As we approach the proposed start of the 2016 season, there is some concern about how the rules have been applied this year as well as in previous years.
To avoid any boycotts by teams, please could we discuss some changes which need to be made before the season begins - if might be necessary to delay the start rather than see fewer teams competing.
Hi, Johan
Firstly, we are all very glad you decided to consider our complains and use this divisions set-up!
However, many other themes should be solved:
1. EL board, do you agree with our vision of EL board, and will it be formed soon or not: https://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/structure-of-the-board?page=1 ?
2. There are more rules which need to be revised, not just cut-off rule. You can see a new proposal here, maybe we should not make big changes now after all, since the season already started. But some better explanations should be agreed, hopefully in spirit of 1.: https://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/el-rules-draught?page=1
3. As I can see, you decided to use my proposed schedule from here: https://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/el-2016---match-schedule ? As I obtained it last night (or maybe better is to say, this morning) I believe that before any official decisions, it has to be revised by all concerned parts. There are some negations from Team Russia and Team Ukraine so far. Maybe we should try to work for an improved version? And very important part would be:
3.1. Does EL/WL still can count or not? Because I made this schedule in spirit of new proposed rule that 2 matches must be played!
3.2. Start time. Will it be strict or just it has to be in mentioned month, and even can be posponed and played later, but before specificly set final date? I believe that missing R1 (January) matches must have that option, because we will have official schedule only at the beginning of February, and some matches are postponed especially because of waiting for the final schedule
I hope that we can work well together to make this competition even better! And in that sense I must ask you to try to answer team captain's questions more often because we were waiting for a really long time to hear some words from you since you announced final results for 2015. season, ie more than a half of month
Best regards,
Stefan
@Phoenix_Scorpion:
Hi. Here some comments referring to yours.
1. I will read through and get back later on during Februari.
2. The current EL-rules are available here:
https://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/el2016---tournament-forum comment #2. Please especially note following rule:
"8. Teams and players are encouraged to follow these rules. Teams could be warned and disqualified for this season if they repeatedly not starting matches or otherwise breaking these rules. Such team will be moved to the lowest division for next season."
3. Schedule has now been revised for Division 1 and 2 due to the decision made about to let Team Ukraine stay in Division 1 for this season. Teams are welcome to agree with each other upon when to start, e.g. at a later moment during the season.Teams are, however, encouraged stick to schedule, and repeatedtly delays can lead to warnings and disqualifications.
3.1 No change in the rules are proposed when comes to the possibility to count WL-games as EL-games for this season, i.e. it will be possible also for this season just as it has been for years.
3.2 Announcement has been sent out for the rounds in February in accordance with the recently updated schedule for EL2016.
We ususually don't make changes in the rules during ongoing seasons. However, minor clarifications could be reasonable to consider.
Suggestions for next season (EL2017) are also welcome and to be considered at time for preparations, i.e. in this forum.
Johan, thanks for a reply!
regarding question 2. I don't see how rule 8. is answer to my second question, this part is better answer, though: "We ususually don't make changes in the rules during ongoing seasons. However, minor clarifications could be reasonable to consider."
regarding question 3. It would be very hard to stick with this schedule, with current EL rules in charge. I know because I've made it as proposal according to the new rules (proposed here: https://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/el-rules-draught?page=1) So now, there will be big problems if teams want to play double EL/WL matches, and it will lead to big changes in this EL schedule. That's why I asked will rules be changed, because if not, it would be much better to make another, improved schedule, which will work well according to current EL rules. However, it would be very hard to do such thing now when February rounds are already published, but it still isn't impossible because the only changes which needs to be done include Division 1 matches, and the only D1 match that is opened currently is the one which was openned even before today's announcement!
So, can we start a work on improved D1 schedule? There will be more than enough time to start those matches till the end of february even if we announce them after 2-3 days from now
@Phoenix_Scorpion: Exactly which suggested alternative schedule do you referring to? The recently revised schedule is based on/much aligned to this proposal:
https://www.chess.com/groups/forumview/el-2016---match-schedule
There're no limitations for teams to start WL-matches earlier or later and using them as EL-matches. Simply just to agree with your opponents case-by-case.
The schedules do not need to be 100% aligned in between WL and EL as it's two different tournaments.
