We had a recent discussion via the forum on this very topic - we decided for Glasgow that those who have paid in advance of the event, or paid on the day (but still in advance of the event starting - or even a Late Entry or Alternate who does not take their seat straight away?) should have chips placed on the table and then be blinded off until the player takes their seat or the chips run out.
There are arguments that if they remain in play and get blinded off then it affects, either positively or negatively, players at that table (and dependent on position to the stack in question) - but also that it (sort of) affects players on other tables as they are not at the same (dis)advantage? to avail of the "free stack" up for grabs - a bit all too anal for me I have to say, but for some it obviously isn"t and could be an important part of their game.
Personally I don"t have any particularly strong view on this, but I do sway towards the view that what we"ve agreed for Glasgow should not be the case - I believe at a certain point the chips should be removed from the event - in the case of Glasgow I would have removed them at the start of the first break and therefore allowed Late Entries/Alternates to enter the event at this point - that of course is not good for the player who I would just have removed from the event, but I believe it is good for APAT, the tournament and those players who were unable to get a seat to start with (ie Alternates) overall.
Whether the chips get "blinded off" or alternatively, sit with the dealer to give to the player when they take their seats, I have no strong view on - but come the first break, I personally think they should be removed from the event.
I have seen many different ways that this problem/scenario has been approached - there is no consistency between event organisers.
At the recent IPO Dublin (well done Mr Hall!) the chips were in the control of the Dealer, they were not put into play until the player took their seat and if the player failed to take their seat by the end of the "late entry" stage then the chips were removed from the table/dealer and the player removed from the event (I can only presume with the loss of their entry fee).
Would be interested in your views.
ps this discussion does NOT affect Glasgow!