Click here to check the final update . Thanks to all for playing, and see you in Paris!
G'day Bruces and Sheilas!
The lonnnnggg off-season is over and it's time for the initial Grand Slam tournament of 2006. All you have to do is predict who will survive from the fourth round on. So pour yourself a coldie, throw a couple of shrimps on the barbie, and get ready for an unforgettable fortnight following the action from Melbourne!!
To be considered official, your entries must be sent via e-mail to Ed Toombs at etoombs@rogers.com, and must be received before the deadline.
Please note the deadline. I must receive your entry by 5:59 PM Eastern Standard Time, Sunday, January 15. This corresponds to 10:59 AM Monday, Melbourne time, and translates to the following times, all on Sunday, January 15: 22h59 GMT and 23h59 CET (I think!).
All entries should contain the following information:
To help guide your inspired choices, you should consult the draws. The draws will be available on numerous sites around the World Wide Web, such as the official tournament site, during the week prior to the tournament. I will also post the draws here for your convenience.
- 32 players whom you think will reach the round of 16 (16 women, 16 men);
- 16 players whom you think will reach the quarterfinals (8 women, 8 men);
- 8 players whom you feel will compete in the semifinals (4 women, 4 men);
- 4 players whom you predict to be the finalists (2 women, 2 men);
- 2 players whom you feel will prevail as Australian Open champions (1 woman, 1 man).
Once the tournament is under way, the complete list of participants and their selections is available here. I also provide regular updates -- daily, if at all possible -- so you can track your progress throughout the tournament and shake your head sadly at my attempts to be witty. And I take a few moments to analyze our entries, to see who we think will be hot, and who will be not.
The contest will once again employ the OJEGSCSSACG (Olaf Janssen's Exquisite Grand Slam Contest Scoring System Amended by Chris Gerby, pronounced "OH-jegs-ksack"). One point will be awarded for each correct prediction in each of the rounds (for players reaching the 4th round, quarters, semis, and finals, as well as the champions).
This means that a great deal of weight will be placed on the 4th round picks, so consider these closely. But contestants who trail after the round of 16 can still make up ground with judicious selections in the later rounds.
In the event of a tie after the tournament, a tie-break system will be used. The winner will be he or she who correctly picks the highest number of champions. If there is still a deadlock, victory will go to the contestant with the most correct finalist selections; and so on back to the 4th round. If there's still a tie after all that, well, there's a tie!
To add to the heart-stopping drama, the Grand Slam Cup will be awarded to the contestant who accumulates the most points in our four Grand Slam Contests.
Special rules:Champions will be declared in the men's and women's draws, as well as the coveted overall trophy. In addition, the Overall champion may also receive a prize, but I can't promise anything at the moment.
- 1. Although you may revise your entry at any time before the deadline, you may not revise your entry after the deadline has passed. No matter how good your reason is!
- 2. No conditional provisions will be recognized. For example: "If Rafael Nadal withdraws, replace him with Stanislas Wawrinka" will not be accepted. You are asked to submit one entry based on the best information you have at the time, and let the chips fall where they may. This is known as the "lazy contest administrator rule".
- 3. The contest slavishly follows the draw. Therefore, your picks must also be consistent with the draw. If there is any inconsistency, I will attempt to contact you before the deadline. But you cannot claim more than one player in the same portion of the draw, and the players you choose are valid only for the section of the draw that is consistent with the rest of your fourth round picks. For example: if you choose Klara Koukalova, she is moved to another section of the draw at the last minute, and I don?t get a revised entry from you before the deadline, you lose Klara for the balance of the contest. I shall attempt to post any late changes to the draw as they are announced, but I advise you to be on the lookout for late breaking news.
- 4. You may choose qualifiers. Just specify "Qualifier" instead of giving a name. This will allow you to claim any qualifiers competing in the portion of the draw that is consistent with the rest of your picks. It does not entitle you to claim qualifiers competing elsewhere in the draw. "Lucky losers" (replacements for players who withdraw at the last minute) will be considered "qualifiers" for the purposes of the contest.
- 5. Only one entry per e-mail address will be accepted.
- 6. I can enter my own contest. I will be sending my entry on the Friday before the tournament to two veteran contestants, Bill Walsh and Chris Gerby. As gentlemen beyond reproach, they can testify to my honesty, or lack thereof.
Get the idea? I'm chuffed! We look forward to your entry.
Click here to check the draws !
Click here to check the daily updates !
Click here to check the complete list of participants and their selections !
Click here to read Mr. Ed's learned analysis of our entries !
Click here to peruse the Grand Slam Cup standings!
Click here to admire the feats of our past champions!
E-mail Ed Toombs, your erstwhile contest administrator
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