I actually think the answer is the 'chess clock' system discussed elsewhere.

You have say 12 minutes each (for arguments sake) and whilst you are in play your clock runs down and whilst your opponent is in play his/hers run down. That way if the game does not end through a winning pot then the player whose clock expires loses. The benefit to that is also that if you really needed longer than normal over a difficult shot then you could take it.

I think that is an excellent idea!

I think it's a good idea too, but surely the clock for each shot should be limited in some way?

Otherwise you could have someone sitting there for 12 minutes (as an example), and even though this wouldn't be a benefit for them, it would become irritating for the other player.

Yes that was part of the previous discussions. After a period of inactivity (90 secs maybe), you would get defaulted from the match.

Seems to be the best compromise to me.

Too true. In fact, I was in a DQ-DQ game in a straight quarter-final once and with time running our, he was 34 and I was 30, or thereabouts. There were about 10 secs left (or so I thought) and I tried to watch the game room, but it was just too late. But other morons won't do that. And I don't use that word "moron" in a light way. Course, if the players are, say, 17-15 or something when time elapses, I wouldn't imagine either player leaving, cos the other one clearly isn;t worth of the win. But that would come down to an individual decision at that timew, as opposed to a player who is 32-10 up and the losing player has the ball with 20 secs to go.



The tippytappy player will fail.

Yes, and maybe it would be preferable if the system used is one that can't be, or is very difficult to be, predicted, estimated or calculated by either player in order than one player might play defensively near the end in order to allow himself/herself to fall over the line on countback, i.e. to encourage both players to make a go of it. But the method of deciding the winner needs to be transparent and obvious at the game's end.



Agreed.

but chess clock in the final only, or for all games??

Could be controversial. A player takes his/her time over shots and, through excellent safety play and excellent positional play, goes 4-1 or 4-2 up. And then his/her timer runs out. Ouch. Penalised for taking the time to play well??? So perhaps not in finals.

well i think if you want a chess clock, then you need a "your turn sound".

http://www.funkypool.com/viewTopic.do?topicid=14831

Hmmm, possibly...