From: tiger22 IX NETCOM COM Date: 20 may 1999 Subject: Re: Still Problems with the US Shogi Championship I think Sam raises a number of valid points that should not be so cavalierly dismissed. A tournament advertised everywhere as being held in Chicago ought to be held in Chicago not 35 miles NW. Much more importantly is the dubious way the winner was selected. I always thought that the best score among the eligible participants would win the prize, but so far that name has never been mentioned. (Maybe I missed it in the long, LONG posts). So who had the best score? As far as I know, the final results table has never been posted to Shogi-L. The Europeans always post the results of their tournaments. Also, I think the notion of handicap games being played in a serious tournament is ridiculous. I can't imagine going to the US Open (chess) and expecting knight odds after losing 2 games. I always thought handicap games was a way to insure an interesting FRIENDLY game between 2 players who were not evenly matched. It is even more ridiculous when there was no certain way to tell who was the stronger player. (Was it mentioned in the advertising that the consolation section would be handicap games??) Finally, Why wasn't this very serious tournament organized as a 7 round Swiss system with even games? Just because they don't do it that way in Japan, doesn't mean we can't do it in the USA. Save elimination after 2 losses for backgammon tournaments!