I have a question/observation for the upcoming Nationals next week.
For the past 2 years the following has happened to me during my singles
event.
At my start time my opponent did not show. I went up to the front desk
after waiting a couple of minutes. They announced his name. I went
back to my assigned site and waited the obligatory 10 minutes.
Last year my opponent shows up with seconds to spare. The first year my opponent did not show so I went back to the main desk. While waiting in line this guys girlfriend advises they had been there for at least 5 minutes. In both instances I played and and eventually lost. Seems like a possible sharking technique to take a player out of his game.
The issues I have are:
1. If you are playing in the back room, it is a LOOONNNGG walk to
go to the main desk if your opponent is a NO-SHOW. It's unfortunate that you also have to repack up your stuff (unless you have a personal entourage to look after the stuff). This is enough for you to lose focus and take away your concentration. Either way it disrupts your prematch routine. Ultimately you have to make 2 trips in the end for the match to be forfeited if your opponent does not show.
2. I have been advised by some of my friends that have attended the
Nationals for a long time that some people do in fact use this as a sharking technique to throw someone off their game. (ie wait until their name is announced and then show up with seconds to spare).
My questions
If you are playing in the back room couldn't a BCA official make an
announcement from the back room for the missing opponent and annotate
the time?
More importantly, if your opponent still does not show up within the allotted time, is it permissible to get a referee to sign off on the slip for
your opponent being a NO SHOW and therefore forfeits the match?
For example you make the first trip to the desk. They annotate the time and announce the name. After you return to your table and wait the ten minutes after the annotated time, a referee signs off and it is a done deal and your opponent forfeits.
After further thought why even announce the name, any referee should have the authority to annotate the time and sign off the initial NO-SHOW. If no opponent after 10 minutes, then the referee signs off on the final NO-SHOW with forfeit for it to be a matter of record. At least this keeps the prepared player in focus.
Unfortunately forfeits will happen, my problem is when/if an opponent is
using this rule to put their opponent off their game. I am sure
something can be done to make this not such a problem/issue.
For the past 2 years the following has happened to me during my singles
event.
At my start time my opponent did not show. I went up to the front desk
after waiting a couple of minutes. They announced his name. I went
back to my assigned site and waited the obligatory 10 minutes.
Last year my opponent shows up with seconds to spare. The first year my opponent did not show so I went back to the main desk. While waiting in line this guys girlfriend advises they had been there for at least 5 minutes. In both instances I played and and eventually lost. Seems like a possible sharking technique to take a player out of his game.
The issues I have are:
1. If you are playing in the back room, it is a LOOONNNGG walk to
go to the main desk if your opponent is a NO-SHOW. It's unfortunate that you also have to repack up your stuff (unless you have a personal entourage to look after the stuff). This is enough for you to lose focus and take away your concentration. Either way it disrupts your prematch routine. Ultimately you have to make 2 trips in the end for the match to be forfeited if your opponent does not show.
2. I have been advised by some of my friends that have attended the
Nationals for a long time that some people do in fact use this as a sharking technique to throw someone off their game. (ie wait until their name is announced and then show up with seconds to spare).
My questions
If you are playing in the back room couldn't a BCA official make an
announcement from the back room for the missing opponent and annotate
the time?
More importantly, if your opponent still does not show up within the allotted time, is it permissible to get a referee to sign off on the slip for
your opponent being a NO SHOW and therefore forfeits the match?
For example you make the first trip to the desk. They annotate the time and announce the name. After you return to your table and wait the ten minutes after the annotated time, a referee signs off and it is a done deal and your opponent forfeits.
After further thought why even announce the name, any referee should have the authority to annotate the time and sign off the initial NO-SHOW. If no opponent after 10 minutes, then the referee signs off on the final NO-SHOW with forfeit for it to be a matter of record. At least this keeps the prepared player in focus.
Unfortunately forfeits will happen, my problem is when/if an opponent is
using this rule to put their opponent off their game. I am sure
something can be done to make this not such a problem/issue.