Pokémon TCG: Sword and Shield—Brilliant Stars

Italian Mysteries about OP and Nationals...

Marcello-Milord

Marcello-Milord

New Member
Fellow Professors,
maybe you don't know that the italian distributors decided to not have a tournament with age-separated system, even if they have at least 16 players.
In each and every tournament, a unique standing is comiled, and only the top from this unique standing are awarded prizes. In case of special prizes such as Prize Packages, Medals, Trpohies, etc., the best placed players for each category (based on the unique standing), will get those additional prizes.
If it's not clear, an example.

1st placed. A 9 years-old-player
2nd placed: a 14 years old-player
3rd placed: a 10 years old-player
4th placed: a 17 years old-player
5th placed: a 7 years old player
...


These players will get a booster prize. Plus, 1st placed (which is from the 10- category) get additional prizes for its category (prize packages anyone).
The other players which gets their additional prizes are the 2nd placed (for the 11-14 category) and the 4th placed (for the 15+ category).

Until there, besides a obvious unfariness for the little players which are forced to play against older players, nothing to say. They save money for prizes (prizes for 1 single standing are less expensive than providing prizes for 3 different standings...)

But.

Italian Nationals are announced.

They asked to ME (a Prof & TO) to sanction the tournament (I'm the "sanctioning-man of the GC too). They never sanctioned a tournament. But 2 days ago, we have found a "Nexus Challenge" sancioned by the distributor in their own headquarters. This "tournament" is expected to be run tomorrow.
But I think to remember that:
INTL OP Handbook said:
Anyone is allowed to participate in a Pokémon Organized Play sanctioned event, except for the following positions:

...


  • Employees of companies who assist Pokémon USA, Inc, in promoting organized play in their country
Click to expand...
So, which type of tournament is that? They never had promotion. It's a fake tournament for trying the sanctioning system, or not?
Plus, if they're able to sanction, why asking me to sanction the tournament?

Maybe for that:

Nexus email about Nationals (translated) said:
VERY IMPORTANT – An age category is a valid category for the tournamentonly if there will be at least 16 players for that category. If not, the category will be merged with another category.
Click to expand...
Remember that we have a unique standing for everyone. Age categories are considered only for awarding special prizes (the Worlds invites+trip, the Trophies, the Stage2 Prize Packages).

he only reason I can think for this "rule"(?) is that they want to not spend too much money on prizes (they put an entry fee of 15 Euros). Nationals are open (not invites).

And who is the TO that have to report the tournament to PUI, and have all responsibilities for this?

Me.

What do you think? Please, it's important to hear some opinions...
 
I think some language problems may be involved here.
It seems like someone is trying to explain Age Modified Swiss Rounds.
But they may not understand the idea themselves ?!
 
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annisarich: yes, we are playing with an age-modified system at the end.
It's not there the problem. We are forced to do so, we don't have the possibility to run an age-separated tournament even if we'll have enough players to have separated tournament for each category.

Simply:
- we'll have an age-modified tournament
- we are forced to have only age-modified premeier tournaments to save money for prizes
- for nationals, we'll have an age-modified tournament, but they want at least 16 players per category in order to give out prizes for that category.
- it's meaningless to require 16 players for each category, if not used to do a separated tournament.
 
Our distributor probably has read your message.
In the tournament details he wrote: "torunament reserved to Nexus employees" LOL
and "the tournament is running to know game mechanism and is not valid for international ranking" LOL
Then.... Why sanctioning this kind of tournament?
 
Did you already found this one.
It amazed us because National are done by the distributor themselves which in our eyes is one of the ones who should not organize it.
Premier Tournament Organizer ("PTO")
An independent third party that organizes and operates a Premier Tournament and who is not an employee, agent or independent contractor of Pokémon USA, Inc.
Click to expand...


My opinion: don't work with them untill they know what they have to do.
 
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Premier Tournament Organizer ("PTO")
An independent third party that organizes and operates a Premier Tournament and who is not an employee, agent or independent contractor of Pokémon USA, Inc.
Click to expand...
But there are no PTOs outside the US, MPJuggy thinks he is one because the distributors told him he was but with no access to any of the help or communication channels on offer to PTOs it is clear it is a US only position.

Just like badges, promotions and payments, good sense and organisation seems to stay a US only preserve.
 
Oke I also should put this one in it to.
Both found at the official website glossary.
Tournament Organizer
An independent third party that organizes and operates a tournament and who is not an employee, agent or independent contractor of Pokémon USA, Inc. As used herein, the term "Tournament Organizer" includes Premier Tournament Organizers, but not League Leaders
Click to expand...

Shoot
We have discussed this the last week and think that most tournaments who are Premier tournaments are not valid, due to this because they were all sanctioned by the National distributor.
But I'm not going to mail about it, because I already know the answer (if I get one).
 
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Ya Ben, there are no PTOs outside of USA... Why? A mystery.

I talked with the distributor...

Results:

1) they didn't know that a tournament nees 8 players (not 16) in order to be sanctioned.
2) They didn't know that they have no possibilty to play in sanctioned tournaments
3) They probably authorize age-separated tournaments (3 tournaments) with separate prizes.

Good times, guys :)
 
You know why there are no PTO's outside the US.
National distributors are afraid to give a away a little of their economical "power".
They have nightmares about someone else meaby earning money on the Pokemon TCG.
 
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Giday

In regards to becoming a PTO, internationally that status is designated by the local distributor, so in your case, Croftminster. ​
Currently the PTO program in place is for North American TOs only but we are working with each distributor to setup a PTO program in more countries.​
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​


Something i thought might interest you guys & gals.​


I recieved that as part of a reply to a few questions i asked.​


I've already been confirmed by Croftminster as a PTO.​
 
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But Juggie,

do you have access to the PTO only group? Do you get paid to run Pre-releases and other Premier Events, do you get knowledge of what is coming up ahead of the rest of us or..

Are you as much in the dark and at risk as you seem to be.... IE they call you a PTO but that actually means nothing at all!

After all who took the risk with your Nationals? Who lost money? Who if he really was a PTO would have received recompence for that tourney as a flat fee and headcount bounty on top?

If you can say you are not in the dark up to your neck in risk like the rest of us mushrooms and if you are getting the financial rewards of an American PTO then yeah you're a PTO if not you are just a TO given a grand title by your distributor who will let you take the financial risk and hits whilst taking the glory of saying yeah we ran Nationals to PUI..

Currently the PTO program in place is for North American TOs only but we are working with each distributor to setup a PTO program in more countries.​
Click to expand...
​
​
That says it all really ....​
 
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Giday

Putting it that way ukpokemonpro ... you would be correct ... i'm another mushroom.

Thats what my questions we mainly about ... access to the emails & other info.
 
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