LMFAO, yeah ullyart1 and smithy asked first so they should be filled in for ireland and thats you full

Put me down for Ireland if yah want

Right, we have our 16 players, and they and their countries are......

Wales
1. madmiketyson
2. rob_llew
3. cityfan84
4. pro_i_am

England
1. chris_1986
2. nathyboy
3. alex19933
4. cool_jack

Ireland
1. clooneman
2. kowalzski
3. ullyart1
4. smithbit

Scotland
1. colins
2. aarond
3. mr_mcquiston
4. bunrzybhoy

Apologies for originally leaving ullyart1 out, he posted at the same time as I and due to less then attentive practies from me, I missed it. Ullyart1 has now been registered as a fully-fledged Irishman. He has assured me his birth cert is in the post.

We have a couple of players in reserve in case of puller-outers, and them is:
dr35d3n
rich

I'll try and do the draw (http://www.chatzy.com/422794745765) in the next few mins, but if not then it'll be this evening. Aaaaaaaaand it's having problems. So am I, I imbibed a surfeit of ethanolised beverage yestaddý. Either way, thanks all for your collective patience, and get ready...

...to represent your countries (native and assumed) to take home the bacon.

A draw?

Isn't a lot easier to just shove all the 1s in Group 1. All the 2s in group 2. All the 3s in Group 3 and the 4s in Group 4?

Nnnnnnnnnope

I mean we could, but I don't wanna

Draw's taking place here: http://www.chatzy.com/422794745765

Right, I did the draw (because Michel Platini wouldn't help me) and here's what happened:

Group A
rob_llew
chris_1986
bunrzybhoy
smithbit

Group B
cityfan84
alex19933
colins
ullyart1

Group C
clooneman
pro_i_am
nathyboy
aarond

Group D
madmiketyson
cool_jack
kowalzski
mr_mcquiston

Players in the same group will play each other once, best of 3 (first to 2). Position within the group is decided by the number of wins. Ties will be broken by the number of 2-0 wins (cos they're better than 2-1 wins), and if that fails, then the result of the game(s) between the players in question. Top two players in each group will progress to the next stage.

After 16 becomes 8, we have the knockout stages. Don't forget that once three countries' entire contingents arefknockout round (effectively the quarterfinals), I'll try and pair off (randomly, naturally) group winners and runners up, and.....

...from different groups. Bear in mind that as well as these two conditions, there's also the rule that players from the same country shall not play each other. If this becomes impossible (e.g. an English group winner and 3 English runner-ups), then the condition blocking group winners playing each other goes out the window.

Any questions? Start playing, and good luck!

P.S. Come on Ireland!

VOTE: who wants the knockout rounds to be first to 3 instead of 2?

Me...

me

Right, that's enough for me... Group stages are first to 2, knockout games are first to 3.

ullyart1 2-1 colins ggs m8 v ul at end



that is from group B

Edited at 01:41 Sun 2/09/07 (BST)

Edited at 01:44 Sun 2/09/07 (BST)

Whoa whoa whoa, not having that! it was 2-1.

Slight tweaking of the rules

If two players each win two games in a group and haven't yet played each other, they needn't bother. They've both qualified, and because neither is classed as group winner or runner-up, it makes things easier for the knockout phase. However, they may still then be drawn against each other.

I have half a mind to jetisson that other condition about group winners playing runners-up, but I don't want to start playing with the rules in the middle of it.

Right, one game's been played, let's have the rest... I plan being online for the evening

Group C
clooneman (Ireland) 1 - 2 nathyboy (England)

I'm still in a state of shock

yer gg's m8 ul on last one though m8 gl in rest of it

I made a messof the rules for splitting ties... forgot about losing stats as well. Two players locked on frames won - they're split by frame difference over the three games. Other rule change still applies, i.e. "If two players each win two games in a group and haven't yet played each other, they needn't bother. They've both qualified, and neither is classed as group winner or runner-up"

Edited at 19:18 Sun 2/09/07 (BST)

Edited at 19:21 Sun 2/09/07 (BST)

clooneman (Ireland) 2 - 0 pro_i_am (Wales)

I was v lucky

aarond!!!

Last Login: 17:21 Tue 28/08/07, hmmmmmmmmm

Edited at 19:20 Sun 2/09/07 (BST)