In their attempt to improve everyone’s tournament experience, the organizational team over at Combo Breaker have decided to trial a new pool system for Combo Breaker 2017. In order to lessen instances of double jeopardy–where players have to fight the same person that put them into Losers’–Combo Breaker will have it so two people qualify out of Losers’, instead of just one.
As explained by Combo Breaker’s competitor director Max “CurlingW” Wasserman, each tournament that has over 81 entrants will have it so the Losers’ Finals of each pool is simply not played, and that both competitors advance forward into the next phase of bracket in Losers’ side. Brackets will still remain operate within the double elimination format, but dropping Losers’ Finals reduces chances of double jeopardy matches by almost half.
Introducing 3-player-advancing pools! Find out more from our Competition Director, @CurlingW at https://t.co/WONkEaA7aD! pic.twitter.com/QyQHXYuMC8
— Combo Breaker (@ComboBreakerFGC) February 24, 2017
Through this system, the bracket following phase one pools is 50% larger–so a top 32 bracket is now a top 48 bracket–but it ensures that everyone faces different opponents from different pools. Besides the obvious bonus of reducing instances of double jeopardy, it makes brackets go a lot quicker, as pool captains and stream runners are not waiting around for Losers’ Finals, which cannot be played at the same time as other games.
According to Wasserman at last year’s Combo Breaker, there were 60 Losers’ bracket rematches across 72 pools, with 45% of these happening within Losers’ Finals. If Combo Breaker 2016 had run the three out pool system, there would have only been 33 Losers’ bracket rematches in total, with 60% of pools having zero rematches.
This new system looks like it is beneficial for everyone involved in Combo Breaker, so let’s hope the new pools result in faster and more contended tournament goers. You will be able to see the three out pool system in action from May 26th-28th in St Charles, Illinois when Combo Breaker takes over the Mega Center.
Source: Combo Breaker