We have all seen those tournaments where the titled player gets free entry, and if they win a prize the EF is deducted from the prize. I was wondering exactly how this works. The standard usually is a $100 deduction from any prize won. What if the titled player wins only $50, what do they get? At what point or level do you deduct or not deduct from a won prize?? Anyone know from experience the answer?
The point I believe is to encourage the titled players to play in the event, so how does this effect the decision on deduction from a prize?
I remember a GM showing me a check he received for $1.29 after the deduction of the entry fee from the prize he won. He said he was not going to cash it. It was going to be framed and put on the wall in his apartment as an example of what it means to be a professional chess player.
I thought the standard, if there is one, was whatever the early entry fee was. But I’ve seen (and used) other amounts too.
If the prize is less than the deduction, obviously nothing, unless the organizer is feeling generous. No different than if they didn’t win anything at all (which is probably what a player of that caliber would feel like if they did win such a paltry amount).
FWIW, when I do this (ie, free entry with deduction from winnings), I waive the deduction if the tournament hits the number of entries that my prizes are based on.
I don’t think there is much of a standard. It really depends on the event. At the World Open, GMs who play in the Open section get in free, with a $200 deduction from winnings. IMs and WGMs get a $100 discount, with a $100 deduction from winnings.