LAST TRAIN
(TO THE 2006 OPEN
PLAYOFF)
Comments and Response (1/2/05)
Ron Klinger
Joe Haffer
Elli Urbach
Richard Hills
Sartaj Hans
Response
The ABF Tournament Committee has recommended that the 2006 Playoff
format be similar to the one used in 2004. Sixteen pairs will play a
round robin scored as a Butler followed by a final. However, the major
difference is the proposal below. Interested players are invited to
submit their comments about this proposal to:
.
For the Open Playoff only, it is proposed to rank
14 nominations by Playoff Qualifying Points (PQP) in the usual manner. The
last 2 places in the 16-pair field will be reserved
for qualifiers from a "Last Train" event. Part of the rationale
for this proposal is to provide an opportunity for players, otherwise ineligible for
the Playoff, to try out for the 2006 Australian Open Team. The
most common reasons for ineligibility would be
-
possession of insufficient PQP, or
-
possession of insufficient PQP with
one's chosen partner
Pairs may board the "Last Train" even
though they possess no PQPs. Entry to the "Last Train" event will be
open, that is not restricted to players committed to participating in
the 2006 Open Playoff.
Characteristics of this "Last Train"
will include
John Brockwell, Eric Ramshaw, David
Stern (for the ABF Tournament Committee)
24/01 Ron Klinger
Great idea, Eric, but don't the dates conflict with the National Women's Teams and National Seniors Teams?
If it is proposed to have a Last Train event for the Open, why not the Women's and the Seniors?
Why not have the Last Train as the last event of the Summer Festival, thus ensuring there are players around when the NOT final ends?
If you allow non-contending pairs to enter, in particular pairs already qualified, this allows them the freedom to play so as to try to keep strong pairs out of the playoff.
What plans does the ABF have in 2006 for sending teams overseas?
Top
25/01 Joe Haffer
Generally I think 'the last train' is a very good idea. Perhaps you should consider the entry fee. If a pair wants to qualify for the play-offs, I think $200.00 is fair. But other pairs may want to use it as a warm-up for the NOT, where I think $100.00 would be more appropriate. This may attract some of the pairs already qualified for the play-offs making the field stronger and the results more realistic. I also thought that the accident of having 18 pairs in 2004 enhanced the event. That one extra score seemed to make the average result more authentic.
Top
27/01 Elli Urbach
I do like the idea ...however the players are disadvantaged if they are wish to play in Womens or Seniors and get play off points for 2007.....this event favours those who only play in open. Perhaps the weekend following the NOT would be would be preferable. Now with new format of NOT, finals only involve final 8 teams. Or even better the Sunday and Monday of that "finals" weekend...involves only last 4 teams, thus less players disadvantaged. What do you think?
Top
28/01 Richard Hills
I suggest that the "Last Train" event be scored by modified cross-imps (top and bottom score excluded), as has been previously used in the cross-imped round robin final of the Dick Cummings pairs.
Top
1/02 Sartaj Hans
This event is a great idea. And I love the name.
Perhaps there should be some sort of screening of entrants to
ensure that only genuine playoff contenders (or the non-contending
peer group of such players) play. The idea should be to avoid
letting Mrs. and Mr. Guggenheim play.
Top
28/01 ER Response
The "Last Train" is an experiment.
As such it targets the largest field - the Open.
To play concurrent with the NOT may eliminate a significant number of potential entrants
In general I believe it is wrong to formulate policy on the assumption that players will manipulate the results - that encourages stultification. The event can be structured to avoid some of these perceived problems. Players must declare themselves non-contending or risk qualifying in the wrong partnership.
The method of scoring has not been finalised. It will depend on the size of the field.
Top
