For tournaments down here in the trenches I agree. Even traditional 40/120, SD/60 d5 events such as USATE and the NJ Open could be played at G/120, Inc-30 or something like that.
But what about the World Open, the U.S. Championship or the Sinquefield Cup? What single time control would you use there?
The 2017 World Open was 40/120,SD/30;d10. Make that G/120;+30.
The 2017 U.S. Championship was 40/90,SD/30;+30. Make that also G/120;+30.
The 2016 Sinquefield Cup was 40/120,SD/60;+30. Make that G/180;+30.
For the first two, I would agree. For the third, I’d hate to sit there for three hours waiting for a hopelessly lost opponent to resign.
Then again, I expect never to be invited to the Sinquefield Cup. Or if I were, I would expect to never have a hopelessly lost opponent. 
Bill Smythe
I agree
The FIDE Arbiters Manual (Handbook) can be downloaded and/or viewed online at arbiters.fide.com/images/stories … l-2016.pdf. I believe they are working on a new one to incorporate the changes that were effective July 1, 2017.
There are a number of different Leap chess clocks. Is anyone familiar with them? I’m thinking the Leap PQ9912 may become popular so I’m thinking of adding that clock to my document on how to set the popular digital clocks for a single time control with an increment.
Single time controls are easily abused by perfectionists. I know people who would use 179 of the 180 minutes on the opening, and then “play on the increment” – because they just can’t get themselves out of “perfectionist mode” until the clock absolutely forces them to. I hate playing people like this, and would love to see them restricted to postal chess only. I don’t like sitting there for 3 hours before the game gets going. I prefer multiple time controls. Not as much of my time gets wasted.
Looking at the bottom of the clocks, they have all the same presets except the Wholesale Chess Advanced has one extra preset, option 38-40/100,20/40,SD/40;d30
Does the PQ9907S freeze when one side flags?
If so, is this less standard a clock than ones that do not freeze?
I have a bunch of clocks that freeze.
I do like that with the DGT3K you can set either way.
The problem here is that FIDE officially prefers a clock that freezes, while USCF officially prefers one that does not. This creates all kinds of problems for clock manufacturers, as well for players who play both in FIDE-rated events and in USCF-rated events that are not FIDE-rated.
Personally, I believe that both FIDE and USCF should adopt the preference that freezing is preferred at the end of the final control, but not freezing is preferred at the end of preliminary (i.e. non-sudden-death) controls.
Bill Smythe
As noted earlier in the thread, if one side flags the other side’s clock keeps running. That holds true in all cases, including increment, as far as I can see.
Are you sure about that Bill? The manufacturer of the VTEK300 told me they were told by FIDE officials that the clock should not freeze under FIDE rules.
The manufacturer may be confusing FIDE rules with USCF rules.
But perhaps Ken Ballou (wilecoyote) could weigh in here.
Bill Smythe
I don’t think so as the clock also has US Chess settings.
I used the LEAP clock for the first time in rated play today, at a Quick Chess event.
All went well. Used it in six games out of seven at G/15 d3, plus an Armageddon playoff—a first for me, more on that someday—with no problems. One opponent asked why the clock did not show the 3-second delay along with the main time. Yep, he had a Chronos II.
And yes, the way this clock shows the delay tick down, by taking over the whole display, is not ideal. Same as the Saitek and the DGT NA. The Chronos and the DGT 3000 show delay the better way, but they also cost many times more.
Apart from that issue, I enjoyed using this clock today. Something new and different. The display was clear and easy to see despite the clock’s small size. And it took just seconds to re-set the clock after my opponent chose Black in the 6 vs. 4 Armageddon game.
Time will tell if the LEAP holds up, but for now it’s a decent clock overall and an unreal deal for the money.
Even if a digital clock wasn’t delay capable, it would be preferred over an analog clock.