Altered Counterpicking Format

[Dapplegonger]

I have an idea for a new format for picking/counterpicking stages in a tournament setting.

Best of 3's

• Stage striking as normal for the first match
• Counterpick/ban as normal for the second match
• If it goes to three matches, 2 stages get banned

This evens out the inequality created by the winner of the first match being able to pick the stage for the last match

Best of 5's

• Stage striking as normal for the first match
• Counterpick/ban as normal for subsequent matches (with exceptions)
• If the score is 2-0 and the losing player wins the following match, 2 stages get banned
• If the set goes to game five, 2 stages get banned

These are for the same reason as in the best of 3's

Grand Finals' First Set

• In the first match of this set, as opposed to stage striking, the player coming from the Winner's bracket bans two stages while the player from the Loser's bracket counterpicks
• The rest of the set, as well as the Grand Finals' Second Set if necessary, are played with the Best of 5 rules

Because the player coming up from Loser's bracket has such a huge mountain to climb if he wants to win while the player from Winner's bracket starts off with a huge advantage, this evens the playing field a little bit