Judges: Prize Splitting
Asked by GlistenerAgent 10 years ago
Let's say I'm playing in a PTQ for PT Khans of Tarkir for fun. I am already qualified for the Pro Tour, but I wanted to play some Modern.
As it happens, I make it to the finals and am playing against a player who is not qualified. Obviously, since I don't need the invite to the Pro Tour, I'd like to see if my opponent would like to exchange some amount of the higher monetary prize of first place for a concession from me (and thus the PTQ invite). How would I have to approach this to not be disqualified for bribery?
filledelanuit says... Accepted answer #2
Take my word with a grain of salt is I am not a judge. However I am studying to be so so I have studied the IPG and the MTR.
If you are in the finals of a single elimination you are allowed to split the prizes in an agreed upon fashion. In this case you could offer to split with your opponent with you getting a larger amount of money/packs and your opponent getting the invite.
The important part about this is the phrasing of the request. Don't say "hey, if I drop will you..." This could get you DQ'd depending on the exact phrasing. Try to use the word "split". If you are worried about this talk to the head judge before the round starts and get confirmation from on the exact phrasing. If you warn them ahead of time then you should be fine.
If a judge does not like how you phrased it you should ask them to look at the MTR under section 5.2 for the exception. You have the right to appeal this to the head judge and you you are DQ'd then you should.
If for some odd reason you are DQ'd make sure that in your statement you are clear that you knew about the MTR exception and were just trying to use that. While the suspension committee cannot reverse a DQ they have the option to basically do nothing if they believe the judge'sa decision was wrong.
TL;DR: be careful about how you phrase the request and if at all possible talk to the head judge, make sure it is the head judge, before the finals start.
August 29, 2014 9:10 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #3
I phrased my question incorrectly. I did mean that I wanted to ask my opponent to split the prizes, with me getting more of the money and him getting the invite.
I suppose a follow-up question would be: why is a prize split considered distinct from bribery?
August 29, 2014 9:13 p.m.
There's a difference between "splitting" and "conceding". In the case he mentioned, splitting wouldn't accomplish what he was trying to accomplish. If you "split", both players concede and its a draw. In this fashion, you can divide the prizes however you choose. But if you want one person to concede, and the other to get a win, there's no way to accomplish that within the rules. Wizards doesn't want people to be able to essentially bribe others with prizes in exchange for points.
August 29, 2014 9:14 p.m.
Ohthenoises says... #5
I've seen this before and usually the first sentence is something along the lines of "Look, I'm going to level with you, I can't go to the PTQ do you want to settle this where you get the invite..." This was before the whole DQ thing.
August 29, 2014 9:18 p.m.
filledelanuit says... #6
They MTR exception exists for situation exactly like these. Wizards understands that a second invite is useless and as such wants players to still have an option to play. They also set their PT quotas so if people get multiple invites then their math gets weird.
Generally they wan the experience to be fun but it isn't fun to have less of a prize for winning if you already have the invitation. So they added the exception to make it more fun.
August 29, 2014 9:18 p.m.
Ohthenoises says... #7
SO in your case it would be more along the lines of ""Look, I'm going to level with you, I already qualified, do you want to settle this where you get the invite..."
August 29, 2014 9:20 p.m.
filledelanuit says... #8
IF YOU ARE GOING TO COMMENT ON THIS THREAD PLEASE READ THE MTR. (specifically section 5.2)
If you will look at the example in the MTR you will see that it is exactly the same as the OP's question:
Example: In the finals of a 1-slot Pro Tour Qualifier that offers a travel award and an invitation to the winner, the two finalists may agree to split the tournament prizes, but this agreement cannot alter the results of the match. One player must drop from the tournament, leaving the travel award and the invitation to the player who did not drop from the tournament. That player is then free to split the remainder of the prizes as agreed upon. The travel award and invitation are a single item and may not be split.
I hope this clears up any confusion over whether you will we be DQ'd (you won't).
August 29, 2014 9:34 p.m.
Epochalyptik says... #9
Rules questions should be asked in the Q&A, which is linked in the header. I can't convert this thread to a Q&A question, so I'm moving it to BE.
August 29, 2014 10:46 p.m.
MSU_Iced_Z says... #10
http://www.channelfireball.com/articles/carrie-on-three-rules-you-really-should-know/
Great resource on this exact issue.
kmcree says... #1
There's no legal way to do this, and not be DQ'd. You are never allowed to exchange anything for a concession, and in most shops, even bringing it up will get you DQ'd.
August 29, 2014 8:59 p.m.