Dealing with missing opponent

YOLO

YOLO

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
The dealing with slow play thread was helpful but this problem is a little different. I started playing a Saturday afternoon 8 ball tournament at a local bar.

The problem is tracking down my opponent or getting him to get off the damn phone and play. They are calling friends, taking calls in the middle of the game, texting, etc.. It's driving me out of my mind. So much so that the last 3 Saturdays I've taken 2nd twice and 3rd once because by the end of 5 plus hours I just want to go home. This last Saturday it came down to me and a large rough looking man that just got out of prison (no kidding). He disappeared on a regular basis... so damn frustrating. I honestly think these guys are doing to mess with my head.

This is the only tournament that fits into my schedule so I don't want to bail on it. I also NEED to play for something other than bragging rights. I really think playing like this will help my in the long run, I just can't find something to occupy my brain. I have talked to the organizer and explained the problem and she agrees and promises to try and fix it. I suspect the answer is to bail but I was hoping some of you may have some saged advice? Maybe I just need to walk away like they do and make them track me down instead of the other way around...
 
I should have just added this to the other thread, my apologies.
 
So is any one running this tournament, or is it just you putting it on?

The person running it should make an announcement about being on the clock. If the opponent doesn't want to get off the phone, then they forfeit. It's not you doing it, it should be the TD.
 
Some one else is running it. What amount of time would be reasonable when on the clock during a match and how much time when they are notified that their match is ready to begin?
 
Talk with the tournament director. Ask what time is allowed. When someone does not show up, take the matter up with him and make him start the clock and be responsible for getting the opponent to the table or declare a forfeit when he doesn't. If the TD won't do that, find another tournament. It's not worth the frustration.
 
YOLO said:
Some one else is running it. What amount of time would be reasonable when on the clock during a match and how much time when they are notified that their match is ready to begin?
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Depends on the tournament. 15 minutes after the scheduled time on the long side, 5 minutes on the short side.

I usually tell the TD if it has been 5 minute since the announcement, then the TD usually announces the match again, and state they are on the clock. Sometimes they even send a 2nd announcement, but usually they have 5 minutes from when the "clock" started.
 
Good suggestions so far. I usually announce matchups and table assignments and always let the players know that if they don't have an opponent at their table within 5 minutes to let me know. I will announce a 2nd call (if it has been 5 minutes or more) and then wait another 5 or 10 minutes.

When players pay to play in a tournament, they expect to have matches scheduled on as 'an available' time frame. Some players think they can correctly read a flow chart and predict when they are going to play next.
Other late players claim they didn't hear the announcement, usually they are so deep into socializing they couldn't hear it if I was standing next to them.

There are lots of reasons for not showing up for 5 minutes or more for a called match. Bathroom, washing hands, smoke break, finishing conversations, gawking at the waitress and fearing the matchup, but the classic is to shark the opponent. They know it bothers you, so they will do it all the time thinking it will bother all the opponents.

When you signup to play in a tournament, you also are saying you accept the rules and equipment. If you don't have time to play, you shouldn't have signed up.
 
The TD should announce at the beginning of the tournament that they need to be at the assigned table and they would announce their name twice...after that they forfeit the match. They also need to announce that cell phone use would be an automatic forfeiture of the match.

If it's for an emergency a forfeiture would not matter because they would be leaving anyhow.

We don't allow cell phone use during a match in the leagues so I don't see how they could allow it during a tournament.
 
It sounds like this a goof tournament the bar puts on and you are the only one taking it so seriously.

If so, forget about them and find a local pool hall and gamble with someone (you said there are no other tourneys that fit your schedule).

Besides, if you are always finishing in the top 3, you need to find stiffer competition to get to the next level.
 
mosconiac said:
It sounds like this a goof tournament the bar puts on and you are the only one taking it so seriously.

If so, forget about them and find a local pool hall and gamble with someone (you said there are no other tourneys that fit your schedule).

Besides, if you are always finishing in the top 3, you need to find stiffer competition to get to the next level.
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I agree with this. If you can't make it to a pool room to play, you may want to take some time off for a while. If it's hard to deal with this kind of crap, maybe you should get away from it, at least for a while. I wouldn't put up with it, personally.
 
Like others have said, this problem is 100% the responsibility of the tourney director.

If asking the tourney director doesn;t help, then i guess you can do one of two things; go tell your opponent yourself or pack up and leave.


Eric >or go to the bathroom as soon as he gets to the table to play
 
Saturday afternoon bar tournament? I'm assuming it's pretty casual? And the person running the tournament probably isn't all that experienced in tournaments? And the other players probably aren't either? I'm just guessing though and I'm not saying that it's a bad thing, but that might make setting rules and following them a little more difficult. I would talk to the person organizing the tournament again and ask her to make an announcement BEFORE the tournament and maybe a couple "reminders" throughout the tournament. Not necessarily directed at specific people, but just generalized. Follow your normal league rules for times and forfeitures. But it's tough in the middle of a game or match to say something because then you come off as an o$$hole. Maybe over time they'll get it.

Another thought, make it a point to casually tell other players and opponents BEFORE or AFTER your match that you have to "return a call" "go have a smoke" or whatever because you don't like to do it in the middle of the match and keep your opponent waiting. Some might get the hint.

Do you have pals or teammates that also play in the tournament? If not try to encourage them to play. More players that follow the rules and abide by certain time limits might make it more obvious for the other players (and more enjoyable for you). And it might also give you more leverage with the person running the tournament.

Best of luck
 
When I went to practice this actually came up from yesterdays tourney. The guy said he had to go for a bit. They waited, called him out and then forfeited him. He said he had to go for 20 minutes and he was gone for an hour
 
Thanks every one. I'll have a chat with the TD ad go from there.

mosconiac said:
It sounds like this a goof tournament the bar puts on and you are the only one taking it so seriously.

If so, forget about them and find a local pool hall and gamble with someone (you said there are no other tourneys that fit your schedule).

Besides, if you are always finishing in the top 3, you need to find stiffer competition to get to the next level.
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Ding ding.. We have a winner! The reasons I play this tournament is A) nothing else fits my schedule at the moment. B) I've never gambled or had cash on the line. I wanted to put myself in pressure situations. When I do find some real competition I want to have already started to learn how to deal with it.
 
Bar tournament? Expecting normal logical behavior from the TD? Good luck. :D

I've found that when it comes to tournaments such as that - it's a pretty slack enterprise all around. The TD is probably just a regular bar-patron schmoe and could care less about the "proper" way to run a tournament, much less have any inclination to learn how.

I've run across this lately - little local bar has a small tournament each week. The guy running it has little idea what he's doing (he got roped into it). I supplied him with board sheets, and tried to show him (at least twice) how to do the draw with byes, but it doesn't stick.

Yolo, I hope you make some progress, but don't be too shocked if nothing comes of it.
 
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