This proposal is meant for large weekend tournaments that attract many out-of-town players and where a portion of the field prepares for months. In practice, it makes sense for events that, under the standard table, would run at least 7 Swiss rounds (65+ players).
The standard structure
The common approach is Swiss plus a Top 8 playoff, with Swiss rounds by attendance:
| Players | Swiss rounds | Elimination rounds | Total rounds |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9-16 | 5 | 2 | 7 |
| 17-32 | 5 | 3 | 8 |
| 33-64 | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| 65-128 | 7 | 3 | 10 |
| 129-226 | 8 | 3 | 11 |
| 227-408 | 9 | 3 | 12 |
| 409-744 | 10 | 3 | 13 |
| 745-1364 | 11 | 3 | 14 |
This table is optimized to use the minimum number of Swiss rounds that guarantees everyone at X-1 or better (at most one loss) makes the playoff bracket. As a consequence, in these events two losses usually remove your chance to reach the elimination stage.
The proposal
- 12 Swiss rounds
- Top 7.2 as the playoff structure
Reason 1: a margin for error that matches the cost of the event
In a tournament of the year, the cost is not only the weekend itself, but also the preparation beforehand and the logistics of attending.
With 12 Swiss rounds, the margin for error increases: you can afford more losses and still have a realistic path to the playoffs.
And with Top 7.2, if a player earns the bye by finishing 1st after Swiss while winning the last two Swiss rounds, they also gain more margin in the playoffs: they lock at least 3rd place and they only need to win two more matches to win the tournament, instead of three.
Reason 2: a better show
This structure aims to make the tournament more interesting to watch for two reasons:
- With more Swiss rounds, the tournament filters better, and the players who reach the end will be, on average, stronger.
- With Top 7.2, table 1 in the last two Swiss rounds is incentivized to play for the bye. In a standard Top 8, those rounds often would not be played because the optimal decision is to take an intentional draw and lock qualification.
Recommended weekend split
- Day 1: 8 Swiss rounds
- Day 2: 4 Swiss rounds + 3 elimination rounds
The goal is to keep both days manageable and leave room for at least a meal break.
Optional cut after Day 1
A cut is not required, but it can make sense for logistics or to feed side events. If you want one, these are the minimum points after 8 rounds (standard scoring: win 3, draw 1, loss 0). In parentheses, the equivalent minimum record:
| Players | Minimum points after 8 rounds in a 12-round event |
|---|---|
| 9-12 | 3 (1-7 or better) |
| 13-20 | 6 (2-6 or better) |
| 21-40 | 9 (3-5 or better) |
| 41-108 | 12 (4-4 or better) |
| 109-414 | 15 (5-3 or better) |
| 415-1364 | 18 (6-2 or better) |