Op has many good observations, but I'm not sure his changes would alleviate the main problem: there should ideally be more Swiss rounds.

With only 3 rounds you've a decent system for declaring a WINNER. The runner ups are more a victim to fate than is ideal.

But imo the system works well enough. Better than X wing. And it does produce a clear winner - I don't care too much about the other standings.

I agree, and the problem with more rounds is turning away players. I would be down for four to five round tournaments, but plenty of others (at least in my area) wouldn't, which would cut down on participation. I would rather have an imperfect system with plenty of participants than a more accurate one with less players.

Op has many good observations, but I'm not sure his changes would alleviate the main problem: there should ideally be more Swiss rounds.

With only 3 rounds you've a decent system for declaring a WINNER. The runner ups are more a victim to fate than is ideal.

But imo the system works well enough. Better than X wing. And it does produce a clear winner - I don't care too much about the other standings.

I agree, and the problem with more rounds is turning away players. I would be down for four to five round tournaments, but plenty of others (at least in my area) wouldn't, which would cut down on participation. I would rather have an imperfect system with plenty of participants than a more accurate one with less players.

You can do it every once in a while at a big event. We had a 5 round (2hr each) event recently with over 20 players, but that isn't sustainable more than once per twice a year. We started at 10 and finished after 11.... (on a Friday no less).

But that was a special event, and most players had to call in big favors with family/significant other to make it happen...

One of my friends had a 8-2 bye, 0-10 loss then a 10-0, 9-1 and came 4th in a Regional last week (forget how many players but at least 20, 9 SC byes), so blow outs are very very strong, both ways.

One of my friends had a 8-2 bye, 0-10 loss then a 10-0, 9-1 and came 4th in a Regional last week (forget how many players but at least 20, 9 SC byes), so blow outs are very very strong, both ways.

They had 4 rounds with only 20 players? Shmitty wasn't allowed to do that when he asked.