Nationals 2010

[tommyc]

The biggest CONGRATULATIONS however go to John Acker for a very good presentation that sets high marks for any other event, and is a big step forward in promoting checkers./////////......INGO.......

Yes indeed id reinterate what Ingo said ............Great stuff from John Acker for a well run good exposure and up to date news every day........Congarts.

[Alex_Moiseyev]

I believe Wayne Gober is putting together a bid for the next Nationals,

O boy, I never being there but Oklahoma in my heart ! I didn't plan to attend GAYP National, but now I should probably revise everything.

[Palomino]

Congratulations ALex,
Great win to add to your many others, you are a true champion. Also congrats to Teal, you nailed the lid on any doubts that you are master level player and congrats to Nick Addante for winning the minors. John got a great interview from you! Which brings my attention to John, outstanding job! The blog was great and the addition of the videos raised the standard of tournament coverage to a whole new level

"Pal"

[Jay H]

Congrats to all the winners, participants, organizers, sponsors......
With the updates, videos and notes provided by Mr. John Acker, he has, indeed, set a NEW standard for what should be done for future American Tournaments........Very Well Done !!!!!!

Here's to the future of the game...



Jay H

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Personally i also want to point your attention to excellent Roger Dall work as Referee Assistant and Secretary. All paperwork for three divions was done accurately, professionally, timely.

BTW. My friend in mind from Croatia after watching J. Acker video was really impressed when saw how we (Anglo-American Draughts) select colors (see start of my game with Suki from last round) in 21st century !

I also would like to mention that Richard Hallett had complete obvious and easy win against Jim Morrison in last round (they played Doctor) but made a horrible blunder which cost him tie for the 1st place and more than $600. When their game was still in progress, I calculated quickly honor points when possibility of such scenario was absolutely real and it seems like I still had +2 honor points above him. WOW !

To John Reade: nothing changed in the recent years in way we calculate HP in ACF events: add all opponents points without the lowest score.

Jack Francis won 11 games - fantastic. I won only 5 games (two against A. Tucker) ... perhaps the lowest number of winning games among top 10 players.

Sincerely yours,

Alex

[Ingo_Zachos]

...

Jack Francis won 11 games - fantastic. I won only 5 games (two against A. Tucker) ... perhaps the lowest number of winning games among top 10 players.

Sincerely yours,

Alex

That is a consequence of the choosen scoring method.

Anyway, it is just like in the football World Cup:
Did Spain score the most goals?
No, they just won the crucial games by one goal. (minimalist approach)
That's what counts.
That's what you did.

Jack played "for the audience", but not efficient enough to win a high number of rounds.
But I see he was awarded a special prize for his fighting spirit.

So congratulations to him as well.

[Mac Banks]

Congratulations to all the winners of the Master, Major and minor classes of play. Also, congratulations to John Acker for the tremendous way he promoted the tourney and his way of reporting the results. Using hi Tech, John now has established a standard for all nationals. I do have one question though. I am puzzled why a national tourney has dropped to 7 rounds instead of the usual 8 rounds of play that have been used for the past 73 years. It would have been nice to see Alex play either Hallet or King in the final round. I personally don't like lower the number of rounds for a national tourney that is held every two years. Maybe I am in the minority but I know someone could answer this question for me. And will all national tourneys in the upcoming years now be 7 rounds. Anyway, thanks to John for taking on the huge tasks on promoting a national tourne. I hope some of the other younger players follow his lead.

All the best,
Mac Banks

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Mac, in round 8 I played 2 draws with Ron King, noone missed anything. Richard Hallet played 2 draws with Jim Morrison and made a horrible blunder (Doctor opening) missing an easy obvious win which cost him a tie for the first place (I had better honor points anyway) and extra $600 money.

The only man who reall benefited from last round was Larry Keen who won against Albert Tucker, tied for the 2-4 place and won $866 price.

John, we have to finish business and post Rd.7, Rd.8.

Alex

[kim willis]

I would like to thank John Acker and Roger Doll for all they did at the Nationals this year. We had a wonderful turnout and many came from fromm all over. I was a overseer but I played in Majors and had many tough competitors. I was really happy with how I played. For me 27pts in a major division was the best I have ever done. There was no game given to me I had to fight for every pt I recieved. Plus I never lost a full rd. To all division winners Congratulation's for you earned it.


Kim Willis

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Teal exceptional performance in Major Division and his tremendous victory in very good fashion and with very big margin didn't surprize me at all. He continues consistantly improve and I told him more than 1 year ago that he suppose to play in Master Division and belongs here. His result and score this year in National Major only proves well my assumption.

Now there is no way (ha-ha) for him to stay away and hopefully he will attend Master Division first time in the next National and do it well.

Same thing about both co-winners of Minor Division. I wish them good luck in their journey in Major Division next time. Up, up and only up - this is the way it suppose to be. No way back !!!

Regards,

Alex

[Irma Sierra]

CONGRATULATIONS KIMMY!!!! YOU PLAYED GREAT WOWOWOWWWW

[john reade]

Alex,

Why do they discard the lowest score?

John.

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Alex,

Why do they discard the lowest score?

John.

Hi, John !

I don't know exactly what people thought several decades ago when this rule was written. In Soviet Union we never discarded anyone when calculated HP in Swiss events. However I personally beleive that this is very good adjustment which makes a lot of sense.

Here are my personal comments and explanation ...

1) Often we have players who withdrewed earlier, played only 1-2 rouds and have very low number of points. If some leader played against them in earlier rounds and we include his/her points - this may ruin everything.

2) Same thing about odd number of players and buys. How many points have Mr. Buy ?

3) Sometimes incidentally we have very weak players who scored zero or close points and is well below than any other player in event. It's not a leader fault if he gets this opponent in round #1, but why he must be punish for this ???

So ... I like this adjustment very much and support it. It's better balance things.

Alex

[john reade]

Surely these are their best scores not their worst?

[Alex_Moiseyev]

Surely these are their best scores not their worst?

John, I am not sure I understand you question ...

To calculate HP we are adding the TOTAL final scores of all opponents expect one who had the lowest score - we just ignore this number and his points. So ... only 7 (out of 8 ) best opponents scores are included.

My opponent with lower score was John Webster or Richard Beckwith, each 14 points, and for Hallett the opponent with low score was Earle Sweatmon - 2 points (!). After skipping these people from calculations, I had only 2 points above R. Hallett ... do you see now why this rule makes a perfect sense ?

Alex