I, perhaps not too humbly, have taken it upon myself to craft a Chess Tournament for all the Escapist to join. I have considered many options, and have come to a decent conclusion on how to carry it out. Since you clicked on this thread, you're interested. So let me shut up and get the stuff you want to know out of the way

Everyone is invited. I'm looking at you, staff members. You know we want you to.

What you need to do to play:

-Get yourself a yahoo account. It's free, and there is a free chess browser program available on it. This is what you will use to play. (Note that I do not mind if you use a different system, such as myspace or something, as long as both players are in agreement. The use of Yahoo is to provide a common playing ground for all players and judges, but it is not a hard and fast rule).
It can be made here: http://www.Yahoo.com

-Private message me with both your Escapist screen name and your Yahoo screen name, or simply post them in the thread.

Player Count:

-If below 32 players are involved, each player will play five games against five random players. The top 8 will become the next round, and the tournament will be elimination from then on.

-If between 32 and 63 players are involved, each player will play seven games against seven random players. The top sixteen will move on to the elimination rounds.

-If 64, 128, or some higher multiple of two manage to become involved, the entire tournament will be elimination and there will be a cutoff point of the lowest power of two below the total applicants. (So if, say, we have 90 players, the last 26 to join will be unfortunately cut out from playing. This is only for the ease of myself and the contestants.)

Setting up games:

After March 31st, I will post the match ups. It will be up to the players to organize their game. This may seem a little bitchy, but its more effective. If players are on completely different sides of the globe, but have a game together, it will be easier for them to figure out the time zone differences and find a good time for both of them to play than it will be for me to so 16 times, and get it wrong anyway. I will prod players if they lag behind the group, and if there is some sort of unsolvable timing problem then it might be possible to switch up match ups, but otherwise the players are on their own.

The Chess page on Yahoo is Here: http://games.yahoo.com/games/login2?page=ch&ss=1

Judging victory

Upon completion of a game, both contestants will again PM me with the results of the game. Only then will it be counted official. If there is some dispute, a judge will be appointed, and a rematch game set up (yahoo allows spectators). The judge will report victory to me. I honestly hope that judges shall not be needed.

When

Two weeks from now, on March 31st, will be the cut off date for applying. After that, the first round will commence at players convenience.

Current contestants:

MATCH-UPS!

On a further note, I spoke with a mod about this. It belongs in off-topic.

Interesting... But isn't there another way to do this without needing a yahoo account?

Cpt. Red:
Interesting... But isn't there another way to do this without needing a yahoo account?

I would have to ask what did you have in mind for an alternate?

EDIT:
I believe i should say that I don't mind if you and your opponent use another form of chess or another website so long as you both agree, its just that Yahoo is simple, free, and you don't ever actually have to use it again. Also, its chess program is well developed, so I figured it a better choice than many others.

Sounds like fun, sign me up! Will it cause any problems that Im located in the UK (time differences for matches and all)?

Vanilla Gorilla:
Sounds like fun, sign me up! Will it cause any problems that Im located in the UK (time differences for matches and all)?

No. But your question points out a few pieces of information I need to fill in, for which I thank you.
Do you have a yahoo account? I would need that too. I'll put you in the top spot at least, though.
EDIT: your question is now answered in the first post.

im interested, but im gonna wait for a few more people before i sign up :P

sky14kemea:
im interested, but im gonna wait for a few more people before i sign up :P

A lot of people seem to be taking that strategy.

No One?
Really?

Sign me up. I will give my yahoo screen name to those with who I am matched, later on.

I'm totally in! I love chess! I'm not the greatest, but I'm down for this!

I suck at chess, but I'm in.
I'll post up a Yahoo! screen name once I make one.

I'll join - I'm not very good though.

Okay, now I don't feel like it this was a completely bad idea. I just had to wait a day. Anyway, all the current applicants names are entered.

I would be interested in participating but I wonder if it would be possible for me to use my hotmail account rather than having to make a Yahoo one? (I already have one of the former so I figure that it would be easier to go with that).

EDIT: Actually...cancel that for now.

I'm definitely interested, sign me up :) I don't yet have a Yahoo account so I'll probably sort that out later on today or tomorrow, but for the record I'm in the UK so can you bear that in mind with the match ups please? Thanks :D.

EDIT: By the way, I'm aware that this is an informal thing and a bit of fun between Escapists, and that the staff aren't involved (unless any of them compete). However, to any Escapist Staff reading this, would it be possible to perhaps create a special badge for finalists or for the winner? That would be pretty awesome and I reckon we'd all be pretty grateful if you could consider it, thanks :)

My Yahoo! is Spartan_Bannana.

Escapist: Haxordude
Yahoo: ananangramofdog@yahoo.com (yep I did accidentally spell anagram wrong when creating my account)

All new applicants added.
Hmm....
Perhaps I should go bother a few people I know...

wow quite a few people have signed up

ok ill go for it ^-^ my yahoo should be skykemea.lindblum@yahoo.co.uk
ill post again if ive got it wrong

btw, like someone said, is it possible to use our hotmail accounts? because im always online with that one

Huh okay intriguing, but I lack Yahoo account... back soon.

sky14kemea:
wow quite a few people have signed up

ok ill go for it ^-^ my yahoo should be skykemea.lindblum@yahoo.co.uk
ill post again if ive got it wrong

btw, like someone said, is it possible to use our hotmail accounts? because im always online with that one

As I edited into the first post, I don't care how you play so long as both players are in agreement. I chose yahoo because I know its chess program is well done, however if you both prefer hotmail then there is no reason for the two players to not use hotmail.

is there gonna be scoring, to decide who goes through to the next round?
in my old school chess club, they'd give 3 points for a win, 2 for a draw, and 1 for a loss
or is it just gonna be who's won the most?

sky14kemea:
is there gonna be scoring, to decide who goes through to the next round?
in my old school chess club, they'd give 3 points for a win, 2 for a draw, and 1 for a loss
or is it just gonna be who's won the most?

Read the first post. This is also answered.

hmmm..... anyone have any good opening strategies? I tend to wing mine, but now I'm trying to teach someone else.
I've got the basic Queen's gambit and Blitzkrieg, but I know there are some for a longer game.

Sign me up. I'm in the UK (if that has a bearing on the match-ups).
One thing though, how would I go about making the Yahoo account?

Ok haven't played chess since . . . elementary school (O.O') but I'll give this a shot. I'll pm / post my yahoo account, as soon as I've created one . . .

Provided I can schedule it around work, I'd be in for this. My yahoo name is angryranting5244.

Jharry5:
Sign me up. I'm in the UK (if that has a bearing on the match-ups).
One thing though, how would I go about making the Yahoo account?

http://www.yahoo.com/

hmm..... perhaps I should first opt to teach people chess before a tournament. I dunno.

No one will join if no one can see the thread.

But I really hope I don't have to just not do this, due to too few players. I need another four at least, the very least.

Debatra

sweet.
is that your yahoo too?

Yes. Yours?

it's ninja_blu@yahoo.com
However unless absolutely necessary I won't be playing. I'd like to keep the running and the playing separate. Also I wanted to host something that I could enjoy but wouldn't take up a lot of time, me working full time and all.

yahoo: marknes07@yahoo.com

Question: Do we have to download yahoo messenger and use that or what?