International Thud Tournament 2009 long version

Hi Y'All,

Of course, I wouldn't be so eager if i wasn't sure there would be any players. Because yes, we already have one player, just hours after I announced it.
(S)he is not going to tell you who (s)he is, and neither am I, see the Secrecy Rule. But nevertheless, we have one! Who's next, please?

Happy Thudding!

Hi Y'All,

Time for an update. As of today, the 20th of january, we have three players. So we're one short for a first pool. Unless we get another one to join, these three players will go to Holding Pen and will be first to play in march.
But we're still hopeful, aren't we? A lot of you are still considering, and will e-mail me at the last moment, right? To get a chance to play in february?

Please allow me to repeat: anyone can join, at least until the end of Round One. Please see the Rules (check the link in my signature).

Happy Thudding!

Hi Y'All,

In a few moments, I will post the first three games of Round One of ITT2009. Three games? Yes, unfortunately we still have only three players, up until now.
The alternative was to wait another month, but that would almost surely mean ITT2009 would end up in Development Hell and I did not want that to happen. So I had a word with those three, asking whether they would mind if I changed the Rules just a little, and they did not. So all pools are three, not four players.
From now on that's out of the question of course, since as of today ITT2009 has officially started and we can't change Rules mid-term. So that's a promise.
Good luck to all three, and three very big THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU to Altogther Andrews (dec 24), Palm (dec 25) and Mr Scrub (dec 30) for being so quick to join!
To all others: chicken! Come and join us, it's free!

Happy Thudding!

Hi Y'All,

One new player. So we'll only need two more for the next pool, to start on march 1st.
Anyone?

Happy Thudding!

Hi Y'All,

...none, apparently.
Unfortunately, there was only the one in february. This means that this person will need to wait until april 1st to be able to start in ITT2009; (s)he will go to Holding Pen and gets first chance if there are more than three by then*.
Come on people! Only four in over two months time??!! We made it to seven in five weeks last year!

*Last year I read a book in which the author made five (!) then/than mistakes. "...bigger then...", "even more handsome then...", etc. The fact that this was a fantasy book written for adolescents** made me bring it back to the library with the request to paste a warning in it. Fortunately they did. But all the same, this should have been noticed by proofreaders and/or editors. Especially since it is a book for young readers.

**Please note that I did not write "adolescent fantasy"!

Happy Thudding!

I can safely say, I didn't get anything from that, but I just wondered if I would be allowed to apply for a second round since I as almost a newbi had to play thudmasters. Wich is definitely somehting to learn from but anyways... One can try his luck Not that i would be complaining in any way!!!!!

Sorry....
A bit of bad luck, agreed, but so is life. At least, that's what they tell me
But anyway, you seem to be doing rather well up 'til now.

Happy Thudding!

Hi Y'all,

First updates on savegames and scores. Please see the link in my signature, and go from there. You can't miss it.

Happy Thudding!

I missed and hit the "give kudos" button...Impossible!

Oh, i actually can't really complain up till know, if I try not to think about all the future moves. But I just love complaining too much

Hi Y'all,

Just one more please! Tonight I received message that someone wants to join, so that makes two for Pool #2.

Happy Thudding!

Hi Y'All,

For anyone who missed this, I need to tell you that in his enthousiasm Lee inadvertently divulged the name of one of the participants in Pool #2. It's Magrat. Yes, her, the real one, the one we missed for so long.
It's only fair that I tell you, Thudmeister-2009-to-be, in case you missed it.
We have one other, so we still need one more. Join, please! The longer you wait, the shorter the time remaining in which to play. Please see the Rules, you can find them by clicking the link in my signature.

Happy Thudding!

Hi Y'All,

A new update for the Round One, Pool One games can be found at my site.
Still no news regarding Pool Two; we need only one more!

Happy Thudding!

Hi Y'All,

Nope, still only two. They will have to wait another month, may first will hopefully bring better news.

Happy Thudding!

Hi Y'all,

And in may it stays the same: we wait for just one. So sorry...

Hi y'all,

Well, five months came and went, and the same amount of players signed up for the ITT. Not even enough for a second pool.
So all we have is three players who would/could go on to Second Round. Since these are the same players who played each other in First Round, that would be stupid.
So I decided to pull the plug. ITT2009 is over, and no winner.
With "all" players coming from different countries (UK, CH, US and NL) this was as International as it could get, and it was Thud, but you can hardly call it a Tournament with just three players. So I'm very sorry for the players, but there will be no Thudmeister for this IT.

I will try to organise a regular ITT09 this fall; but I'm thinking of how to big it up a little because doing all this work for just seven people, like last year, is just not worth the effort...

gah now i feel bad for not joining Sorry though, i really just could not commit to an all year round thing, and, tbh, I am rather glad i didn't as i was pretty much invisible for an entire month getting uni work finished.

As for the the one later this year, I should at least be a bit more free about then, so if you need a hand OB, dont hesitate to drop me a line. I rather think you deserve a pat on the back and a round of applause for organising all these tournaments. Bravo to you, even if it didn't work out this time.

Ponder

Although it would mean one person less playing, if you need help for the ITT, just tell me. I can give you a hand or two if needed as well (unfortunately I don 't have more two...)

Hi AA,

Thank you, I appreciate the offer.
However, it's not the work as such, it's the "who do I do this for?". I've already made up my mind that if we do the ITT09 short version, it's going to be with at least 12 players. Any less is a no go.
I tried this new idea, which I liked very much but did not seem to get enough support. So be it, no hard feelings (honestly!).
But y'all have to admit that putting up an effort--which it is--and then having seven people sign up for last years ITT is a bit of a disappointment. If I want to do ITT09, I want to at least know that the effort is appreciated; by numbers of players. Accepting your offer would be counterproductive.
But if you have any ideas about bigging the ITT up a little, so we can get more players, just say it in here, or use my e-mail.
Not just you, mind. Everyone is invited to think about the ITT, bring in ideas, recruit cannon-fodder , think about changing The Rules, whatever. That does not necessarily disqualify you for the ITT; once you start playing we need one single referee and that's me. All others can join, I don't have any problem with that.

Let's hear your thoughts.

Happy Thudding!

Hi there OB,
too bad it doesn't continu from here. I was so hoping for my new championship (lol).

I don't have any new ideas, but maybe Lee has some to make it more attractive?

Greetings Palm