What makes some tournaments more popular than others? I am entered into a tournament with only 2/7 people so far called the "Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Tournament" - but why don't more people join it?

Ideas and theories welcome!

-- Ozzie

I have had major problems with joining tournies. First I was told I had to have 5 games under my  belt to make it happen. Then I had an unexpected surprise when a game timed out. I was notified at 10:00 am that I had 8 hours to go. I thought that when I got home at 4 It would be ok based on the fact that it said I had 8 hours left. 8 plus 10 does equal 6 pm the last I heard. But when I came home at 4:30 the game had timed out and now I am screwed until I get below 10%. At this point, I really couldn't care less whether I play in a tournie! To say I am a little frustrated is an understatement! Either the server is ridiculously slow in sending out notices or it was a notoriously bad day for me!

I'm in my first tournament right now and honestly had to drum up the courage to do so considering how god awful my matches were initially going. I plan on joining more tournaments at the finish of this one.

H2OJunkie wrote: I have had major problems with joining tournies. First I was told I had to have 5 games under my  belt to make it happen. Then I had an unexpected surprise when a game timed out. I was notified at 10:00 am that I had 8 hours to go. I thought that when I got home at 4 It would be ok based on the fact that it said I had 8 hours left. 8 plus 10 does equal 6 pm the last I heard. But when I came home at 4:30 the game had timed out and now I am screwed until I get below 10%. At this point, I really couldn't care less whether I play in a tournie! To say I am a little frustrated is an understatement! Either the server is ridiculously slow in sending out notices or it was a notoriously bad day for me!

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If it was as you say it was, why not appeal to the organiser or the site management regarding your unfair timeout. I imagine you might have a case for reinstatement in an all-play-all. With a knockout it's different if the next round has commenced.

Ozzie, you want to join my tourney?

I'll send you an invtie.

In my opinion the reason why only 2 of the 7 slots have filled is because Martin Luther King has absolutely nothing to do with chess.  I'm more interested in the tournaments with a specific chess theme, like a particular gambit in an opening, or blitz or so on.

Give it time, the slots will fill eventually.