Format (3 matches, minimum, guaranteed each day)
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Group Stage (on Saturday)

16 groups of 4 players will play a Round Robin comprising three 11-point matches. Based closely on Official UKBGF Player Ratings, the top 16 registrants will each have been seeded into a different group; then the next 16, and so on. Each match win will score one Group Point (nil for a loss).

The top two players in each Group (i.e. 32 in total) will progress to Sunday’s Main bracket; the bottom two players in each Group (i.e. 32 in total) will enter Sunday’s Consolation bracket.

If two players in a Group end tied on Points, their head-to-head result will decide their placement. If three players in a Group end tied on points, a tie-break will decide: the three players will each roll four dice; the two highest rollers will then play a one-point match. The winner of this one-point match will stay on to play the other player, and so on. The first player to win two one-point matches in a row, will finish as the top player of the three. The remaining two players will then play a further one-point match to determine second and third places. All one-point play-offs will be clock-mandatory (12 secs/move, 4 mins pool).

Knock-out Stage (on Sunday)

There's a route-map here, or you can plough through the description below :-)

The Main flight will comprise 2 rounds of 7 points, 2 rounds of 9 points, and an 11-point final. The Consolation will comprise 5 rounds of 7 points, and a 9 point final.  Losers in the first round of the Main will join the second round of the Consolation.

In the first rounds of the Main and the Consolation, players from the same round robin Group will be placed in different halves of the draw - in the Main, each first-placed finisher from Saturday's Groups will be drawn against a second-placed finisher from a different Group; in the Consolation, each third-placed finisher from Saturday will play a fourth-placed finisher from a different Group.

Those who lose in the first round of the Consolation will enter the Second Chance flight, comprising one round of 7 points, two of 9 points and an 11 point final. Those who lose in the first round of the Second Chance, will enter the Last Chance flight, comprising two rounds of 9 points and an 11 point final.

Those who lose in either the second round of the Main or the Consolation, will enter either the reMAINder or disCONSOlate flight, each comprised two rounds of 9 points and an 11 point final.

Rules
The tournament will be played to UKBGF rules, with a strong emphasis on generous sportsmanship and fair and considerate behaviour.  To this end...

1. "Goldilocks" dice-rolling per Jon Barnes' tutorial (i.e. to highest standards) is commended.
2. By mutual agreement, any match may display a "Kibbitzer flag", indicating that onlookers are permitted to comment on possible rule infringements, such as a suspected incorrect checker play, an illegal cube action (e.g. doubling in the Crawford game or offering to redouble a dead cube), an error in scoring, or (in matches played with a clock) incorrect clock operation.
3. All matches will be baffle-box neutral (i.e. either player may propose using a baffle-box, but if one player dissents, a coin-toss determines)
4. All matches will be clock preference (i.e. providing a clock is available, either player may insist on its use), except for round robin stage one-point tie-breakers which will be clock mandatory (see Group Stage above). Clocks will be set for 12secs/move, 2mins/point pool, except for Round Robin play-offs where the pool will be 4mins. Additionally, the Tournament Director reserves the right to impose a clock, either from the outset or part-way through, on any match that is threatening to hold up the rest of the tournament.

Please note: late arrival for the Saturday round robin stage will render you liable to disqualification from the tournament. If you encounter travel problems on either day, please phone (07796-176606) to discuss.

Schedule

Wednesday 29th April
Group stage seeding (using UKBGF rankings at noon)

Thursday 30th April
Tier upgrades close @ 23:59

Saturday 2nd May
13:00 Side-pools open
13:30 Doors Open, Side-pools close, Introduction, Group auction
14:00 Play commences
20:30 (approx.) 1-point play-offs
22:00 (est.) play finishes

Sunday 3rd May
12:30 Doors open
13:00 Play commences
21:00 (est.) awards +

+ n.b. this year, Monday is NOT a Bank Holiday