Berger Tournament Manager

[Mats Winther]

This free program is exactly what tournament directors have long been looking for. It can manage up to four independent round-robin tournaments, each with 3 to 16 players, and also supports double round robins. The Sonneborn-Berger system, the FIDE standard tie-break, is used by default.

Each of the four tournament slots operates independently, with its own players, pairings, results, and settings. If only one tournament is being run, the display can be limited to that slot.

As player withdrawals have become increasingly common, Berger tournaments have become less attractive. Withdrawals can significantly disrupt the tournament by creating a large number of byes. In such cases, this program allows the tournament director to switch to a Swiss system.

The colours and pairings from the original round-robin tournament are carried forward. The planned number of rounds is retained, which means that repeat pairings may occur towards the end of the tournament. However, a rematch is generally a minor issue. The important thing is that players are able to play a game of chess in each round as originally scheduled.

The question is whether four tournament slots are sufficient and whether support for even larger Berger groups would be useful.

Berger Tournament Manager

[IM Jack Rudd]

Where exactly do you play that withdrawals from all-play-alls are common?

[Mats Winther]

Where exactly do you play that withdrawals from all-play-alls are common?

Yesterday, Christer Nilsson, in the Swedish Chess Federation Facebook group, complained:

"Round-robin groups that run over a six-month period have a major drawback. They risk generating a large number of unnecessary byes and walkovers. In the championship section of my club, we currently have two byes every week. This is partly due to an odd number of players in the groups and partly because one player withdrew before the tournament started, a situation that could not be properly accommodated."

A couple of days ago Alex Holowczak said:

"I remember running a Super Rapidplay at the London Chess Classic, many years ago, where by the time we got to round 10, perhaps 15% of the starting field of more than 400 were no longer in the tournament."

It wasn't always like this. In the past, withdrawing from a tournament without a valid reason was considered poor sportsmanship. It seems that attitudes have changed. Whether one agrees with it or not, there is a clear need for software that can convert a round-robin tournament into a Swiss tournament.

[IM Jack Rudd]

Ah, club championships. They don't usually have scheduled round dates in the UK.

(The Super Rapidplay in question was a Swiss.)

[Paul Habershon]

Ah, club championships. They don't usually have scheduled round dates in the UK.

Perhaps unusually Bedford CC runs scheduled pairings, but admittedly monthly, in its all-play-all divisional structure for their annual club championship. The engravings on the top division trophy go back to 1957 missing only 2020 (Covid).

We aim for 9 to 10 players per division which is a game per month October to June inclusive and allows flexibility if a strong player joins as a new member. Of course the number and size of divisions vary but this season has worked beautifully with four divisions of nine or ten players. Promotion/relegation is normally two up/two down. This rarely works out precisely for the following season but at least there is a pecking order.

Players have a scheduled opponent for each round, to be played on any agreed date in that month, but games can be played in advance by mutual agreement. Inevitably procrastination and league matches take their toll but players who miss the monthly deadline can be asked to commit to a date, however far ahead it may be. I like this system which tells me whom I should be playing rather than having to choose whom to challenge first.

Withdrawals are rare but the policy is to cancel their results (but not rating) if fewer than half have been played. Otherwise their remaining opponents win by default - unsatisfactory but there is no ideal solution. Tiebreaks are decided by Sonneborn-Berger, then head to head (then give up). Play-offs are impractical with the club running 'fun' events in July and closed in August.

[Peter Ackley]

It wasn't always like this. In the past, withdrawing from a tournament without a valid reason was considered poor sportsmanship. It seems that attitudes have changed. Whether one agrees with it or not, there is a clear need for software that can convert a round-robin tournament into a Swiss tournament.

I wonder whether it's not that chess attitudes have changed but that the world has changed? 20+ years ago I'd never have withdrawn from a tournament not matter how badly I was doing. I'd paid my entry, paid my expenses, and was going to enjoy the event.

But now I'm busier. I still play league chess but do far fewer tournaments. And I've started withdrawing. I've got other things to do, other things which need the money. If I'm not enjoying myself at the chess tournament for whatever reason then I'm off. I'll do the other things that need doing.

And it's not just chess. When I speak to other people I know, different ages, different hobbies, different life-situations, it's somewhat similar. They also have less time.

Maybe there is nothing we can do about withdrawals. Maybe we just have to accept them and ensure we are placed to manage them.

I will say, though, that there are far few "silent withdrawals". I can't remember the last time I experienced one. I still remember, as a junior, winning a prize having played no moves on a Sunday, going from 2.5/4 to 4.5/6 due to both my opponents (both down-floats) not showing up.

[Alex Holowczak]

I wonder whether it's not that chess attitudes have changed but that the world has changed? 20+ years ago I'd never have withdrawn from a tournament not matter how badly I was doing. I'd paid my entry, paid my expenses, and was going to enjoy the event.

But now I'm busier. I still play league chess but do far fewer tournaments. And I've started withdrawing. I've got other things to do, other things which need the money. If I'm not enjoying myself at the chess tournament for whatever reason then I'm off. I'll do the other things that need doing.

And it's not just chess. When I speak to other people I know, different ages, different hobbies, different life-situations, it's somewhat similar. They also have less time.

This is absolutely true, but on the flip-side, you would (almost) never see in recreational sport:

• Someone who played in the starting XI of a Sunday league football match being subbed off at half-time, and going home. He'd stay there with the team until after the match ended.
• Someone who played in a cricket match, and opening the batting in the second innings and getting out first ball, and going home. He'd stay there with the team until after the match ended.

Prize givings after matches are rarer, but they'd certainly stay for those too!

[Peter Ackley]

This is absolutely true, but on the flip-side, you would (almost) never see in recreational sport:

• Someone who played in the starting XI of a Sunday league football match being subbed off at half-time, and going home. He'd stay there with the team until after the match ended.
• Someone who played in a cricket match, and opening the batting in the second innings and getting out first ball, and going home. He'd stay there with the team until after the match ended.

Prize givings after matches are rarer, but they'd certainly stay for those too!

Maybe it's the sport. I play in a local pool league. 10 games of a singles (players can play up to twice). Our team is good and pretty much we're all there for the duration of the match, regardless of when (or even if) we' play. But some opposing teams we see players leaving as soon as their game finishes. Granted there can be extenuating circumstances (work, personal etc [and some players play in two leagues on the same night!]) but sometimes the "10th person" for the opposing team can be the last person left.

For your example of a Sunday football league, though, isn't a chess tournament more like two football matches, rather than two halves? The analogy being more like a player who doesn't play every game? I mean I might withdraw from an chess tournament but that would be between rounds, not during a game!

[Kevin Thurlow]

"Maybe it's the sport. I play in a local pool league. 10 games of a singles (players can play up to twice). Our team is good and pretty much we're all there for the duration of the match, regardless of when (or even if) we' play."

Maybe, it's because can have a few beers...