Australian Open Contest - Head Count Please ...

[EaglesPhan36]

SBR will not be putting together a bracket-style contest this year due to schedule conflicts with the SBR bash.

I am going to work something up, but want to know who would be interesting first before working on a format.

If you prefer the bracket contest, let that be known.

[SirtySree]

I'll be interested as usual. Wouldn't mind a bracket or your normal contest or even both.

[girlscoutcookies]

id prefer a contest that isn't run by sbr, but whatever.

[EaglesPhan36]

Just bumping to get more views as more people check out the forum today.

Again, this will be run by me whatever format we use - just wanting to gauge interest. So if you like the bracket format, say so. If you don't have a preference, say so. I've got kind of a hybrid idea I think will be fun that I am working on. Also hoping to get SBR to donate some points to the prize pool for this even though they are not organizing it. Stay Tuned.

[AceAce]

I haven't done a contest before but I am interested. Thanks EP

[girlscoutcookies]

bracket sounds fun worth a shot

[badgerguy]

I would be in

[brodie]

im D

[horja1]

in

[Jerimjob]

I'm interested... bracket style would be my preference, but not opposed to any other format

[EaglesPhan36]

HUGE news. SBR has agreed to put up 1,000 BetPoints in free plays for this!

[trytrytry]

will be in thanks not the thing shari dis however that is way to hard to come up and type all that in.. something EASY and fun

[STAY STRONG]

In it to win it.

[Stokes36]

Count me in

[jjgold]

in if it is easy

[MiddleMan]

In.

[EaglesPhan36]

Will announce the format on Wednesday. Please chime in then if you hate it. I'll have a backup option if too many people don't like it.

[Nyjrkm06]

I'm in

[dlweaver]

bracket format. i'm in

[EaglesPhan36]

Format will be posted in a couple hours, just finishing a thing or two.

[badgerguy]

Looking forward to it, thanks for setting it up!

I will not come close to winning as I know next to nothing about tennis. I just like to lay the chalk and follow a few of the rubes around here. But I will give it a shot!

[juanquintero]

hoping for the format, but I think you can count on me!

[fitguy67]

i'm in...any format is equally dismal for me

[beefcake]

I am in!!!

[EaglesPhan36]

This is the proposed format for this contest. If you have any questions, please post them here as others may have the same question and that way I can answer it and explain to all. I've tried to dumb it down as far as terminology so that anyone can enter.

2015 Australian Open SURVIVOR Pool
You may only enter this contest ONCE. Any accounts suspected of being a &Ghost& account for the same user will be turned over to SBR for verification. If it is termed that you are using duplicate accounts to enter this contest, all entries related to those accounts will be VOID and not eligible for the Prize Pool.
Each ENTRY into the Survivor Pool is either for the Men's (ATP) Draw OR the Women's (WTA) draw.

YOU MUST CHOOSE EITHER AN ATP OR WTA ENTRY, NOT BOTH.
It is your choice which one you want to enter based on which one you think you have a better chance at doing well with. The scoring regardless of which side your entry is on will be exactly the same. There is no advantage to entering one or the other, it's simply your choice.

Format
Each entry must pick FOUR players as your SURVIVOR POOL entries to start.

1. You may only pick ONE player from seeds #1-4.

A SEED is the ranking the player has for this tournament. When the draws are available, you will be able to distinguish a SEED by seeing the number that is next to their name. If they do not have a number next to their name, they are UNSEEDED.

2. You MUST pick at least one UNSEEDED player.

3. Your remaning TWO players can be from anywhere else other than the top four seeds.

Your players can also be in any part of the ATP or WTA draw. If you want to choose two players who are in the same section of the draw, that is your choice.

Scoring
Each round, the points value for a match win for your players will increase.

Please note for the purposes of this contest that a &match win& includes any advancement by your player to the next round of the tournament.

