08-21-2002, 10:37 AM
After an over 3-month layoff since their last tourney, the WPBA kicks back into action with 2 tourneys in the next 3 weeks - starting tomorrow in Peoria, IL. This tourney should provide us our first look at the new 64 player bracketing which the WPBA board has dictated - providing the seeded players with at least one bye.
As some of us here have speculated to make this work, the top 16 may actually get 2 byes into the 3rd round. The 16 additional first round byes will either be given out randomly to the remaining 48 players, or the #'s 17-32 ranked players may get those byes. We'll just have to wait until tomorrow to see how this unfolds.
Although I've been one of many here on the board who has expressed my disapproval of this change, there are some clear positives here for the lower ranked players in the field - which I'm sure the board will try to stress and emphasize to all these players that may not like it.
First off, a unseeded player is guaranteed not to have to play a highly ranked seeded player in the opening round. If it's done as we are speculating, they additionally won't have to face a top 16 seed in the second round either - if they are able to win that first round match. This means even without having had to face a seeded player, there will be 16 lower ranked players in the field that will make it in to the 3rd round on the winner's side and be guaranteed to have no worse than a T25 finish in the tournament.
No, I don't think it's right they should coddle the seeded players with unnatural byes in a 64 player field, but I do see some possible up sides for the lower ranked players as a result of this change. Bottom line - these lower ranked players will still have to knock off some big name players somewhere down the line in order to have any chance of finishing any higher than T17 in the event. Also, with only 6 events a year and a guaranteed T25 place finish in every tourney for the entire top 16 (even if they go 2-and-out), it will be extremely hard to unseed any of these current seeded players over the short haul. I'm still looking for there to start being more upsets in these events - though I can't really tell you why. - Chris in NC
As some of us here have speculated to make this work, the top 16 may actually get 2 byes into the 3rd round. The 16 additional first round byes will either be given out randomly to the remaining 48 players, or the #'s 17-32 ranked players may get those byes. We'll just have to wait until tomorrow to see how this unfolds.
Although I've been one of many here on the board who has expressed my disapproval of this change, there are some clear positives here for the lower ranked players in the field - which I'm sure the board will try to stress and emphasize to all these players that may not like it.
First off, a unseeded player is guaranteed not to have to play a highly ranked seeded player in the opening round. If it's done as we are speculating, they additionally won't have to face a top 16 seed in the second round either - if they are able to win that first round match. This means even without having had to face a seeded player, there will be 16 lower ranked players in the field that will make it in to the 3rd round on the winner's side and be guaranteed to have no worse than a T25 finish in the tournament.
No, I don't think it's right they should coddle the seeded players with unnatural byes in a 64 player field, but I do see some possible up sides for the lower ranked players as a result of this change. Bottom line - these lower ranked players will still have to knock off some big name players somewhere down the line in order to have any chance of finishing any higher than T17 in the event. Also, with only 6 events a year and a guaranteed T25 place finish in every tourney for the entire top 16 (even if they go 2-and-out), it will be extremely hard to unseed any of these current seeded players over the short haul. I'm still looking for there to start being more upsets in these events - though I can't really tell you why. - Chris in NC