Life In 19x19

Hi All,

For those eagerly waiting, here's the first and second round draws:

ChradH (9k) vs Oren (7k) --> Winner plays kokomi (5k)
POGO (10k) vs daal (7k) --> Winner plays padic (5k)
tj86430 (7-8k) vs mosdefgo (7k) --> Winner plays Chew Terr (6k)
schultz (8-9k) vs Phelan (7k) --> Winner plays actorios (6k)
Rafa (16k) vs rubin427 (7k) --> Winner plays SoDesuNe (6k)
karaklis (10k) vs Li Kao (6k) --> Winner plays fuchsnoir (6k)
mic (8k) vs Nakamura (7k) --> Winner plays Loons (5k)
Jordus (9k) vs WatariWill (6k) --> Winner plays k1ndofblue (5k)

My hopes were that the first round would be played over the next fortnight (up to and including 15th June), and the second round played up to the end of June. Obviously, if you play your games sooner, then feel free to play the second round game as well. Please post all results and .sgf links (or boards) to this thread.

Time Controls

:: Ruleset :: AGA seems to have attracted a few positive comments, and may as well be the default. Others are fine if agreed by both players.

:: Main Time :: 40 minutes.

:: Overtime :: Either 10 stones in 5 minutes Canadian overtime or 5 x 0:40 Japanese Byo-yomi is fine. If there is a disagreement between players, the Canadian overtime is the over-riding default.

:: Handicaps :: All games to be even, colour decided by nigiri.

:: Match length :: All games single matches (because of the double elimination this won't eject people without a second chance), final best of 3-0 with winner's bracket finalist starting at 1-0 ahead.

Have I missed anything?

Yep, I'm 7k now. Move me up a bit, and someone down a bit. You must have missed my post.

Phelan wrote:Yep, I'm 7k now. Move me up a bit, and someone down a bit. You must have missed my post.

True, thanks, I've swapped you over -- see updated draw.

Just one game per round, or is it best of three or something?

One game per round, final is best of 3 with the loser's bracket starting at 1-0 behind.

What the....how did I miss this?

Starting down 1-0 in a bo3 is pretty harsh though, I suggest a Bo5 instead?

Player on left takes white?

Aphelion wrote:What the....how did I miss this?

Starting down 1-0 in a bo3 is pretty harsh though, I suggest a Bo5 instead?

The idea being it stays consistent with the double elimination. The only person that wins is the person that doesn't lose twice. 1-0 sounds harsh, but in effect, imagine the loser's bracket finalist is there because he already lost to the other finalist. The winner's bracket finalist hasn't lost a game anywhere yet, and it seems fitting to have a natural advantage as a reward for beating everyone up to that point.

Phelan wrote:Player on left takes white?

I was thinking nigiri. The whole point is the game is supposed to be balanced anyway. Again, if the players agree to colours, I'd be fine with that too, but the default I think should definitely be nigiri.

topazg wrote:Have I missed anything?

Will there be an increase in time limits for rounds after the 5th?

HermanHiddema wrote:

topazg wrote:Have I missed anything?

Will there be an increase in time limits for rounds after the 5th?

It's not out of the question. It may well be worth doing a poll about it in July - I know one or two of the top bracket players would vote against a time limit increase, so it's certainly not a definite, but it's possible if that's what a lot of people want and it won't result in any dropouts.

I don't expect to get past round 5 anyway, but if I do I would find it hard simply to make the time for games if the time controls became too long.

topazg wrote:

Phelan wrote:Player on left takes white?

I was thinking nigiri. The whole point is the game is supposed to be balanced anyway. Again, if the players agree to colours, I'd be fine with that too, but the default I think should definitely be nigiri.

Makes sense.

I'm excited, thanks for organizing this!

Seems like the the time controls are a little strange - in my view, 10 stones in 5 minutes is absolutley glacial - it is certainly far more leasurely than 5 X 40 seconds. They are not really equivalent.

I don't remember if you mentioned in the previous thread topaz, but adding it to this one couldn't hurt... What about handicaps?

Jordus wrote:I don't remember if you mentioned in the previous thread topaz, but adding it to this one couldn't hurt... What about handicaps?

If there will be Nigiri despite rank diversities, I think there won't be a handicap.


post scriptum: Good game then and have fun all!