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For the 2005 WA Grand Prix there was an overall average of 20 players per tournament (down from
2004's 20.3, 2003’s 25.9 & 2002’s 23.4). This year the Perth Open with 35
players was the most popular with the SW Open next with 29 players. It is again
possible that the WA State Championship being played on 9 Sundays meant players
had fewer weekends free for GP weekenders. Support for the weekenders was
strongest amongst the highest rated players despite the fact that the relative
fast time limits, multiple games a day and rating prizes should appeal most to
lower rated players and juniors. An innovation this year was the inclusion of 2 weekly evening events, the Midland & City of Fremantle Opens. It is hoped it might be possible to include the Metro Open as well in 2006. To ensure country players were not too disadvantaged by the inclusion of these two events players were able to gain points in only 7 of the 9 tournaments.
Another innovation was the use of variable time limits instead of the basic one
hour per player. The 1 hour + 10 seconds a move seemed the most popular with its
avoidance of hectic time scrambles more than off-setting the later finishes each
day. |
PREMIER Events 1sts Pts 1 Haydn Barber 7 4 72.5 2 Tim Hare 6 1 53 3 Tristan Boyd 4 3 45 MAJOR (UNDER 1850) 1 Tom Donaldson * 7 2 65.5 2 Gordon Dunlop 8 1 58.5 3 Nedeljko Tomic 7 2 55.5 MINOR (UNDER 1550) 1 Mick Pavlovic 6 3 55.5 2 Gary Donaldson 7 1 46 3 Yita Choong * 4 1 36.5 4 Brett O’Donoghue 4 2 35 * denotes junior |