From: Martin Danerud <martin.danerud <at> PARTILLE <dot> MAIL <dot> TELIA <dot> COM>
Date: 30 apr 1998
Subject: Pairing system

Dear John and all other shogi friends,

Unfortunately, I do not have a web reference to the pairing system used
in Goteborg Open, but the system can easily be explained.
Before the start of the tournament the players were divided into two
equally sized groups. The first group (A) contained the higher rated
players and the second group (B) contained the lower rated (in this case
the unrated) players.
Then a list of players with numbers from 1 to 16 was made by
stochastically drawing names from the groups in the sequence
ABABABABABABABAB.
After that, the pairing for each round was ruled by a simple principle:
Within each point group (0 points before round 1, 0 points and 1 point
before round 2 and so on) the first player on the list was paired with the
next player on the list which he had not yet played. In case no opponent
could be found in the point group the same principle was used in the
lower point group.
This means that this pairing system followed what is often referred to as
"Monrad" rules with the exception that the top rated players
were seeded before the pairing of round 1. This seemed reasonable since
the top players should be able to contest the victory of the tournament
in the final rounds. The top rated players won the first round games with
only one exception.
What is it that you in UK would call a 6 round "swiss"?

                   Sincerely yours,

                   Dr. Martin Danerud

                   President of the Swedish Shogi Federation