I understand your problem, we have the same one. Tournaments operators really have to make it something special to attract players, and hopefully local clubs co-operate by closing and encouraging their members to attend the tournaments.

However, a 12 table sectionally rated game pays 3.67 points to 1st overall. Only a few types of games at the local club (NAPQ’s, GNTQ’s, CAG’s) even pay that much anymore. To get the higher MP payout quoted it had to be a very special game of some sort. Please advise what it was as we may want to run it at our club.

Hi Steve:

Your point is well taken about club cooperation. As long as I can recall, our local duplicate club owners have always deferred to the Sectionals and Regionals and it usually reflects in the attendance. Unfortunately, the hotels here in Vegas have been hard hit and rates have skyrocketed which may account for our attendance falling off. Our administrators have been working on having the room rates adjusted for future events.

Sadly, too much attention has been paid to the glut of masterpoints which (in many cases) is the driving force behind players’ choices of venues. Those who truly love the game won’t be influenced by such false gods. To each his
own!