Now I understand that after each round if it was your first loss you have the opportunity to buy back in.
You are correct.
Also I understand that they do a complete redraw after each round and you can either be playing someone with a loss already or a player who hasn't lost a match yet.
You are correct again but the draw is not necessarily "after each round". Everybody who has not been eliminated (people with no losses and people with only one loss) are included in the next round draw. The redraw for the next round occurs at the posted time and may occur before the previous round completes.
My questions are:
After the first round, does the TD have to wait for the completion of each round before he does another draw or does the TD leave a certain number of people with open spots for the winners/buybacks from the previouse round?
No. The TD does not have to wait for the prior round to complete before doing the next round draw. When the next round is drawn everyone who might make it into the round is included in the draw and randomly paired with others in the field. As the previous round winds down, those who make it into the round are already paired in their new match. Those who get eliminated - either because they have lost twice or because they have lost once and elected not to buy back in - leave their pre-drawn opponent with no opponent. All these "orphaned" opponents are then randomly re-paired with one another when the buyback window is closed. You can read further about this two step draw here.
Is it a computer based program that draws the names or is there a big barrel with everyones name that they actually have to redraw from?
The computer does it using its random number generator. The TD's never interfere with the results of the computer draw to override these pairings.
How much of a heads up do you get as a player on the scheduling of your match?
I am glad you asked this question because in 2011 for the first time in the history of the tournament we are going to (try to) schedule every match. So, when you arrive at the tournament there will be a posted schedule for every round in every tournament showing when the draw will be done. Then, after the draw is done, individual matches will be scheduled in successive flights every 1.5 to 2.0 hours. So, as a player you will need to check the schedule of matches after each draw and then you know your match time. If you are one of those "orphaned" players who drew an opponent that didn't make it in, you will have to check the schedule of matches again after the buyback window is closed. The buyback window is closed after the previous round completes and pending buybacks have had time to pay and re-enter. This time is posted in the scrolling messages so you know when to look for your scheduled match time.
Now, if there are too many entries we will have to go to the same format we used in 2010 where you have scheduled draws for each round and then you have to watch your queue position on your assigned table to be sure to arrive when your match reaches the table. This format is a marked improvement over the old format when players had no idea when each round would start and had to remain in the tournament room throughout the tournament to be sure they didn't miss a match.
I think the concept of this is great, I just have never seen it actually done in person and was wondering how much harder it is for a TD to use this style of double elimination.
It definitely is a challenging format. Especially with all the overlapping tournaments, rounds and flights. But it is a unique format and in my opinion very exciting and enjoyable to play in.
Thank You
Marie's husband
