APPENDIX F. PRELIMINARY STAGE
In order to avoid the “bad” numbers for the Round Robin, there will be a preliminary stage, held on the one or two days preceding the announced starting date for the USBC, whenever the number of teams that enter the event and the number of openings in the Round of 16 is “bad.” In that situation, the preliminary stage will eliminate enough teams to move to a good number of participants in the Round Robin, given the number of openings in the Round of 16.
I. Who Participates in the Preliminary Stage
Teams shall be classified A, B or C as follows:
- A. Any team with an average of 10 or more seeding points or a majority of the players on which qualified for the first KO stage of the previous year’s USBC.
- B. Any team that is neither A nor C.
- C. Any team with an average of 5 or fewer seeding points.
Whenever format considerations require a preliminary stage, all “C” teams shall participate in the preliminary stage. If there are not enough “C” teams to have the minimum number of teams required for the preliminary stage, enough “B” teams shall participate to have the desirable number of teams in the preliminary stage. “A” teams shall compete in the Preliminary Stage only if the Preliminary Stage is necessary for format reasons and there are not enough “B” and “C” teams to reach the minimum number of teams for the preliminary stage.
II. How Many Teams are Cut in the Preliminary Stage
|
Teams Entered |
Number of C Teams | Number of Teams to cut | Desirable/Minimum Number of Teams to Play in Preliminary |
| 2x | 0-2 | 0 | |
| 3-4 | 2 | 6/4 | |
| 5+ | 3 | 8/6 | |
| 2x+1 | 0-4 | 1 | 4/2 |
| 5+ | 3 | 8/6 | |
| 2x+2 | 0-2 | 0 | |
| 3+ | 2 | 6/4 | |
| 2x+3 | 0-4 | 1 | 4/2 |
| 5+ | 3 | 8/6 | |
| 2x+4 | 0-2 | 0 | |
| 3+ | 2 | 6/4 | |
| 2x+5 | 0-4 | 1 | 4/2 |
| 5+ | 3 | 8/6 | |
| 2x+6 | 0 | ||
| 2x+7 | 1 | 4/2 | |
| 2x+8 | 0-2 | 0 | |
| 3+ | 2 | 6/4 | |
| 2x+9 | 0-4 | 1 | 4/2 |
| 5+ | 3 | 8/6 | |
| 2x+10 7, 8, or 9 openings in R16 |
2 |
6/4 |
|
| 2x+10 10 openings in R16 |
0-2 |
0 |
|
| 3+ | 2 | 6/4 | |
| 2x+11 7, 8, or 9 openings in R16 |
3 |
8/6 |
|
| 2x+11 10 openings in R16 |
0-4 |
1 |
4/2 |
| 5+ | 3 | 8/6 | |
| 2x+12 7, 8, or 9 openings in R16 |
0 |
||
| 2x+12 10 openings in R16 |
2 |
6/4 |
|
| 2x+13 7, 8, or 9 openings in R16 |
1 |
4/2 |
|
|
2x+13 |
3 |
8/6 |
|
| 2x+14 | 2 | 6/4 | |
| 2x+15 | 3 | 8/6 |
III. Preliminary Stage Format
When there is a Preliminary Stage, the following formats shall apply, in order.
- A. Teams That Are Assigned to the Preliminary Stage Withdraw
- Each team that has been assigned to the Preliminary Stage shall be given 4 days in which to withdraw from the event. Any team that withdraws shall receive a refund of its initial entry fee. The number of teams to be eliminated shall then be recalculated as above except that if zero is a possible number that is the one used.
- B. One Day Round Robin the day before the regular Round Robin starts