To be honest CD, I was more meaning the British scene in general yesterday, rather than the British domestic exho scene.

I'm not sure about the new format. I think there are advantages and disadvantages, and I do think it's better overall personally. I do like the fact players only have to play 5 matches now, rather than 7 in 7 days, but at the same time, looking at the schedule today, and just seeing a bunch of 5-12 playoff matches, there's nothing really there that takes my interest, especially with Jasmine withdrawing, so I will probably give the day a swerve, and watch the semi finals tomorrow. One semi final today, one tomorrow, and the final on Sunday would have been better from a spectacle POV, but then a rest day for all four, and both semi finals tomorrow is obviously much better from a fairness POV. Maybe they could make it a 6 day event in future and end on the Saturday instead?

I thought the schedule might have resulted in less withdrawals, but obviously Jasmine withdrew, and I see there was a withdrawal in the men's in the lower playoff bracket as well, but at least it doesn't affect the actual top end side of things - e.g. all groups matches took place as planned, as well as all 4 QFs yesterday, and presumably both semi finals will tomorrow, so it's just the lesser placings that are hit a bit, whereas in the past we have seen someone like Talia come in on the final group day, lose 0 and 0 to Eliz in 33 mins, which can affect the whole course of a group, especially if it was a fairly competent player she was replacing, who could have given the benefactor a proper match. I'm not sure how they will sort the 'lesser placings' - e.g. Holly could win her three 9-12 round robin matches, and finish 9th, whereas this Jonea 'Jojo' Bach (who I'd never heard of) could come in for Jasmine, lose both of her two 5-8 playoff matches 0-6 0-6, and presumably finish 8th in the group, which would be weird / wrong - so I'm not sure what will happen there.