With the 2016 US Tak Open Tournament imminent, there is a lot to be excited about. Perhaps most notably, this is the first official major online Tak tournament, fully supported by the US Tak Association. As a result, there are actual prizes in store for first and second place. More so, there is actual prestige and status on the line. In addition, there are 149 registered participants, making it the largest Tak tournament to date. Of these participants, 81% are from the US, while the rest are from 11 other countries, making this an international event!
This tournament will be comprise of two stages. The first stage will feature a Swiss-system of tournament, creating an initial ranking of players. In this stage, players will compete on a 5x5 board, with 10 minutes on the clock, but gaining 15 seconds for every move. Of these, the top 32 will move on to the playoffs. This second stage will feature a double-elimination bracket. In this stage, players will play on the 6x6 board, with 15 minutes to play and a 20 second gain per move.
Given the number of players and matches, it is estimated that the tournament will last through the end of December, if not into the beginning of 2017.
In the end, only 1 champion will be victorious. Will one of our previously high-ranking players take this coveted spot? Or will a new name surface and claim the glory for their own?
Follow this blog as I continue to provide updates and summaries about the 2016 US Tak Open. In contrast to the previous Open, I will not be doing full scale, in-depth analysis. Rather, I plan to provide summaries, highlights, and showcase a few positions or games that stand out.
