First day with 32 players
Round 1: 32 players 16 matches (played on 16 tables)
Round 2: 16 winners to be played simultaneously with
16 one-loss players (total of 16 played on 16 tables)
First day with less than 16 tables, has to start early -- like noon -- because the above two rounds now become essentially four rounds, but no one is ever waiting for more than one match to finish so their second match can begin. With a noon start, taking advantage of open tables, other matches can carry on, so the worst that can happen is a player going back-to-back in successive long matches (has to be partly their own doing). These players will have to play out their round Friday night. That is very reasonable to ask -- everyone has to finish at least two matches that first day!!
2nd Day The tournament is now down to 8-12 tables at the most for the rest of the tournament, so from Round 3 on, it makes no difference whatsoever whether we are in a room with less than 16 tables or more. Saturday is likely to be a long day, with 4 rounds, so a preferred start time would be 10 AM.
Round 3: 8 players that won their one-loss match vs the 8 that lost their second round winner side match play 8 matches.
Round 4: 8 winner side players play 4 matches, starting as soon as tables from the one-loss round become available. As tables continue to become available, the 8 players in the one-loss side that won in Round 3 play their 4 matches. Since these matches play simultaneously with the winner side matches, it amounts to one round for timing purposes.
Round 5: The 4 players that won their one-loss match vs the 4 that lost their winner side match play their 4 matches. These matches start as soon as tables and players become available.
Round 6: The 4 players that advanced on the winner side play two matches, at the same time the 4 players that advanced in the one-loss side play their two matches. Since these matches play simultaneously with the winner side matches, it amounts to one round for timing purposes. The two losers in the one-loss side finish in 7th/8th place.
Sunday final day
Round 7: The 4 remaining players in the one-loss side play their 2 matches, with the losers finishing in 5th/6th place.
Round 8: The 2 players that advanced on the winner side play their match for the hot seat, at the same time the 2 players that advanced in the one-loss side play their match. Since these two matches play simultaneously, it amounts to one round for timing purposes. The loser on the one-loss side finishes 3rd in the tournament.
Round 9: Finals single race, winner of the hot seat gets the first break.
I would make all winner side matches a race to 3, and the default for the one-loss also races to 3, but if any section of the one-loss side is behind schedule on Saturday, those matches in that section could be races to 2 until the chart is back on schedule. Or you could simply make Rounds 3-4-5 only on Saturday races to 2 on the one-loss side. Saturday is the only problem day in this schedule. Round 6 on the one-loss side determines 7th/8th place so it would be nice to make it a race to 3 -- and it would be the last two matches Saturday night, so just let them play it out. Sunday is only 3 rounds so I don't think you would need to go to any races to 2 for the Sunday matches. Likewise, I see no need for races to 2 on Friday with 32 players -- just let them play it out Friday night!
We have yet to play according to this schedule, we kind of intended last time, but didn't stick to it because of the host room preference not to eliminate players Friday night. That is impossible in our group in a double elimination format if you ask me lol.
Opinions?