end of the year (Canadian or Quebec Open) the player with the most points win. Also could have 10 regional prizes of $300 (Maritimes, Quebec w/out Montreal, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Northern Ontario, Southern Ontario w/out Toronto, Man-Sask-NWT-Nun, Alba, and BC-Yuk. The administrative costs for the CFC office to keep track would be similar to the rating fee $3 player/event. Plus advertising at chess events? Around $10,000 total sponsorship?

Of course, instead of chicken points the name would reflect the Canadian sponsor such as tim bits or sponge towels points. Just putting the idea out there, someone else can approach sponsors.

[Hugh Brodie]

Re: Chicken points

Illegible: Adjective

illegible (comparative more illegible, superlative most illegible)

Not clear enough to be read; unreadable; not legible or decipherable.

Do you really mean:

1) Eligible -or-
2) Ineligible.

[Felix Dumont]

Re : Chicken points

The USA used to have "chicken" points awarded at tournaments across the country, won by active players like Igor Ivanov. Prizes were from Church's Fried Chicken. We have had a few Grand Prixes in Eastern Ontario, South-Western Ontario, Mississauga and Toronto. Some masters play in many weekenders, while some don't play the minimum required to qualify for the Olympiad team. This will keep the active players busy, create more competition and excitement.

I was wondering what would be a reasonable prize fund for such a program across Canada. $2,000 first prize, $1,000 second, $500 third? Any regular CFC-rated tournament with two masters is illegible, and sponsor must be on tournament ad and poster onsite. All wins against masters count as 1 chicken point (nothing for draws). (Could also have a weighted system: 1 chicken point for win over 2200 opponent, 1.5 for 2300, 2 for 2400, 2.5 for 2500, 3 for 2600, 3.5 for 2700.) At the end of the year (Canadian or Quebec Open) the player with the most points win. Also could have 10 regional prizes of $300 (Maritimes, Quebec w/out Montreal, Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, Northern Ontario, Southern Ontario w/out Toronto, Man-Sask-NWT-Nun, Alba, and BC-Yuk. The administrative costs for the CFC office to keep track would be similar to the rating fee $3 player/event. Plus advertising at chess events? Around $10,000 total sponsorship?

Of course, instead of chicken points the name would reflect the Canadian sponsor such as tim bits or sponge towels points. Just putting the idea out there, someone else can approach sponsors.

One of the FQE major sponsors is Oasis (since quite a few years). They sponsor the Quebec Chess Tour ($3500 in prizes). There are 6 categories (2200+,U2000,U1800...) and the players that got the most point in Quebec major tournaments (adjusted with the average rating) win prizes at the end of the year. Oasis sponsorship also includes free material for organizers (scoresheets, paper boards, sets, clocks (lent)...), money for administrative tasks, banners and some money for the major tournaments. If I recall well from last year's AGM, the total sponsorship was close to $10 000 per year (although I'm not sure of the exact number).
It is definitely a great way to encourage people to play in more tournaments, and it's also a good way to help organizers in regions to organize nice events (like the recent Outaouais Open that was a great success). I couldn't imagine the FQE without the Quebec Chess Tour (as a youngster I remember trying to play in all of the tournaments).

[Kevin Pacey]

Re: Re : Chicken points

On the private Governors Forum a while back, I had proposed the idea of the CFC encouraging Canadian organizers to some day have a Canadian Grand Prix, perhaps beginning with seperate Eastern and Western Canadian Grand Prixs, and then uniting the two someday. The concept of chicken points seems like a similar idea. Perhaps start with chicken points for Eastern and Western Canadian events seperately!?