2-2-16 Results from LotS; $9,000 Guaranteed! $9,000 Paid Out...(edited) by NM Leland Fuerstman Considering that it has only been 2 days since the completion of the 2016 Land of the Sky Organized by A. Wilder Wadford and Directed by NCCA President Kevin Hyde, one should only assume that a complete report including images, personal information and games glorifying the winners will be "forthcoming!" However, recalling the perpetual negligence of the NCCA Editor, I seriously doubt you will ever read a comprehensive article about this event. Congratulations to GM Elshan Moradiabadi (2670) from FID (Not exactly a household name, but I could find no reference for a country called FID?) now living in Texas who finished clear 1st Place with 4.5-.5 and received $1,600! In fact, 8 of the 19 players in the section won cash prizes equaling a total of $3,999.99! However, only 8 North Carolina players participated in the section and only 3 of them won money: NM Aaron Balleisen, NM Tianqi Wang and Expert Kireet Panuganti each won $200. In contrast, the U2200 Section was not so fortunate to share in the riches... though there were more than triple the number of entries with 60 players in the section, and they paid the same entry fee as the Open Section, the co-winners Expert Jonathon McNeill (2185) and Peter Michelman (2009) only received $375 each? In fact, only $1,975, less than half the Open, was paid back for the entire section though it had 3 times the players?? The real debacle was the U1700 Section which included players with ratings as low as 1200? In fact, a 1300 player won it! (A ridiculous design. 2 classes or 400 points is the standard and should be the limit). Though this section attracted 68 players, the clear 1st Place winner, Rochan Backthisaran (1609) only received $500? A total of $2,325 was paid back for the section. And, finally, with the entry fee reduced by 50%, the 27 player U1200 Section  only paid back a total of $662.50! (one of the dozen CCC members who participated had to argue at registration to get the $10 discount for "first time" players? He also said that, being 6'6" tall, he was somewhat embarrassed playing a first grader?! LOL) Other members complained about playing a litany of very small and energetic children who caused continuing  distractions. Simply put, the design of the event should have provided for a special scholastic section. Now, when you add up the total prizes paid out to all of the sections combined including two upset prizes, the organizer did, in fact, pay back $9,000. (I was correct about a simple math mistake; Mine! My apologies) However, for many years, the standard payback agreed by most organizers and directors in North Carolina was 75% for small events, and as much as 90% for large ones! After all, the normal system is the "room nights" trade-off for the use of their facility for FREE! In the case of this years event, one can only assume that the number of room nights was met. Therefore, when you multiply 166 entry fees at an average of $90 each, that equals approximately $15,000, minus half and quarter entries and other special discounts should reduce the figure to between $13,500-$14,000 for a payback of less than 60%? I was under the assumption that "Heritage Events" required that a certain % of the EF's be paid back in cash prizes. How much, I'm not sure... But, I would guess that it's greater than 60%. All of this causes one to question whether this event is designed for the good of all North Carolina chess players... furthermore, though the organizer is the NCCA Legal Counsel and the Director is the NCCA President, NCCA membership wasn't even required? Seems like they squandered a perfect opportunity to renew some much needed NCCA memberships... I remain, NM Leland Fuerstman Charlotte Chess Club