The EL-rules giving the teams good possibilities to setup and start games pretty much as it best suites for them, e.g. due to their involvement in other tourneys (especially WL) besides the EL-tourney.
We do not want to force teams to send challenges, accept, or lock roosters at moments which may do not suite so well for them. All in order to make the tourney as challenging and fun for as many as possible.
If some teams would like to optimize their match scheme even a little more, they can do it and just let me know at what time (e.g. which month) they want to play their games instead. Only limitation is that all roosters must be looked by the latest on 15th of September.
Of course please keep WL matches on schedule. EL schedules are flexible enough so that they won't need to mess up the normal WL schedule.
Can I ask what are the plans with the Tournament Board? This was one of the proposals that got the agreement of many Div 1 teams.
I think about creating other schedule, or at least shift some rounds little bit. This current way, for example, Srbija Tim will have to pospone several matches because they are to close to WL and opponents want to play another EL match, and several opponents want to play double WL+EL match, even though there is more than enough time between predicted WL and EL match. So, basically, our team would play only a minor part of EL matches in the time predicted by this schedule. Ok, maybe our case is just one extreme, maybe others will not have too many problems. But since I created this schedule to allow all separate matches, I'm sure that there is a way to shift couple of rounds, to suit better different wishes from different teams. We will just need an answer from 11 team representatives, are they gonna play separate or double-up matches, and according to those answer shift those rounds to suit the best way, here are the all cases for Division 1 with currently predicted EL rounds. Why we would not shift two rounds if it will make it easier for all sides?
WL R1 (15.01.) Team England vs Team Russia (may) EL R7 - D?
WL R2 (15.02.) Team Romania vs Team Germany (june) EL R9 - D?
WL R3 (15.03.) Team England vs Team Romania (august) EL R11 - ?
WL R3 (15.03.) Team Germany vs Srbija Tim (june) EL R8 - D
WL R4 (15.04.) Team Ukraine vs Team Germany (august) EL R11 - D?
WL R4 (15.04.) Srbija Tim vs Team England (april) EL R5 - ?
WL R4 (15.04.) Team Romania vs Team Russia (march) EL R3 - S
WL R5 (15.05.) Team Russia vs Srbija Tim (june) EL R9 - S
WL R5 (15.05.) Team England vs Team Ukraine (march) EL R3 - D?
WL R6 (15.06.) Team Ukraine vs Team Russia (march) EL R4 - D?
WL R7 (15.07.) Team Romania vs Srbija Tim (may) EL R7 - S?
WL R8 (15.08.) Team Ukraine vs Team Romania (june) EL R8 - D?
WL R8 (15.08.) Team Germany vs Team England (april) EL R6 - D?
WL R9 (15.09.) Team Russia vs Team Germany (july) EL R10 - ?
WL R9 (15.09.) Srbija Tim vs Team Ukraine (february) EL R2 - D
WL R1 (15.01.) Team Slovakia vs Chess Team Holland (april) EL R6 - S?
WL R2 (15.02.) Chess Team Holland vs Team Armenia (may) EL R7 - D?
WL R2 (15.02.) Team Hungary - Magyar Sakkegylet vs Team Poland (june) EL R9 - ?
WL R3 (15.03.) Team Poland vs Team Slovakia (may) EL R7 - ?
WL R5 (15.05.) Team Poland vs Chess Team Holland (march) EL R3 - D?
WL R5 (15.05.) Team Armenia vs Team Hungary - Magyar Sakkegylet (april) EL R5 - D?
WL R6 (15.06.) Team Slovakia vs Team Armenia (august) EL R11 - D?
WL R8 (15.08.) Chess Team Holland vs Team Hungary - Magyar Sakkegylet (june) EL R8 - D?
WL R8 (15.08.) Team Poland vs Team Armenia (june) EL R8 - D?
WL R9 (15.09.) Team Hungary - Magyar Sakkegylet vs Team Slovakia (march) EL R4 - ?
D=double; S=separate; D?=most likely double; S?=most likely separate;
?=I still don't know status; already started matches
Problem is that you took my schedule just after I finished it, there was no time to hear other admins feedback and to work on it until the final version.
Here we can discuss WoW in EL2016 and in the future.
Issues, complaints, proposals and suggestions can be added, covered, and discussed.