POINT VALUES FOR ANY UNSEEDED PLAYER CHOSEN ARE WORTH 2X THE POINTS. THIS OBVIOUSLY MEANS A GREATER REWARD, BUT WITH A HIGHER RISK THAT THEY MAY NOT LAST LONG

Seeded Players
R1 Win = 10 pts
R2 Win = 20 pts
R3 Win = 30 pts
R4 Win = 40 pts
QF Win = 80 pts
SF Win = 160 pts
F Win = 320 pts

Unseeded Players
R1 Win = 20 pts
R2 Win = 40 pts
R3 Win = 60 pts
R4 Win = 80 pts
QF Win = 160 pts
SF Win = 320 pts
F Win = 640 pts

Switching Players
Each ENTRY may make ONE player switch during the duration of the Australian Open. To make a switch, you must PM or E-MAIL me the details of your switch prior to either player involved in the switch playing their next match.

SWITCHES MAY ONLY BE MADE ON PLAYERS STILL ACTIVE IN THE TOURNAMENT.

If a player goes down with an injury and is out of the tournament or one of your choices loses, that spot in your ENTRY is done. There is no substituion for that spot. The switch is available solely so you can strategize as the tournament goes if you so choose and switch to a different player.

IF YOU CHOOSE A TOP FOUR SEED AS A PLAYER, THEY CANNOT BE SWITCHED AT ANY POINT. ALSO, YOUR UNSEEDED PLAYER IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR A SWITCH.
SWITCHES WILL CLOSE AT THE END OF THE 4TH ROUND.

Prize Pool
The PRIZE POOL for this contest is 1,000 BetPoints in Free Plays from SBR. Once all entries are in, the PRIZE POOL will be set based on the total # of entries into the contest. Most likely if there are enough entries, the top four finishers will receive BetPoints.

[juanquintero]

I am in. Just one question, 1000 bet points in free plays in SBR is the same as normal betpoints ? I don't understand the "free plays". Anyway, count with me

[horja1]

I am in ... no entry fee?

[EaglesPhan36]

Correct. No entry fee. Since SBR agreed to the free plays, I thought it would be nice to have a free contest.

Now anyone who cares to donate pts my way for time served on this, I won't turn 'em down.

Juan - as a free play, you will get the BetPoints to use at the SBR Sportsbook only

If anyone has opinions bad or good, about the format, please express them here. Draws come out Friday, so I want this set after today. I do have a backup format if too many people dislike this one.

I will open an official contest thread for this also this evening.

[Chaz22]

excellent format. 5 players i think would be more fun but it's ok. I am in.

Only there should be some entry fee, at least 50 points so a prizepool would consist of 2 parts and would be more interesting. This way you could exclude all the ghost account verifications etc. I know the problem lies because of the non-pro point delivery restriction, but if you make this contest like Shari did with her brackets, i mean when you had to Join the contest thgrouh contest link and it takes points away automatically then it's not a problem anymore. Can this be done?

[Chaz22]

why 5 players, i mean with 4 there is a higher chance that contestants will have the same same point amount at the end. Sure you can take some tie-breaker rule with total games in final or whatever. But 5 players gives more possibilities, especially if you state that 2 unseeded ballers are mandatory.

[EaglesPhan36]

I mean we can do a fee if people want an extra prize pot, for me 1,000 in free plays is plenty to go around, but I get it.

I think four is ok. There is strategy to it. Not everyone may take a 1-4 seed and the amount of combinations of players outside that top four is so large, I think there will be plenty of differences. I think allowing the one switch also adds to things. Again though if more people want an extra player, it's majority rules.

[pipita17]

i am in,too. Sounds great.

[EaglesPhan36]

Will open the official thread Friday. No major objections, so this format will stick.

[juanquintero]

Maybe just more points for seeded winners outside seed #1,2,3 and 4 no? because martin klizan winning is not the same as djokovic. Just my opinion

[EaglesPhan36]

Well the way the SBR bracket contests were in the past, it was pretty much like a NCAAB bracket contest. Didn't matter seeding, wins were wins of equal value.

I agree somewhat with your comment Juan, but I think having all seeds given equal scoring also goes into strategy. It might cause some to pick bigger names thinking it's "easy" but tournaments in all sports have surprises!

Draws are up at ausopen.com

Hoping to have my full Internet functionality tonight to open the contest thread with the finalized rules.

Using your phone for everything gets old!