If you create so many sections, it is absolutely laughable. Most tournaments will have around two people per section, if they're lucky. Isn't that just free money? What chess organization has that kind of funds? Most of them already operate at a loss to begin with.
"Imagine being 1200, being forced to play a 1600... you'd feel so sad, and hopeless" This is the mindset of almost no one that plays tournament chess. Every low rated player is eager to try to make an upset. No one is owed a "chance to win" - that's something you have to obtain yourself through play and study. What's next? Give everyone a medal for participating? Oh wait....
Oh, yeah
A 300-400 rating difference is unacceptable.
Arbiter definitely has to be called.
We are not talking about Casual Games.
We are talking about Serious Games.
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Casual Games/Unrated Games are much different vs. Serious Games.
If a person is just playing for fun, It’s completely different.
If it’s a Casual Game, Both players can decide not to play.
If they do both decide to play, Even if their is a mismatch, the game is still light hearted.
No one is forcing them to play each other which is what happens in a Serious Game.
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They usually do brackets in increments of 200 in Serious Rated Games.
Like the following:
U1200
U1400
U1600
U1800
U2000
Its to create Fairness in a Competitive Setting where people are being forced to play each other.
You can’t beat up on low level players in chess.
Its against the Rules and even people try to Weasel around the rules with excuses.
It’s still an Ethical Dilemma.
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Chess for many Centuries was considered to be a Gentlemen’s Game.
I would even argue the game today is still a Gentlemen’s & Ladies Game.
Its bad form to have such a rating disparity.
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Image being 1,200 being forced to play against players 400 points higher vs. you (1,600).
Your going to feel so sad in the chess game.
It’s going to feel so hopeless.
Your not going to want to keep playing.
You might even quit chess.
It would result in 1 less chess player in world if such a thing is allowed to happen.
This is why they have such Regulations in place to begin with.
Players should feel like they have chance to win so the game is fun.
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Historically, If 2 players had such a great rating difference, The Arbiter had the power to give the weaker chess player a Handicap.
Same thing happens in any Profession or Sport.
The Arbiter would give the weaker player Odds.
- Pawn Odds would mean the Stronger player would play game down 1 Pawn.
- Knight Odds would mean the Stronger player would play game down 1 knight.
Etc. All the way to Queen Odds.
So instead of starting the game with equal pieces - 1 side would be down a piece in order to preserve fairness.
Its about Honesty and making sure both sides feel like they have chance.