From: "'Shigeki Masui'" <smasui <at> BANET <dot> NET>
Date: 2 jun 2000
Subject: Tournament System - Knockdown or Swiss

Following is my personal comment to Larry Kaufman's criticism.
1) I agree to the announcement of the Shogi World Championship that Mr.
Egoshi is the champion and Mr. Ito is the runner up. There is no one
other than Mr. Chiaki Ito who can claim as No.2 in the tournament.
2) I truly believe that there are many reasons why many world class
tournaments in various games use knockdown system in stead of swiss in
the final championship series or tournaments.
3) USSF used exactly knockdown system in US Championship 1999 in
Chicago. The Champion was decided by the knockdown system. Larry Kaufman
is the chairman of USSF.
I like to hear the explanation from Larry Kaufman why he applied the
knockdown. Why didn't he criticize the system in his USA Championship
which indeed used the knockdown system.
4) I like to point out the facts that many world top class tournaments
use knock down system. These tournaments are managed and operated by
first class people for many years and they must have good reasons for
their system.
World Cup (the largest sports event in the world) use knock down system
in the final championship tournament after using swiss system to select
top 8 (or 16) similar to the Shogi World Championship.
I heard a lots of words from many countries that Italy (or England) was
very unfortunate to fight against Brazil at the first round of the
championship tournament. Otherwise Italy (England) could be the team to
go to the final 4. However, the World Cup dose not use swiss system even
after final four were determined. The team (Brazil) who lost
championship against France was very disappointed but they claimed to be
No2 and nobody raised question about the status of No.2 like Larry did
it to Ito.
No3 and No4 was decided but none of them complained that the system was
wrong and he could be No2. as he did not play against the No.2 like
Larry did.
I do not hear any strong voice that swiss system must be applied to the
final four of the world cup.
Can we say that in the most popular sports in the world, knockdown
system is well accepted to determine champion? If so there must be good
reasons.
Can you claim that Japanese like knockdown and Europeans like swiss? I
do not think so. It is pity to learn that many Shogi leaders outside of
Japan simplify the issues by drawing lines by Japanese vs Westerners.
5) How about olympic, the sacred of the world sports.
There are many games in olympic that use knockdown system rather than
swiss. Gold, Silver and Brons can stand on the ceremony with national
anthem.
Many athletes have only one chance. If they lose on the first round of
qualifying tournament, many of them must fly back home in the midst of
Olympic. They trained very hard for 4 or longer years putting everything
in but are given only one chance in their life. This is the reality of
the Olympic and the world is excited every 4 years. I do not hear the
complain like Larry Kafuman raised.
Why is that?
7) In the United States of America where Larry Kaufman live in, Major
League Baseball, American Foot Ball and National Basket Ball,  all of
them use knock down system to determine the Champion after the all year
long league or swiss system tournament.
I do not hear many complains from the sports journalists against the
knockdown system for the championship tournaments. I think sports
journalist will write anything if they could get public attention. Why
is that?
I have not seen many articles in sports news questioning the status of
No.2 saying he did not play against one of the loser in semi final as
Larry Kaufman raised. Is this because of  sportsman's spirit?
In these most popular sports in USA, I do not see many sports writers
claim that Swiss system must be applied instead of knockdown to
determine the world champion.

As the conclusion of my personal opinion, in today's world class
championship tournaments knock down system is the most popular to
determine the world champion and that journalist of the world sports
generally accept the knockdown system and very seldom to raise the issue
the status of the runner up who didi not fight against one of the loser
of the semi final. I have not seen yet any famous sports analysts insist
swiss system questioning the status of NO2.

There must be good and enough reasons why the sports world accept
knockdown system to determine the champion. I am sure they know well the
merit of Swiss system too.
It was not pleasant for me to read the criticism by Larry Kaufman
questioning the status of the runner up of the tournament in order to
convince swiss system to the shogi world championship.
As mentioned the other day I understand the merit of swiss system and
the shogi world championship used the swiss system for the
classification tournament, however I am not convinced at all whether
swiss system must be used to determine the world champion.
And I totally disagree to simplify the difference of opinion by Japanese
vs Westerners.
Regards,
Shigeki Masui