APAT tournament entry

[deano147]

tried to get a seat for walsall did not manage, i just think this way of who ever is the fastest to write there details in on the computer gets a seat is wrong, i think they should put it back to the way they first had it by the way off a random draw.

[RioRodent]

tried to get a seat for walsall did not manage, i just think this way of who ever is the fastest to write there details in on the computer gets a seat is wrong, i think they should put it back to the way they first had it by the way off a random draw.

You could then possibly go the rest of your life without getting a seat.

[Bodddders]

I have said this from the start deano, but im afraid we are in the minority as most members think this is the best way of doing things.

For what its worth I think everyone who would like a seat should put their name forward via a special link during a specific time frame. For instance between 9.00 - 9.10pm. then a random draw is made.

As it is you are in the lap of the gods with regards to technology. I pressed the make payment link about ten seconds after the link came up, but for some reason it wouldnt take me thru to the payment page. So I miss out, not because I couldnt be bothered but because of a technical fault.

Blimey these grapes are sour.

[Nostrodamus]

Fair poimts made.

I think the problem with a 10 minute window, followed by random draw, without a payment authorised, will then give a headache to the admin to collect the necessary payments.

It"s possible if demand is this high, future events may go the way of a 3 or 4 day tournament, splitting day 1A and day 1B. Grosvenor do this already for their other big comps and are geared up to support the process.

[Rozza1]

I thought we, as members of the APAT, were going to get to vote on issues such as how tickets would be sold.

Personally I"m in the random draw camp as it is much fairer and less reliant on people having a good computer and strong broadband connection.

[kinboshi]

Random draw is "fairer", but the clickfest ensures that the seats go to those who really want to play (although it means that some who really want to play miss out).

1,000 (or whatever the number is) doesn"t go into 200.  People will be disappointed.

Like I"ve said elsewhere though, you can still play.  Turn up early on the day, and get yourself to the front of the reserve list.

[Jon MW]

It"s not really down to a strong broadband connection or better technology either.

My PC is severely underpowered, my house is so ar from the telephone exchange that I regularly get connected at less than 0.5Mb and my connection fails on a regular basis - but all the times I"ve tried in a clickfest then I"ve succeeded, I doubt I would have got a seat every time if they had been down to a random draw.

Some people do get genuinely unlucky, but I agree with Kin that who gets a seat in a clickfest is largely down to who wants it more, and so who tries the hardest.

[HaworthBantam]

I must also agree with Daniel and Jon.

I have a connection that"s not much faster than Jons, and a PC that has more in common with a 286 than a Pentium (or whatever name they use these days).

I"ve attempted 5 clickfests and been successful each time. Whether I"ve just been lucky, or whether I"ve "wanted it more" and so prepared better than those who haven"t been successful, is up for for debate.

It is unfortunate for those who are not successful, but I don"t think a draw is any fairer.

[kinboshi]

For the European event last year, I had two browsers open on my laptop (IE and Firefox, just in case), and two on my desktop (which the wife was manning - or should that be womanning?). 

Already having your card details ready, maybe in a text file (for a quick copy and paste), and also making sure you"re actually at home all helps!

I got in.

I think I"ve just given away some trade secrets there, so it might be harder next time....nevermind.

[HaworthBantam]

I think I"ve just given away some trade secrets there, so it might be harder next time....nevermind.

Do"h !!  

[kinboshi]

It is unfortunate for those who are not successful, but I don"t think a draw is any fairer.

A draw is "fairer".  It gives everyone who puts their name forward an equal chance to get in.

That has to be the "fairest" way.

BUT, it probably isn"t the best. 

With a draw, no one is committed to playing 100%.  It ends up having twice as many people putting their names forward, but many don"t actually take up their seat allocation when they are offered a place.

This means reserve lists.

The problem with that is that people who did want to play but didn"t get in via the draw are left in "limbo", not being able to organise their weekend until the last minute.  This means more expensive hotels, having to mess other people around with commitments, etc.

It also means a hell of a lot more work for Des and the team, chasing people up for payment, then informing reserves that they have a seat and have 24 hours or whatever to take up that place.  This means more hassle, more confusion, and it still doesn"t necessarily mean that those that really want to play get a seat.

I"ve got into two events via the reserve list after missing out on the main list via the draw.  The first time I was 69th on the reserve list, the second time, I was in the teens (but I think it went down to beyond 40th place on the reserve list in the end).  If I"d missed out on these events, it would be "fair", but completely out of my control.  Saying that of course, I would have turned up early on the day and got myself on the reserve list anyway.

To improve the situation for this season, there are the regional events as well as the online sats.  This enables a very large number of people to secure a place well before the clickfest and the associated panic, worry, relief/disappointment.

Until we have 500-seat card rooms (oh, we will soon ), then the events are going to be limited to around the 200 mark.  Some people are going to be disappointed.

But see the rest of you in Walsall

[H-Man81]

You know, every so often you actually speak quite a bit of sense Kin   I may get ignored by the masses at Walsall now I"ve complimented you, lol!

[kinboshi]

You know, every so often you actually speak quite a bit of sense Kin  

LOL - it"s usually an accident.

I may get ignored by the masses at Walsall now I"ve complimented you, lol!

Quite probably disowned by all who know you!

[nicktolley]

can anyone help? i managed to get through the direct buy in last night (lucky by the look of it) but a freind of mine tried aswell without result. wots the earliest he can get himself on the reserve list?

[kinboshi]

The reserve list I"ve been talking about is opened up on the day on a first come, first served basis.

The earlier you"re there at the casino, the more chance you have of being ahead of others who want to do the same thing.

Last season, some people got there for 9am...