The FNCC championships in Hyderabad concluded successfully yesterday. The event has attracted a lot of criticism, not all of which is unjustified, due to it being overwhelmed by the extremely positive response to the event.
Before we dwell on the problems faced in the conducting of the event, let us first remember all the good things that happened there. These were more than just the phenomenal response.
We will then reflect on things that could be improved upon. And lastly, we have to take into account what went really wrong and was totally unacceptable.
What was commendable
The organisers responded by changing the format to allow 15+1 qualifiers from the original 11+1 qualifiers. Knock outs were introduced from the quarter finals onwards. This could possibly be replaced by outright knock outs from the pre quarter finals onwards as this decision was taken pretty much on the fly.
Secondly, the Match Point Pairs event was made more meaningful by conducting a two session elimination followed by a two session finals. Ideally the finals should have had a carry over from the eliminations, but that couldn't be done this year for reasons that will be dwelt upon later. Gentle readers may recall that I had made this suggestion in my reflections on last year's event.
The IMP Pairs event also attracted a record number of entries and the organizers increased the prizes there as well.
The Board a Match event was replaced by a Swiss Pairs event which made organization simpler, both from the point of view of team formation (the third pair or 5th member from a team always had to scramble), as well as scoring (there is no ratified software to score a 6-0 scale for BAM). That event, too, attracted 50 pairs.
What could be improved
Sathish, one has to say, made a tremendous effort to try and ensure the events were conducted on time.
Nevertheless, the organization would have been aware of the level of participation a few days at least before the tournament started. Efforts should have been made to obtain the services of another director
To run a Federation Master Points event without a director of Regional Director Seniority, seems absolutely incorrect.
It was at my continuous urging that we had Narsing Rao officiating on the final day. The number of hoops one had to jump through to get this done defies description.
I hasten to reiterate, this is not a criticism of his abilities. It is something that requires considerable experience which he, as all except a very few directors in the country, does not have.
If Srinivasan had not been there to decide and get the room set up, we may have been setting up at the venue much later than close to midnight (which is when we left).
Unacceptable
It gives me great pain, and even a sense of trepidation to pen the next few paragraphs. However, it is time we held our officials to account.
The designated Chief Tournament Director, at the last minute, indicated his unavailability for the tournament to a an unanticipated personal commitment.
It is with great disappointment that I have to say that the stories I have been hearing about this seem to suggest that it may not be as unanticipated as it seems. As none of these stories independently verifiable, I am not publishing any of them.
Nevertheless, to leave the tournament in a lurch like this, without making arrangements for an adequate replacement is simply not done.
The BFI needs to ensure that tournaments awarding Federation Master Points are not jeopardized by such last minute withdrawals of its officials.
In conclusion
In the end, a slight oversight on the part of the organizers almost led to the prize for the runners up of the Match Point Pairs not being awarded in the distribution ceremony, creating considerable angst for the recipients. While everybody recognizes it as unfortunate, the people at the receiving end had every right to feel aggrieved. One can only request them to forgive the organizers for their oversight.
This article would not be complete without acknowledging the efforts of Srinivasan J. The only reason for not having done so in too much detail is his personal request to keep things low key. His efforts in winning the Match Point Pairs event over and above whatever else he did, defy words!
As usual, request all of you to please publish your reactions to this article in the comments below. Largely so that they serve as a single point of reference to the organizers to make the next edition even more successful and the BFI to prevent the recurrence of such behavior.
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Srini - already a legend. One of my favourite partners from last year
I fully endorse what has been written. I can understand the feelings of Sandeep. It is a biggest blunder on our part. My apologies once again even though it can't undo the blunder committed. I once again request him to reconsider his decision. I will assure you once again that I will try my best to impress upon the organizers to note down the points raised and tell them to implement the suggestions made to improve the standard of the tournament.
to know level of participation may want to consider taking entries online with last date being previous evening, (with an early bird discount if teams register before a certain cut off date and / or late registration penalty after a certain cut off point)
As a participant I agree to the Good, Bad and Not so Good in the article written. Very Well encapsulated.
- First of all I thank the organizers for their excellent hospitality
- As a new entrant and learner I was personally disappointed when there was no time for directors to hear out or clarify round score discrepancies during team event day-1, to a point as if they were just interested in "Directoring" first 10-15 tables !
- I myself being responsible for registeting teams on day -1 morning, felt option to going cashless could be incorporated into next year edition.
While I agree with sukrit .. great game great hospitality...
Like they say it takes two hands to clap,a few small things that PLAYERS CAN do to help the organisers.
1 .confirm participation.. to give them a number to work with.
2. We are all adults.. do not waste the organisers' time, pls be seated on time.. every time.
3. Deciplined about the playing area being kept free of waste .. pls use waste bins provided. It was indeed sad to see that the director was wasting his time and energy advicing players not to use the tables as dinning tables...we are grown up and do not need for be shepherded like children do we?
4. It is indeed very distracting to find incomplete bidding boxes on many a table..An idea.. each player coming for the game can be issued a bidding box against security deposit. The security is returned to him/ her when they return a undamaged bidding box back to the Organiser.
5. Only one person from the pair or team to go to see the scores or ranking to decrease the crowding at the results
Was it a BFI Master point awarding tournament? Because they didn't take our BFI MP NO. in both team and pairs event.
It is a Federation Master Points event.
I think they will handle it.
Incidentally, Well done! :)
Thanks