Butterfly GP_Top players skip Groups?

[Tinykin]

Just wondering if there's a case to allow, say the top 4 players, to skip the group stages. This may encourage more elite players to enter.
But would it cause too many problems for the GP points scored?

[Belisar]

Essex junior 4* did this a few years ago and found that in the first knockout round there were a few "shocks" as seeded players lost. This was put down to the fact that some players who had progressed through the groups were used to the conditions and had "got their eye in" and the seeded players were coming in cold.

Result for Essex was the "elite" singles which runs at the same time as the "banded" event and is put on first (i.e. before the open event). In theory everyone has then played some competitive matches and so has less excuses for any shocks.

Not sure why seeds should miss out on the grp stages myself. For lesser known players part of the fun seems to me to have a chance to play a good name. Sometimes even if you lose it is a thrill to think you have pushed a top player quite hard.

But I guess there are pro's and con's whichever way you go.

[Werewolf]

Can be a long journey for 1 or 2 games

[Belisar]

Can be a long journey for 1 or 2 games

You are right. That is an issue for all of these events, you can spend longer travelling than you do competing.

A four player group will give you at least 3 matches (even if you lose) but in theory could take 2 hours to complete. That means less events in the day. Not sure what the sure fire winning decision is.

[Tinykin]

When I say elite I mean world top 200 players. With the present system, a player such as Chen Weixing might find himself up against a 13 y.o with 1 years experience and/or 35 y.o. number 400+ in England. Enjoyable for his opponents but not for Chen.
With regard to 'cold' players, maybe the organisers would then find a way to have some actual practice tables.

[Hovis Bread Eater]

When it used to be "star" tournaments 3 and 4 star tournaments used to half Banded events on the mornings of the tournament and then qualification for the Main singles events on the saturday afternoon and evening, where each group winner and runner up I think played the next day, along with what is now almost extinct doubles events. It was quality at the events rather than mass participation with very few quality matches/players attending.

[Belisar]

Hhmm interesting.

So what should the ETTA be aiming for ? Quality events or ensuring that as many people as possible are given the chance to compete ?

[Tinykin]

They have it about right in the GP. By the time the finals of the main event is played, most players are still participating in other events; <21, vets, restricted. So if the organisers choose, they can stage the final, with a large number of 'spectators.'
The staged London GP final had a fantastic atmosphere.
What was it like at Wolverhampton? or were they back to sticking it on any available table?

[Hovis Bread Eater]

A question fro you?

At the Wolverhampton and London Grand Prix, how may players in the Top 20 in England participated?

I remember the Cleveland 5 star and all the players participated including foreign internationals. I played in the doubles semi finals against Des Douglas and Nicky Mason, the other semi final included Skylet Andrew, On the way we had beaten England Internationals Brad Billington and Chris Oldfield, Irish Internationals and the New Zealand No.1,

Do we see that happening now.

[Belisar]

If top players are not competing then the question is why ?

Is it because they do not want to play lesser players in opening groups (such matches not a challenge) ?

Is it because they run the risk of losing ranking points by suffering an unexpected loss ?

Are they off playing abroad and have no time to compete in England ?

Are they driven by the lack of prestige, publicity and money for English events ?

I suspect that their non-appearance is due to a little more than just the way the competition is fomatted but it is an interesting question.

[MK Chris]

I suspect a combination of those, but in particular (for the very top players) that they're playing abroad.