Recording a "Forfeit" in Swiss Tournaments

[ktkenshinx]

I am running an online tournament and an issue just came up. Two players were unable to schedule a time to play, although it was largely the fault of one of them. Because of this, that guilty player wants to forfeit the round to his opponent.

In the event of a mutually agreed upon forfeit, how do I record this in the standings? In the case of Player A and Player B, who gets how many points? For example, because Player B intentionally forfeited, I could give Player A a 2-0 point spread because he "won" the match, but this would artificially his tiebreakers later.

Should I record the match between Player A/Player B as a 1-0 win for Player A? Or something else? I would appreciate if anyone who helps with this question could cite a source for the answer, whether the DCI Floor Rules (which I have unsuccessfully looked through) or some other document.

Thank you for your help.

-ktkenshinx-

[Nihil Credo]

http://www.wizards.com/wpn/Document.aspx?x=Magic_The_Gathering_Tournament_Rules

Page 44 details the scoring system. According to that, Player A gains 3 Match points for winning a match, and 0 Game points since "Unplayed games are worth 0 points". I infer that you should record the result as 0-0-0, with a win for Player A. This will make the round affect his match-win% tiebreaker but not his game-win% tiebreaker.

If this is not technically possible because of the software you use, I think you might want to treat the forfeit as a Bye. The paragraph on Byes states that "When a player is assigned a bye for a round, he or she is considered to have won the match 2–0. Thus, that player earns 3 match points and 6 game points. A player’s byes are ignored when computing his or her opponents’ match-win and opponents’ game-win percentages."

You should also check paragraph 2.4 at page 11. Interestingly, it never explicitly says what exactly should be recorded for conceding a whole match, but it does specify that if Player B had won a game before conceding then one must record it as a 2-1 win for Player A (presumably to avoid confusion).

[cdr]

Concessions are recorded as 2-0.

[ktkenshinx]

Thanks for the help with this. I will implement the advice in the tournament.

Is there any source for concessions being recorded as 2-0? I fully believe you when you say it cdr, I just would also want a source to back me up. Additionally, would you have any advice on what to do in the event of one player effectively "no-showing" to a match? Would that also be recorded as 2-0 in favor of the player who actually showed up?

-ktkenshinx-

[dorsch]

Tournament Rules Page 11:

2.4 Conceding or Intentionally Drawing Games or Matches
If a game or match is not completed, players may concede or mutually agree to a draw in that game or match. A match is considered complete once the result slip is filled out or, if match slips are not being used, a player leaves the table after game play is finished. Until that point, either player may concede to or draw with the other, though if the conceding player won a game in the match, the match must be reported as 2-1. Intentional draws are always reported as 0-0-3.
Players may not agree to a concession or draw in exchange for any reward or incentive. Doing so will be considered Bribery (see section 5.2).
If a player refuses to play, it is assumed that he or she has conceded the match.

Judging at Regular REL:

Players arriving late to their game deserve a special mention, as players more than ten minutes late are considered to have forfeited their match.

Infraction Procedure Guide (for competitive REL only):

4.1. Tournament Error — Tardiness
Definition
A player fails to comply with announced time limits.
Examples
A. A player arrives to her seat 5 minutes after the round begins.
B. A player hands in his decklist after the time designated by the judge or organizer.
C. A player loses his or her deck and must find replacement cards after the round has begun.
D. A player sits at an incorrect table and plays the wrong opponent.
Philosophy
Players are responsible for being on time and in the correct seat for their matches, and for completing registrations in a timely manner.
Additional Remedy
Give no penalty if the round started early and a player arrived at his or her seat before the originally announced start time. At Competitive events, the Tournament Organizer may elect to give players the amount of time allotted for the pre-game procedure (3 minutes) before a penalty is issued. Otherwise, the penalty is issued as soon as the round begins. A player not in his or her seat 10 minutes into the round will receive a Match Loss and be dropped from the tournament unless he or she reports to the Head Judge or Scorekeeper before the end of the round.

So if a player concedes a match, you should report the match just as 2-0 and treat it that way.
If a player does not want or is not able to play his match, he should receive a match loss and you should report that match as 2-0

[cdr]

Thanks for the help with this. I will implement the advice in the tournament.

Is there any source for concessions being recorded as 2-0? I fully believe you when you say it cdr, I just would also want a source to back me up. Additionally, would you have any advice on what to do in the event of one player effectively "no-showing" to a match? Would that also be recorded as 2-0 in favor of the player who actually showed up?

-ktkenshinx-

Matches are composed of games; barring hitting the time limit, in order to win a match you must win two games. Conceding a match is conceding two games.

"Until that point, either player may concede to or draw with the other, though if the conceding player won a game in the match, the match must be reported as 2-1."

You can derive from that line that matches where the conceding player has not won a game, the match is recorded 2-0.

And yes, tardiness resulting in a match loss is recorded as 2-0.