I meant help “the players” with the pairings, not the TDs. It allows them to get a competitive pairing and potentially a more challenging game even if missing one round.
Sort of (22C4), but only in conjunction with the suggestion that final-round byes must be requested before the start of round 1. If the organizer has chosen to allow later requests, should later un-requests be allowed also? The rule isn’t so clear.
“Irrevocable” is a slippery word. When does a bye request become irrevocable? At the time of the request? Or at the time of the request deadline? Or at some other time?
It would be silly to have the request deadline different from the un-request deadline. If the latter preceded the former, a player unsure about a bye could simply postpone his request until the last minute. If, conversely, the latter followed the former, a player could make his request at registration and postpone his “true” decision until the last minute.
Bill Smythe