Last year at the Southern Open in Orlando there were lots of Miami Open flyers and glossy postcards everywhere. The strange thing was that there was no TLA for the Miami Open in the August issue of Chess Life. I told one of the organizers who was at the Southern Open that he should contact the USCF ASAP and see if he could at least get a TLA in for the September issue (the tournament was in mid-September, but there still might be enough time to get in one TLA). In fact, there would have to be a TLA in Chess Life, because the tournament was awarding over 200 Grand Prix Points, and one of the requirements to be a Grand Prix is to have a TLA in the Grand Prix Section of Chess Life, announcing the guaranteed prizes.
They did manage to get one TLA for the Miami Open in the September issue of Chess Life, so at least the tournament could award the 200 Grand Prix points. Nevertheless, a $100,000 tournament which only has one TLA is just asking for trouble (no way to correct mistakes, no way to add important information, and, of course, very limited exposure, etc., etc.). This is certainly a recipe, all by itself, for a smaller turnout, regardless of other factors.
This year at the Southern Open the glossy postcards have returned, this time for the 2009 Miami Open, which is also doubling up as the Florida State Championship in 2009. Again, however, there appears to be no TLA in the August Chess Life, and this year the tournament is being held on Labor Day Weekend, which will not be in time to advertise in the September Chess Life. As a result the tournament isn't even going to get one issue of publicity right before the tournament. And with no TLA in Chess Life, the Miami Open is not even allowed to award any Grand Prix Points. This is also the first year I can recall that the Florida State Championship does not have a TLA in Chess Life, which I personally think is somewhat disgraceful for the state championship of a major chess state.
This year's Miami Open postcards and flyers advertise a reduced prize fund from 2008: "$22,000 total prize fund, based on 280 entries, with 60% guaranteed." The enry fee is $125 (the flyer doesn't list any discounts for entering in advance: [themiamichessopen.com/info.htm](http://www.themiamichessopen.com/info.htm) ). The hotel rate advertised is $119 at the Miami Hyatt Regency. But without any TLA at all, it will certainly be much harder to draw players, even making it difficult just to get the 106+ entries needed to generate the $13,200 minimum "guaranteed" prize fund. This could easily put the tournament, and the players, in a predicament not unlike last year's.
Not to mention the negative feedback from the reduced prize fund of the 2008 Miami Open, over which the USCF Executive Director has apparently declined jurisdiction.
And correct me if I’m wrong, but without a TLA, the USCF cannot impose sanctions if the organizers chose not to pay out the prize fund as ‘advertised’ on the post cards and flyers.
I played in The Miami International in 2006, and as I recall it or another major Miami tournament about that wasn’t listed in a TLA either. Apparently the organizers don’t see much benefit from TLA’s.
Its good to know that there are other ways to advertise a chess tournament than thru Chess Life.
Without a TLA, of course, it could be difficult to determine exactly what they organizers advertised. The USCF can refuse advertising to anyone for any reason or no reason, except for a few prohibited by law. If the organizer is not going to advertise in CL anyway, banning him is not much of a sanction, but I think they’ll find out soon that a tournament with no TLA is a tournament with few players.
Questionable practices in paying out prize funds tend tohave their own unique penalty. Ultimately,
a lack of players. Fool me once, shame on you–fool me twice, shame on me. And word
does get around, when it does, repairing a club/organizations/tournaments reputation
is extremely difficult. Any sanctions imposed by USCF generally pale in light of loosing
huge $$$$ in an event.
Perhaps this letter needs to be copied to the State Affiliate to let them become aware of the state’s reputation to the rest of the Federation. Some may not care what outsiders think of your state championship, others may.
It was actually my personal opinion of not having the state championship listed in Chess Life, though-- I wouldn’t presume to equate it with the state’s reputation with the rest of the Federation.
That doesn’t help you if you’ve managed to have been fooled just once, though. And that still shouldn’t entitle one to continue to fool different people only once.
Steve,
I certainly agree with you on this–there are always more victims. However, chess tends
to be a fairly closed community. While there will always be a few who are unaware, as time
goes on the few become fewer. Of course those who are dishonorable should feel the wrath
of USCF, but loosing money is usually painful as well.
In truth though, it is very rare to see this kind of behavior from a TD/organizer. Most are