This can only be resolved through membership fees.
Another option is to have a cash prize. Then a person will have an incentive. On the other hand, after a couple of losses, their desire will disappear anyway, and they'll start "stalling" or "going missing"...
Perhaps it really is worth introducing a system like in football — group stages? Then a person is eliminated and that's that — they won't be an eyesore right up until the final.