There are plenty of reasons that somebody might hesitate to register for and attend a Smash major. Sometimes people simply don't have the money and time to attend the event, but other factors play in too.





For example, some lower level players may hesitate to pay upwards of $50 for the tournament before factoring in hotel expenses and the likelihood of simply going 0-2 in the bracket on the first day of the event.





Knowing this, event organizers try and ensure that all players get the most bang for their buck.

Round robin pools? Somebody get me into SnS — rickles @ home (@iamrickles) June 10, 2016

One of these incentives is to run round robin format for pools. Put between six to eight players in a pool together and have them all play a best-of-three set against each of the other players. The top two or three players in set count make it out of pools into the next bracket.





This allows all players to have a good amount of games to play before they get knocked out.





However, there are a few drawbacks to running this format.

out of pools as the first seed. It almost takes away from the value of upsetting a top player. — Locus @ #BoBC2 (@LocusSK) June 6, 2017

The biggest drawback to the format is that dropping a set in pools doesn't mean anything to a top player. They have several other set wins to buffer their singular loss, so it doesn't mean too much.





The counterpoint to this is that it makes the pools value consistency more than just winning two or three sets, but the argument still has validity.





Just imagine if CEO 2016 pools had been round robin. When Jose "Prince Ramen" Tijerina beat Gonzalo "ZeRo" Barrios, it wouldn't have meant anything except pride. ZeRo would have been able to shrug and make it out winners side still.

Another downside to running bracket pools is that it could seem a bit extra to top players. In the mini-documentary series about Joseph "Mang0" Marquez, he mentions that he likes bracket pools because he plays three sets and is done.





With round robin pools, though, he would be required to play double that number. While not a big inconvenience, it could be viewed by some players as unnecessary.





It's not an opinion that's voiced much, but the argument does exist.

I've also seen people who have already lost 2 sets make it out of round robin pools, and make it into winners side of final bracket — GShark (@GShark54) June 6, 2017

Another big advantage to running round robin pools is that it provides an actual comeback factor. Unlike in bracket pools, you can't get an unfortunate seed and go 0-2 due to bad luck.





Instead, you lose those two sets and then come back and body everybody else you haven't already played. With a bit of luck, you can make it out despite two bad performances because of the different skill set that round robin values.

Also Amateur Bracket starts at 7pm EDT as well for those who almost made it into Top 32.#Shine2016

✊❤ — Bear  #CEO2017 (@BearUNLV) August 27, 2016

For those who hate round robin pools, but still want to give the people who don't make it out of pools more sets to play, there's also the option of running an amateur bracket.





It's just another tournament made of people who placed below a certain threshold in pools. Perhaps everybody who went 0-2, 1-2, or 2-2 is allowed for the amateur bracket. This way, people are guaranteed at least three or four competitive sets.





All sides of the argument make sense, and the amateur bracket alternatives can add value as well. Just don't forget about the unforutunate souls that go 0-2.

Image courtesy of Smash 'N' Splash 3 SmashGG