Tournament suggestion

[colinm]

To the powers that be, I have a suggestion.  In order to promote interest in the game and in an attempt to include more young and up and coming players who may be put off the idea of entering an open tournament at the prospect of getting a right good whooping from one of the big boys would it be possible to hold an open competition with one restriction (I realise that may technically mean it is not an'open'), that being that only players who have not won an open can participate.

I realise that dates are always a premium and will often cause problems but I would hope that such a competition could be set up to run on a weekend when another competition is running such as the saturday before the county championships that are being played this coming weekend (19th September)
It would be useful to know if other people think this is a good idea it could then be discussed further.

Regards

Colin

[Chunky Monkey]

Sept 15, 2010 12:36:38 GMT colinm said:

To the powers that be, I have a suggestion.  In order to promote interest in the game and in an attempt to include more young and up and coming players who may be put off the idea of entering an open tournament at the prospect of getting a right good whooping from one of the big boys would it be possible to hold an open competition with one restriction (I realise that may technically mean it is not an'open'), that being that only players who have not won an open can participate.

Does that mean once you have won this compeition you cannot enter it again?

[bobhall]

Sept 15, 2010 12:36:38 GMT colinm said:

To the powers that be, I have a suggestion.  In order to promote interest in the game and in an attempt to include more young and up and coming players who may be put off the idea of entering an open tournament at the prospect of getting a right good whooping from one of the big boys would it be possible to hold an open competition with one restriction (I realise that may technically mean it is not an'open'), that being that only players who have not won an open can participate.

i think any one that enters an open young or old must come to the conclusion that they will come against a stronger apponent.

i feel i am up and coming and i enter these tournements knowing that if i can i will beat a stronger player i met phil collins in the last 16 yes he was better than me on the day but i should have beaten him but couldnt get to grips with the table and he managed  to get a score that was just two much.

but i did take out a formidable player in the round before and have done in many others round.

Sept 15, 2010 13:21:24 GMT Chunky Monkey said:

Does that mean once you have won this competition you cannot enter it again?

I think what Colin has in mind is a "Never Won" competition like Oxford hold locally.

Personally, I don't think such a competition would have much support.  I actually enjoy staying to the end at Opens and seeing the great players battle out the closing stages.

I do however feel that it's time for the Over 50's to be replaced by an Over 70's. ;D

[colinm]

Absolutely, I do mean 'never won' what it would do is simply give people a chance of gaining experience and may make people a little less daunted by playing some of the bigger names in the main competitions, if people aren't interested in this format then thats fine but the worry is that it is always the same people entering these competitions and it can only be good for the game to try and encourage others to have a go.

I genuinely believe that there is room for an extra tournament, many have been pushing for a 'British Open' - maybe under off-the-spot rules which is in itself a form of leveller.

But to attract a different sort of player, or extra players on top of 'the usual suspects', maybe it should be introduced at an intermediary level.

To explain:  we have domestic league > County > National.

In between league and County we down south have "Inter-League" and you have the "Inter-Area". Both seem to work fine in offering a more competitive standard than ordinary league.

There used to be a level between County and National known as "Southern Counties" (for Kent/Sussex/Surrey/Hants) and "Northern Counties" for the remainder, where each 'half' would provide its own team and individual champion to go forward to a North v South final.

This intermediate level no longer exists, so I am in favour of a new zoned off-the-spot National singles like the table operators used to run - run under the auspices of the AEBBA of course.

The reason for AEBBA ?  It would be unfair on any county to 'water down' their Open by making it off-the-spot or excluding certain players.

[peetee]

Sept 15, 2010 12:36:38 GMT colinm said:

To the powers that be, I have a suggestion.  In order to promote interest in the game and in an attempt to include more young and up and coming players who may be put off the idea of entering an open tournament at the prospect of getting a right good whooping from one of the big boys would it be possible to hold an open competition with one restriction (I realise that may technically mean it is not an'open'), that being that only players who have not won an open can participate.

I realise that dates are always a premium and will often cause problems but I would hope that such a competition could be set up to run on a weekend when another competition is running such as the saturday before the county championships that are being played this coming weekend (19th September)
It would be useful to know if other people think this is a good idea it could then be discussed further.

Regards

Colin

It will interesting to know which top players have never won an open. Several players I would have thought still enough for the Young and up and coming players to be put off.
Pete

[NigelS]

I think the most recent attempt at anything like this was the Kent Minnows held in the late 90s. It didnt allow anyone in the top 50 to enter.

if you had a tournament for non open winners that takes out about 18 of the current top 30 so you would certainly lose some of the top players but not all.

Looking back the Minnows idea was reasonably well supported and held on the day before the Kent Classic itself, I would imagine that if it was held now the restrcited ranking may have to higher than 50 to get the numbers in to make it worthwhile. I am not sure however, that running this type of event in conjungtion with an open would take people away from playing in the open itself

[Chris]

I have never won an open and always enter believing I could (although given recent form you wouldn't believe that  :) !!)
Given the opportunity to enter such a tournament I would say no.
I agree with Tommo in that the Alternative Rules provides a little leveling of sorts.
More importantly like Bob I just strive to beat the 'Top Guns' and if I do will be proud of it.
I also admire those players who wop me as I feel respected that they also believe I could beat them.
::) ::) well I hope that's why they do it ...
I enter opens to improve my game and learn. More importantly I enter because I enjoy it.
Finally I agree with Nigel, if such a competition is run this would probably decrease the numbers in the Open that follows it on the Sunday.