Quoted from chuckwurt:Sandbagging is to blame for this.
I see a lot of people saying this, but providing little evidence. Not only are people saying this, they are advocating changes in the format to combat it. Changes that would make Pinburgh not Pinburgh, like 'allow people to choose a division beforehand.' This just leaves us with 4 separate tournaments. It doesn't give the first timers the opportunity to play with the World Champions. It isn't the largest tournament ever, every year.
As for sandbagging itself, [FACT] there is no indication that it is a widespread problem. [OPINION] I would be surprised if it was, because the potential gains are not very high [it isn't cheap to come to Pittsburgh and 1) stay here for 3-4 nights, and 2) pay for entry to Pinburgh/Replay, and 3) pay for food/incidentals, 4) all while missing work].
What caused 33 wins to make the cut was less than 1/4 of the field made it into A with a cut-line of 33.5. Therefore, 33 finds itself inside the cut for A. That's it. All people with 33 are placed into A. They used to do a playoff for this (can you imagine 53 people playing off for 5 spots?) and they used to let people choose which way to go, but now the rule is everyone tied on a cut-line will be put in the higher division.
How about, as a different suggested change: if you hear someone talking about how they want to lose a game to end up in B (C or D), say something. To somebody. Personally I would say something to them, but if you didn't feel comfortable with that (completely understandable) - say something to a TD. Anybody doing that is taking away from the Pinburgh the rest of us are paying for. Maybe the TDs could issue them a warning and that would solve the problem. Maybe it would come to something else. Whatever it came to would be on that player for their decisions and not you for speaking up.
One other note - qualifying for finals from 33 points happened.