Assuming the calendar is kept the same, we're effectively 3 months out from the next edition of OSDT, which is hopefully a reasonable time frame to discuss the format. I was one of the people behind the initial Single Elim -> Swiss + top cut change idea that happened from OSDT1 to OSDT2, but this past year I heard some complaints from DOU regulars/tournament participants. So I'd like to open this thread for discussion on how things can be changed, or if they even should in the first place.
My proposal for OSDT5 would be to run Swiss+1 as opposed to the standard number of Swiss rounds. The big benefit here is that we cut down on the number of single elimination that is needed to progress in the tournament. Past editions have seen the top cut bracket be a size 32 with byes, whereas I think it would be better to have a smaller top cut, around size 16 with a few byes, which is what all of OSDT2-4 would've generated with an additional Swiss round.
The difference between adding one Swiss round and one single elimination round is that better performers are more consistently rewarded for their run. Yeah, there's not a lot of difference between being 7-2 in top 32 and 7-2 in round 10, since either way it's win or go home, but if you're 8-1, now you're rewarded for the 10th round being less pressure, while still having the opportunity to go for a 9-1 performance and shoot for a bye into top 8. It also makes qualifying for playoffs a lot more prestigious by means of more exclusivity, and lines up with many other trophy tours that shoot for a size 16 playoff.
Personally I think this is a reasonable change that doesn't dissolve the identity of the tournament, but curious what other's takes on the format are.
My proposal for OSDT5 would be to run Swiss+1 as opposed to the standard number of Swiss rounds. The big benefit here is that we cut down on the number of single elimination that is needed to progress in the tournament. Past editions have seen the top cut bracket be a size 32 with byes, whereas I think it would be better to have a smaller top cut, around size 16 with a few byes, which is what all of OSDT2-4 would've generated with an additional Swiss round.
The difference between adding one Swiss round and one single elimination round is that better performers are more consistently rewarded for their run. Yeah, there's not a lot of difference between being 7-2 in top 32 and 7-2 in round 10, since either way it's win or go home, but if you're 8-1, now you're rewarded for the 10th round being less pressure, while still having the opportunity to go for a 9-1 performance and shoot for a bye into top 8. It also makes qualifying for playoffs a lot more prestigious by means of more exclusivity, and lines up with many other trophy tours that shoot for a size 16 playoff.
Personally I think this is a reasonable change that doesn't dissolve the identity of the tournament, but curious what other's takes on the format are.
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