Since our leader hasn't posted this, I'll call an audible and start this. I'd be more than happy if he takes over from here, but if he can't I'll keep this one updated until the end of the tournament.
Good day, mates I hope everyone had a good offseeason and is ready to kick it off in the new year. For some extra spice, I invite everyone to take part in this game that might well be considered a forum tradition by now.
HOW TO PLAY:
Rule changes compared to Australian Open - None (just a rephrasing. Veterans need not necessarily read):
Basic rules:
Pick a player each day. If your player wins, you advance to the next day and get to pick again. If your player loses, you are out. Each player can only be chosen once. The picks continue every day until only one person is left, everyone has been eliminated, or the tournament has finished. Each pick has to be submitted before the relevant match starts and once you've submitted the pick, you are stuck with it unless the match did not happen due to a prematch withdrawal. In that case you get to submit a new pick. That's the basic rules already.
Tiebreaker:
If multiple people go out on the same day and no-one remains, these last people to go out submit their best educated judgements regarding the outcome of the final match of the tournament - winner of the final, amount of sets lost by the winner, amount of games lost by the winner, points won by the winner. Judged also in that order. If both are the same in winner, then we go to sets. If both also had the same number of sets, then we go to games. If that's also still the same or the same difference to the actual number, then points won. That should hopefully always lead to a conclusion.
To enable that, those tiebreaker judgements will be sent to me per private message (or maybe X in some cases) instead of being publically announced in the thread. If the tiebreaker involves me, we'd have to find someone else who accepts the private messages, but I'm positive that will not be a problem.
Onto the cases:
Case: A pick I made became invalid because the match didn't happen due to a withdrawal. I have a life and don't sit on the computer all day to monitor such things, so wasn't able to submit a replacement pick. Am I screwed? Decision: No, there is a backup solution. The last to start eligible favourite (I will use average odds on tennisexplorer.com) of the day is automatically entered for you. Eligible means player that had not been picked yet on a previous day.
Case: There was a retirement. Does the pick still count? Decision: Yes, picks count the moment 1 ball has been played in the match.
Case: I looked at the wrong schedule and picked a player that doesn't even play. What now? Decision: Please submit a new pick.
Case: A lot of matches were rescheduled for the next day due to rain. Can I pick from those on the new day? Decision: No, rescheduled matches are not eligible to be picked from. If this situation arises, I will try to post a list of ineligible matches.
Case: I have a great suggestion for the comp. Am I allowed to tell you and others? Decision: Sure, suggestions are always welcome!
At the end, glory, lots of forum cred, and an entry into the competition's Hall of Fame awaits the ultimate winner. The Hall of Fame can be found at:
First of all sorry for not starting this earlier myself. Since this was started so very late due to my own negligence, I have decided that Sunday picks are not a requirement and are voided indeed. Considered making it a free pick initially (i.e. a loss on Sunday gets another pick on Monday), but after having had written down the text for that already, I deemed that it opened a few cans of worms I didn't like.
So the competition starts on Monday for an even start for everyone. The day 1 pick is required for Monday and then we go normally with our 1 day rhythm.
Sorry to Blencathra and snowynoon who already took their time to pick someone today.
Thanks SaMeBe. I will take over.First of all sorry for not starting this earlier myself. Since this was started so very late due to my own negligence, I have decided that Sunday picks are not a requirement and are voided indeed. Considered making it
Ok, so a whole bunch of matches were rained out today and tomorrow doesn't look much better. We'll do the following regardless of what actually gets scheduled:
Day 4: pick a second round match of the bottom half Day 5: Third round match from the top half
Please note that the halfs for men and women are different!
Ok, so a whole bunch of matches were rained out today and tomorrow doesn't look much better. We'll do the following regardless of what actually gets scheduled:Day 4: pick a second round match of the bottom halfDay 5: Third round match from the top ha
Blencathra (Siniakova day 3) Anubis8, GRANTCKING, snowynoon (Collins day 3)
Advanced to day 4 - we lost half the field due to the rain delayed day 3aaronh - Pera, Martic, Bouzkova, Paoliniedy - Noskova, Uchijima, Bouzkova, Navarron88uk - Noskova, Navarro, Potapova, SvitolinaSamuelMertensBertens - Noskova, Martic, Bouzkova, P
Congratulations to you, caramba. Well played to wrestle the title away from Journeyman and to win your second women's RG trophy to follow up your victory in 2020.
More significant yet, this constitutes your 10th victory in the competition - la decima - and you climb into the second spot of the all-time leaderboard as you erase the draw you had with the name giving mouse trap.
Congratulations to you, caramba. Well played to wrestle the title away from Journeyman and to win your second women's RG trophy to follow up your victory in 2020.More significant yet, this constitutes your 10th victory in the competition - la decima
Yay, finally made it past Mouse Trap, about 7 years after he had to leave the phorum. Today was actually the first time I have ever seen Avanesyan play (I think, edy will dig up some old post proving me wrong I'm sure), so she sure made a hell of a first impression. Always nice when all opposition goes for the same pick and it crashes out. I usually don't continue, but I'll make an exception this time to see how far I can go. For Sunday I pick Ons.
Yay, finally made it past Mouse Trap, about 7 years after he had to leave the phorum.Today was actually the first time I have ever seen Avanesyan play (I think, edy will dig up some old post proving me wrong I'm sure), so she sure made a hell of a fi
Avanesyan was the talk of the town when she upset Sakkari at this year's Australian Open and an unfit Bencic at last year's Roland Garros (while Avanesyan herself had a bionic arm).
She keeps losing to all sorts of randomers but the time, but hysterically enough now possesses a 5-0 record against top15 opposition - having beaten Bencic, Kasatkina, Sakkari, Jabeur and today Qinwen.
Avanesyan was the talk of the town when she upset Sakkari at this year's Australian Open and an unfit Bencic at last year's Roland Garros (while Avanesyan herself had a bionic arm).She keeps losing to all sorts of randomers but the time, but hysteric