From: "'Shigeki Masui'" <smasui <at> BANET <dot> NET>
Date: 4 jun 2000
Subject: Re: Shogi World Championship-Tournament Time Table

Dear Larry,
Yes, we like to see if there were any better format for the tournament on the
exactly same condition.
The main reasons why the tournament set prizes for B and C classes was to
encourage weaker players to participate the tournament and give a chance to win
money and play seriously even if they are classified to B and C.
If there is not in Western players to intentionally lose games to go down to
lower level than their real level, don't worry about it. There is no one in
Japanese to do such embarrassment.
I know peoples joke around to say "Why don't we go to B class as we do not have
a chance in A Class, still they played very seriously to win every game. I did
not see any single person intentionally lost to go down to B or C Class in the
tournament in New York. If there is none in Western players then we do not need
to worry as there was none in Japanese players either. The shogi peoples play
serious and it is easy for us to find such a dirty people if there is any.  If
there was none in the last tournament let's put aside such concern. I would
rather chose a formula which can encourage various level of players than
worrying about an ill person that did not happen last time. We will be smart
enough to find such an ill person if it happens.
This is my personal opinion and it was a committee's opinion to give a
reasonably good amount of prize to B and C Class rather than all money go to
top 8 players.
Best Regards,
Shigeki Masui


Larry Kaufman wrote:

> At 03:49 PM 6/3/00 -0400, you wrote:
> >The committee of the shogi world championship hereby invite your
> >proposal which could actually fit to the tournament held on May 20th nd
> >21st in New York.
> >The committee will analyze all of the proposals and will award $100 to
> >the winner  if minimum 5 proposals are made.
> >The proposal shall be sent to " smasui <at> banet <dot> net" directly or through
> >shogi-L
> >Conditions of the tournament is as follows, which shall not be changed
> >as the tournament was held exactly under such conditions.
>
> >4) Pro/Am: 19 seeded players waived classification tournament and
> >invited to play at Pro/AM Kakuochi Handicap game (Dropping Kaku) for the
> >prize of $1,000 (1st Place) and $500 (2nd Place) for the most winning
> >amateur out of 3 rounds of games against Pros.
>
> >Prizes: Tournament announced 5 months in advance that:
> >          A-Class (Championship Class)
> >             1st : $3,000
> >             2nd: $1,500
> >             3rd : $500
> >             4th : 300
> >          B-Class:
> >              1st: $1,500
> >              2nd: $700
> >              3rd: $300
> >              4th : $100
> >          C-Class:
> >              1st: $300
> >              2nd: $100
> >          Other classes, if any: surprise prizes.
>
>      Masui-san, please make clear whether you are requiring that the event
> still have A, B, and C classes, or if we may propose a system in which all
> players are part of the same event.  In this case, the prizes for B and C
> would be available for fifth thru eighth places, for top non-seeded player
> or players, for top woman or Junior, etc.
>
>      I would like to point out that the above prize structure created a
> strong incentive for some players to deliberately lose games in the
> prelims, in order to qualify for the B section where they could still win a
> large prize without facing tough competition.  I am not saying that anyone
> did this, but surely the temptation was there for some.  Fortunately most
> western shogi players are honest and are playing for the competition, not
> for money, but there are always exceptions.
>
> >Regards,
> >Shigeki Masui
> >Executive committee of the Shogi World Championship.
> >
>      Regards, Larry Kaufman