What oddball prizes have you given or received at a chess tournament?? I had an event called “Cheap Shot Open” where in each section I awarded a trophy for the best “cheap shot”, which was a trophy in the shape of a turkey. I also (and still have) a trophy I had created for a “Chess Bowling” tournament, where the idea was that 4-5 players on a team would bowl the standard 10 frames, and after each turn bowling the team player had to make a move for their team. I didn’t get anyone for the event, which is why I still have the trophy. That is a long trophy with a bowler at one end and 10 pawns (in the classic shape of 10 bowling pins) at the other end. I still would like to have a “Chess Bowling” tournament someday, and not just to get rid of the trophy.
Gary Marks, who seldom wore anything other than shorts, used to hold the Polar Bear Open, usually in an October-November time frame, but sometimes in winter. There was a special polar bear trophy that went to the highest scoring player who wore shorts during the entire tournament.
BTW, it is true that Gary wore shorts to his wedding.
We use to give a “Marco Polo” award. It was a trophy given to the player who had traveled the greatest distance to be in the tournament. Usually announced and handed out between the 2nd and 3rd round to great applause.
Back in the days when the Houston Chess Club was running their all-night Insanities, I remember the TLA for one of them had as a prize Igor Ivanov’s toothbrush.
A recent tournament in Sacramento gave a bottle of Lost Savignon Blanc to the player with the Most Rating Points Lost. The recipient lost 8 out of 9 games. There also was a more conventional category for Most Rating Points Gained.
Our door prizes were often unusual. If the tournament was near Easter, we would give out packages of marshmallow peeps and chocolate eggs. I think the sugar coating on the peeps could withstand a nuclear attack. When our fall event was near Halloween we would give a best costume prize among other door prizes. Summer tournaments would have door prizes like Cracker Jack, swimming goggles, pool toys, or popsicle making kits. We even gave out chess stuff like electronic chess games, sets and boards, club logo scorebooks, and chess books. Players were often happier to get a door prize than a shiny trophy with a marble base. We looked at door prizes as a way for many of the players to leave with something regardless of their score while promoting our club. Usually, more than half of the participants walked away with some sort of prize. Not very profitable, but very satisfying.