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A rather unpleasant situation arose, but it still needs to be addressed, so I would like the tournament organizer to clarify it for me.

A few days ago, I started a game with FTS, and our ratings were roughly the same. Midway through the game, he said that we needed to save the game. We agreed to finish it that evening or the next morning, but it never happened.
In the following days, I saw him actively playing with other players. Eventually, when he was free and I asked him to finish the game, his response was that his rating was now 200 points higher than mine, and we would finish it after the tournament, i.e., he is no longer interested in finishing it, even though he initiated saving the game.

Is this normal? Or am I just being too picky?

Vitaly, I don't think my intervention is needed here.
If you and Ivan agreed on something before the game, it should be fulfilled. I am sure Ivan is the kind of person who keeps his promises. If you didn't specify that the game must be included in the standings for the TOP1 and my prize, then Ivan's arguments are quite understandable. I also understand that you thought it was implied. Apparently not.

Pickiness has nothing to do with it.
This is precisely why, in order to prevent the TOP players from saving their rating in the 2 weeks before the prize deadline (as the first winner did), a rule was introduced on September 23rd requiring 5 mandatory rated games for the TOP3.

Your strategy is to get close to the TOP3 during the period of mandatory games. After 2-3 such games, these leaders will start to drop out of the TOP3. And a player who makes it into the TOP3 has the priority to challenge the TOP1 or TOP2 at his discretion, which, in case of victory, will ultimately allow him to consolidate his success.

I simply don't have the authority to force anyone to play beyond what I outlined before the start in the first message.

By the way.
I am seriously considering lifting the ban on g+u from September 23rd for everyone except the TOP3, to ensure unexpected breakthroughs. This will benefit those who are desperately trying to get into the TOP3.

Otherwise, it turns out that they inflated their rating to 900+ on g+u, and then the rating increases are less significant (on other templates).
I think I was led astray by a cunning group of TOP3 players, not immediately recognizing the trick :D

I still don't understand why Lizard is among them ;)

ps If the ban is lifted, then
- I will note this in the first message with the rules
- I will edit the message where I announced this separately
- I will create a new message with information about the cancellation.

Added 24 minutes ago

This has never happened before, and here it is again.

Those who survive will be laughing later.