Dima Surmay
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Let me explain: the tournament consists of 3 stages (autumn, winter, spring). In each stage, players are divided into groups. In the first group (the grand final), the main prize is awarded (also three times a year).
The first (most prestigious) group includes participants who showed the best results in the previous stage.
To play in the Autumn 2014 grand final now, R55Max, Toganash, Maretti, and others competed in the regular groups in the spring of 2014. For them, this is now the grand final, while for you, it's the qualifying round for the Winter 2014/15 final. In fact, you are playing in different tournaments, so your interests are not affected.
The Crusade format has the following advantages:
1) It allows determining the winner in a short period of 6 months (compared to a regular tournament: groups + playoffs, about 9 months)
2) It allows determining the winner three times a year, not just once
3) It fairly ranks all players, not just the top 3 as usual.
I have nothing against the players in the first group; they deserve it. But it turns out that all the other players are competing for some kind of consolation cup for losers, since all the best players are already playing in a different tournament. I, of course, want to win a tournament, but winning a tournament with such a format would make it even awkward to put the award in my signature.