2017 GC Open Championships to trial Modified Grade Based Seeding

[<<] [>>] by Rachel Rowe
15th February 2017 (GC - Championships)

The 2017 Golf Croquet Open Championship will be trialling the use of Modified Grade-Based Seeding for the knock-out draw of the Singles event. The purpose is to see if this method will generate a more balanced knock-out draw than the current Block-Based Seeding method.

A player survey will be circulated at the end of the event, with specific questions relating to the draw and format of the knock-out to ascertain how all the players in the event have viewed the change.

The full procedure to be implemented is below:

1. Rankings will be updated with all block matches, and all grade references further down the methodology will use this updated grade.
2. The draw will be done fully in public, with the following methodology:
3. Rank:
   1. block winners (#1's) according to grade as 1-4
   2. block runner ups (#2's) according to grade as 5-8
   3. #3's randomly as 9-12
   4. #4's randomly as 13-16
4. Place 1-4 in the draw in their respective positions.
5. Place 5-8 in the draw in their respective positions.
6. Place 9-12 randomly, but avoiding any first round block clashes. This is achieved by placing all available positions (9-12) in a bag. Draw a position for player #9, if it isn't a clash insert the player in that position. If it is a clash redraw (without replacement) and insert in that position. Replace remaining positions and draw for player #10 as for player #9. Before drawing for player #11 check whether there is more than one solution, if there is draw, if not, place.
7. Place 13-16 randomly, but avoiding any first round block clashes. This is achieved by placing all available positions (13-16) in a bag. Draw a position for player #13, if it isn't a clash insert the player in that position. If it is a clash redraw (without replacement) and insert in that position. Replace remaining positions and draw for player #14 as for player #13. Before drawing for player #15 check whether there is more than one solution, if there is draw, if not, place.