Thanks Richard,
   The Pro-Am was always one of the most popular and fun tournaments back in the day.  It was great because it gave the C or D player a chance to take overall 1st place in a large tournament, and get a State title to boot.   It gives the B and above a tough fighting tournament, chances to move up in rating class while the B player has a reasonable shot at a place prize and can count on
a B prize to be there   Here it may have to be a one day tournament at first 
  Oh  and trying to start a chess club in Hot Springs again  Sep 16 6pm  Burger King  228 W Grand  if anyone is interested

I like Kirk's idea:

I think the ACA should consider a Pro-AM format   Like a two section tournament one being
1600 and above  the other 1599 and below  (or 1800 and above 1799 below) announced in
advance until we have a bigger player base again  

Due to the lack of attendance yesterday, the players decided to form two quads and play a round robin tournament. Class B and C players formed one quad, and Class D/E another.  The time control was bumped down from g/60 to g/45 to allow an additional game without going late into the evening. I was lucky to perform like I did, going into terrible time trouble in two out of the four games I played (There were five rounds, but an uneven amount of players, so each person in B/C Quad got a Bye). All in all though, a very fun day.

Here's a link to the results.

http://main.uschess.org/assets/msa_joomla/XtblMain.php?201009047991-12832281


I wonder though if attendance was so low because of the first football game being on the same day, as well as the holiday weekend: or if players have lost interest in the class championships. We also talked on the way back home (I carpooled with Paul, David and Josh P.) as to whether or not people were unable to make two large tournaments almost back-to-back.

Thoughts?

December 6: Batesville's Hot in Winter:  Independence Hall, UACCB, 2005 White Drive , Batesville , AR 72501

4SS, G/60.  EF: $25 by 12/1, $30 on site.  Specials: Half EF, $15, for scholastic players for half count and half prize. 
Registration 8:00-8:45, game starts at 9:00 AM

Prizes based on 30: 1st $120, A, B, C, D, E and under - $100 each (3+ players or $30 prorated).

Scholastic Section: 5 round Swiss, Game in 30 minutes.  Tournament should be over by 3:00 pm.  Entry Fee: $10 (USCF membership is NOT required; all K-12 students can play).  Prizes: Trophies for top six and medals for 7th - 12th place winners in four sections: K-3; 4-6; 7-9; 10-12 (48 total winners).  Bring sack lunch and chess sets.  Clock is not required but preferred.

Jason Qian: 870-834-3681, qsqian@yahoo.com, NC, NS, W.

Is the club meeting tonight or off due to the holiday and the tournament?

 You would have to ask Jason about turnout expected-- I can tell you I have tried to get in touch with the few As  we have  doesnt seem to be any commitment to play . I think the B's will be better served if the 1 or 2 As dont play.  ( I dont think As are that much better but if we play and win even 1 game that B player will feel slighted) Class tournaments are great and I wish Jason well.
 I think the ACA should consider a Pro-AM format   Like a two section tournament one being
1600 and above  the other 1599 and below  (or 1800 and above 1799 below) announced in advance until we have a bigger player base again  So I encourage all B players to show up I personally dont see any As coming .
  That being said, jason has gracefully offered to have a low expert/A quad if we can get 4 so yall email me or Jason if you are interested    Kirk

Any idea of the turnout expected? And if there'll be enough A-players to not have to face them in B-class?

Any A class planning to play?    Knightstorm1957@aol.com

Let's see how many players show up.  In my previous experience. A/B will play together, D/C will play together, E and under will play together.   Most likely, there will be less than 3 players in Class A, C and D. One player in a Class has to be put in another class. It will be boring to let two players play 4 games, unless they like to.  How about 3 players then?

I see your point about 1st overall.  I have cancelled 1st overall prize, added $20 to each class. The payout would be 80% (600/750) based on 30. If there are 20 entries, the winner in each class with 3 or more players will get $80.

The solution to this in previous tournaments wasn't an overall winner, at least not that I know of, and rather the people in a class with few players would play eachother however many games necessary. I remember Matthew Keller and Lance Umbarger having to play 3-4 games against one another since they were the only ones in that class at the tournament. I'm not trying to change the format you've already selected but I personally would feel much better about it this way, so to guarantee you'd only face people of your own similar rating.