June 15th News

The monthly table for May is now complete and other news.

I have finalised the table for May as it is now 5 days until the final takes place. The last two results from the Fire Engine, played on Bank Holiday Monday after the last monthly final have not turned up but I can't wait any longer before making a decision on what to do.

If you feel that you have been penalised by this, for example if you have ended up either a reserve or even outside the reserves and scored enough points in the missing games to have made it to a qualifying position then please let me know and I will try and sort something out. I apologise for the confusion and/or annoyance this may have caused.

I have changed a couple of League rules with immediate effect.

As I was racing towards The Cross Hands last Friday for the 7 o clock game after phoning ahead and getting signed in, it suddenly struck me that one of our fundamental rules is inherently wrong. I said to my wife, "I hope to God that no-one gets knocked out in the first hand or this is going to be a long wait for the second game to start" and then I thought how unfair our rule of not being allowed to play if someone busts out before I got there actually is. So I have changed it.

From now on IF YOU HAVE PHONED AHEAD OR LEFT A MESSAGE WITH A TD that you are going to DEFINITELY play but may be a little late then you will be allowed 30 minutes grace to get there. If anyone gets knocked out before you get there then you will still be allowed to play.

This is an important rule change and I have not had a chance to let all of our Tournament Directors know, please ask them to have a look and take this into account with immediate effect.

The obvious downside to relaxing this rule is if people start to abuse it. If 7 or 8 people all phone up but dont get there for half an hour after the game starts then it could leave lots of empty seats with chips in front of them until people turn up and cause an absolute nightmare for the players who ARE there as well as the TD. If this starts to happen then this rule may be tightened up again.

The other rule change is at the monthly final and will very rarely happen, but has been in the back of my mind for a while.

If we get more than 80 players turn up at a final before the seating draw takes place, then the initial 80 seats will be awarded to the top 80 qualifiers in position order. Anyone who is in the reserve list of places 80-100 in the final table of the month will not be refused entry as before but put on an alternates list, like games in the Casino. If anyone busts out in the first 2 levels, then alternates will be allowed to replace them with the full 8000 in chips.

If players turn up AFTER the initial draw for seats is made they will be an alternate no matter if they finished in the top 80 qualifying spots or not. I am not pulling people out of the game after they have drawn their seats and are comfortable and ready to start.

No players will be allowed entry after the first chip up. i.e. 40 minutes of play. Only people in positions 80-100 will be offered a seat. If you finish outside of the reserves you will still not be allowed to play, you need to score more points over the month!

I have also changed the prize allocation at a final. Instead of automatically paying the top 16 we will be pay the top 20% of the field.