"only XL-5"

It will be a good opportunity to summarize the group tournament and share thoughts.
① The number of participants is smaller, and the completion rate in the groups is higher. But there wasn't such a direct correlation. In group 14, all games were unexpectedly played (after a very weak start), and some didn't even have enough games to expend their gaming energy. And in four other groups, only one game was not played. :smile20:
② The complete inertia of players in groups 5 and 12 could possibly have been prevented by reshuffling them with players from other groups :smile32: Worse, the players did not warn about their withdrawal. And against the backdrop of fierce competition in other groups, the failure in the aforementioned ones led to difficulties in determining second place. :(

What kind of absurd draw is this? How is it that 1st place in its group, Dave, meets 1st place in its group, FTS, in the first round??? Besides, 1st and 2nd places from the previous HL tournament:smile35:

③
What is the absurdity? Too many first places? - Or maybe too few? They should have been from groups number 1 and 11.
What difference does it make to the winner?
Eliminate the competition in the bud or cry over defeat at the end of the road? And they also played against each other in other tournaments, not so long ago. Shouldn't that have been taken into account?
But you could have enhanced the tournament experience for player kamukag3e by filling the free position yourself. And then you could have noticed that there have been no preferences for 1st place in the group in the tournament for a long time. And on the other hand (a recent example), look at how Liverpool and Real reached the Champions League final.

... players are put on the list, Chemist manages to write the report before the deadline...
...the deadline comes, there are no reports, but there is also no reaction from the host, who does not fulfill his promise

④ The situation was monitored throughout. For example, Palach was removed, then reinstated (with the participation of other players), but then he still withdrew himself. Everyone who wanted to play or had problems with their opponent wrote to me in private. Take Darkella as an example - he joined a month later than the others, immediately played two games, and then wrote to me day and night about helping him with games with other opponents, just to play. He fought to the end. And even made it to the next round!
Regarding Chemist. He wrote to me in private about the state of his two games, with a certain result already (1-1). There was simply no way for him to complete it. He also wrote about problems with you, but did not initiate anything. And I think that this is not so important for him. And for you - it's not important at all - because not a word, not a syllable, neither in private nor on the forum - means everything is fine? You took a waiting, unconstructive position, anticipating his disqualification. But you could have requested an ODD with Chemist if there were problems, but nothing was done.
And I am not bloodthirsty, I give the opportunity to play, especially to those who show such a desire. In fact, there was no reason to do so :cool:
Even three games in the group stage can be considered a tournament minimum under certain conditions.

It's very sad to see this. Rebellius, who has always been against favoritism and for rules that apply equally to everyone, has disappointed...

⑤ My position has not changed. In this situation, you simply missed, overlooked, panicked, and as a result, this happened. :smile11:
You guys are already gathering... :smile05:

...
It's just sad to watch a holiday where you turn out to be superfluous :-)

But here, the sadness is light.

I don't want to think that Dima is also involved... but I thought that people should know about this. I have no desire to play in future tournaments where such a farce is possible.

⑥ The imagination ran wild. People will find out that you missed your chance through your own fault. And now you had to spend time to make you understand this.