Hello Players and Fans,
Just a short note on the next season. The qualifiers will be as usual aligned with the end of 
I am considering two formats and would like to ask for your opinion.
Our norm is a Group Phase, with typically 24 players, divided into 4 groups of 6 players. Single robin mode means 5 match days in the group phase, followed by 4 playoff rounds with a single match per round (round of 16, quarterfinal, semifinal, final).
The last season introduced a novelty, League Stage modeled on UEFA Champions League. One huge league with 32 players, but only 7 match days. Matches are not random, opponents have been selected based on ranking and recent achievements. After the league stage, top 8 players advanced to Round of 16, while players in places 9-24 competed in additional knock-out round. Then normal playoffs followed.
Which format do you favor?
Here's my take.
The new League Stage format is complex to set up and it might be difficult to follow. However, it makes sure that each player has a fair mix of rivals, meaning that even the most struggling players have a chance to compete against their equals at least two times. Last season, only one player out of 32 did not score any points.
The traditional Group Phase format is easier to set up, easier to follow, but due to the size of the groups, the "big" players meet their equals only in the playoffs. Many times low ranked players lose all their group matches and also many times the group standings are predictable.
Pinging here participants of the last season.
