While i agree with your sentiment (regarding Keith being within his rights to do what he wants), the assumption that 800 to 900k on Dialed In is insurmountable or hard is incorrect. Most decent players should be able to do that, even with very basic rules knowledge on Dialed In. Hit guy, hit phone, hit flashing lights, get SIM card and repeat.

This is one thing i think is not in the best interest of the running of the tournament as a whole. It can really drag out time for the event. A few years ago at a major Aussie event (150ish players), with 7 x 3 game rounds, practice easily added an hour plus to the day. Its not just 30 seconds per player.... its the ball saves from playing the game out, rounding up the 4 people (in the middle of 150 other people), someone wanting an extra 5 seconds so starting a new game, then plunging the other balls out.

Part of the challenge i reckon, having a little bit of mystery around the small nuances of an individual game. In my tournaments, if i have long playing game set up with tight tilts - i put a sign on the game to advise this so everyone is on the same page.

I'm with RGR on this one - i think games should be set up super tough for major tournamnets. That way, it makes players have to be adaptable. There are some players who regularly do quite well, who typically play quite rough (lots of hard slapping and constant moving the machine - not abusing it), but when they get to a tight tilt game, they turn to custard. That to me, is not a top level player - that player should be adaptable. Play a new stern, and 90s, and EM and undstand the differences in phyiscs, bounce etc. The player should look to see if outlanes are mega wide, or even if lightning flippers installed etc and adapt thier play style appropraitely - maybe go for safe return to flipper shots than go for the 'blow the score up strategy'.

While i've said the above from the perspective of ensuring the best all round skilled player is rewarded, i also think it goes a long way for the viewers and fellow competitors. No-one wants to watch a 1 hour long epic on LOTR, however the one at Brisbane Masters last year was set up brutally hard and it worked - Good scores were over 5 or 6M, many were aroudn 1-2M.