Age Group Playing-Up - No Problem
Hi Bob G:
Sorry but I don't see any problem with a 7 year old being Canadian U 10 Open Champion, if he is the " best " U 10. But you are right that he then must play for Canada in the WYCC U 10 Open - when he chooses his age group initially, he must stay there. Thus all your " straw man " problems just don't arise.
I don't know about the Canadian history, but I think it is done in the USA YCC.
Bob A
Playing-Up - Should be Allowed
Under a system prohibiting playing up, if junior George is 7 years old, and a GM with a rating of 2700, he must play in the U 8 Open, with opponents rated in the 1300’s. He cannot play in the U 18 Open, with the cream of Canada’s youth players, some of whom are IM’s.
Not good IMHO.
I agree with Fred that an " exception " committee is one way to go. If a child wants to play up, they make an application to someone, who in their wise discretion decides on a case by case basis. This is the least favourable option in my mind. Arbitrariness will be the charge of the day.
Best to give kids the freedom to choose! Why not? I agree there should be a limit to playing up - cannot be more than 100 pts. below the bottom ranked player when registrations close. And if the child, George, plays in the U 10 Open CYCC, and becomes champion, then he gets to go to the WYCC and play for Canada - in the U 10 Open.
If he then, however, wants to go back to the U 8 Open WYCC, fine - but he loses his U 10 bursary, which then devolves to the second place player. And George cannot displace the U 8 Open CYCC champion if he decides to play in the U 8 WYCC. He pays his own way, and the U 8 Open Can. Champion has a protected bursary.
Bob A