China Ultimate

There are two versions of the schedule currently circulating, and which we use depends on whether the nine guys from Henan will get two women to form their own team. The following assumes they'll be successful.

SEEDS

CHINESE
1 Tianjin 5 Star
2 Shenzhen
3 Air Kazak A
4 Hong Kong
5 Tianjin Speed
6 Beijing Bang
7 Dalian Smurfs
8 Dalian Navigator
9 Hang Time
10 Air Kazak B
11 Tianjin Ultimate
12 Air Woo

FOREIGN
1 Big Brother Ugly
2 Big Brother Sexy
3 Shanghai X
4 Shanghai Y
5 FUQ (Qingdao)
6 Henan
7 Dragons Red
8 Dragons Blue


POOLS




SATURDAY SCHEDULE (all games begin at 9:30 a.m.)




CORRECTION: BJ Sexy plays Shanghai X in Rd. 6, not Y.

UPDATE, 5/14: Answers to your questions:

We've received inquiries as to why the Chinese pool crossover is CA1 vs. CB2 as opposed to CA1 vs. CB1. Two responses:

1. We want the pool winners to get, hypothetically, an easier crossover game. And remember, this crossover is of utmost importance: it's the difference between getting a bye into Sunday as either the 3 or 4 seed or playing a fifth game on Saturday -- an elimination game, no less, as either the 7 or 8 seed (vs. the 9 or 10 to determine who plays the 1 or 2 seed the next day).

Ergo: The pool winners get a slightly (hypothetically speaking) easier game, against the other pool's second-place finisher.

2. HOWEVER, we also wanted the pools' second-place finishers to get a chance to play up into the 3-4 slots, owing to the fact that, not knowing how strong some of these teams are, we may have accidentally placed, say, three really strong teams in the same pool. It's quite likely the 3 and 3 seeds will come from the same pool, and if that happens, we're fine with that -- as should be everyone else, because -- and this is the important part -- the 3 and 4 seeds (along with all the others) are determined by who wins on the field.

Any more questions/concerns, don't hesitate to ask.

FIELD LOCATION AND DIRECTIONS, MAPS; SATURDAY NIGHT PARTY VENUE (schedule in next post)

Hello everyone,
大家好，

I hope that you are as excited as we are about the upcoming Chinese Nationals. Everything is almost finalised up here.
希望你们都有我这么期待这周末的中国公开赛。这里的事差不多都敲定。

I will be sending more maps tomorrow (cannot get them to attach right now) for the hotels/restaurant area and the Fields. Buses will be available from the hotels to the fields and from the fields to the party/dinner on Saturday. On Sunday buses will be available from the hotels again and then into town after the finals. If you are not staying at the tournament hotels please find your own way to the fields.
我今天会发出(旅馆、餐馆和)场地的地图。周六会有巴士车送我们从场地到旅馆和餐馆。周日早上巴士也会送我们到场地，决赛之后可以送我们到北京市内。如果你没住在比赛制定的旅馆，请自己解决交通的问题。

The best way to go to the fields is by getting off at the Beiyuan Road North Subway stop (北苑路北站) on the 5-line. Get in a cab and head back in the direction you came and get on the fifth ring road going East. You will get off at the next exit (just after the exhibition center) and follow the map. Head south till the “T” interestion (three lights) and take a left. At the first left (a large entrance to a golf club) take a left and enter. Cabs will not be able to come into the club.
最方便去场地的方法是在地铁的北苑路北地铁站下，打车上五环往东走。在下个出口下（刚过展览馆）然后跟着地图的标志。往南到个钉子路口（3个红绿灯）向左转。大门（高尔夫俱乐部）就在左侧。出租车不让进俱乐部。

The hotels are on Chaoyang Road (潮阳路) two or three lights east of the Erwai university (二外大学). If you take the subway you can get off at the Chuanmei University (传媒大学站) or Shuangqiao stations (双桥站) on the Batong line (八通线) and head north to Chaoyang Road.
旅馆在朝阳路上，过了二外大学之后两三个红绿灯。你可以坐地铁到传媒大学站或双桥站，在往北向朝阳路。

Addresses and maps are provided below.
以下有地址和地图。

Also, without further ado, we present the seeding and format of the tournament. If you have any problems with the seeding we will be glad to discuss it.
大家最期待的，比赛的安排和小组。如果对于你队伍的排名或比赛形式有任何问题，请联系我们。

Games start at 9:30 each day but please be on the fields by 9:00.
每天的比赛9:30准时开始，请9:00之前到达场地。

The following is the contact information for the various venues around town.
以下是个个地方的联系方式。

The fields: No. 9 Beihu Anwai, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China 10021
场地： 北京市潮阳区安外北湖九号100012
Tel: 010 64918888

http://ditu.google.cn/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=zh-CN&geocode=&q=%E5%8C%97%E4%BA%AC%E6%9C%9D%E6%9D%A5%E8%B6%B3%E7%90%83%E5%9C%BA&sll=40.011313,116.452503&sspn=0.054301,0.11055&gl=cn&ie=UTF8&ll=40.011839,116.428642&spn=0.102289,0.351563&z=12&brcurrent=3,0x35f1abee2256d2b5:0x41463bb400158de5%3B5,0

Party Restaurant: Fusheng Restaurant, Beijing, Chaoyang District, Chaoyang Road, Sanjianfang Nanli, Number 4
饭馆：北京市潮阳区三间房南里4号
Tel: 010 65731046

Hotels are next to the restaurant. Individual captains will be given their hotel details.
旅馆在饭馆旁边。由个别队伍的队长来管旅馆的安排。

Contact people:
联系人：

Jeff Orcutt: 15910769472
王瑶 Yao: 13811030105
沈安Shen: 15001385477

Thanks for coming up to Beijing to attend our tournament and we look forward to seeing you all out on the sweet grass.

感谢大家来到北京参加我们组织的比赛。场地上见

Cheers,

Nationals Crew

POSTSCRIPT: We got the 2009 discs recently, and they're almost better than last year's. Well, as good as anyway...

Some questions we've been getting:

Q: Will there be a registration party on Friday?
No, but if you ask around, you may convince people to go to Sanlitun (near the Dongsishitiao subway stop on the 2-line). Then again, why wouldn't you rest up for Saturday's party?

Q: When do games start?
A: 9:30 a.m. on both days.

Q: Will there be a schedule?
A: Yes, and it's beautiful. We're in the final finalizing stage in this regard.

Q: Where are the fields?
A: Between Fourth and Fifth Ring road in the northeast, i.e. NOT last year's fields in Tongzhou. This isn't very specific, I realize, but maps and field directions will be released shortly. (Keep an eye on this site and the Beijing Ultimate blog!) There will be free shuttles going to and from the fields and the tourney hotel. If you live in Beijing, you will be expected to get there on your own (taking the 5-line and cabbing from Datunlu).

Q: Where is the tourney hotel?
A: Information will be released shortly.

Q: I went to the China Nationals website and couldn't find any information I need.
A: This is not a question, but in short: email tournament director Jeff Orcutt [orcutt.jeff(at)gmail.com] or myself (which you can do by commenting on this post) with any concerns.

Count in Edward Wang of Tianjin Five Star, the No. 1 overall seed.

Foreigners/Chinese professionals: 300 RMB
Recent Chinese graduates: 200 RMB
Chinese students: 100 RMB

Remember, tourney fees get you:

Awesome fields -- 2 Days!
Lunch -- twice!
Kick ass dinner/boozey party with some games (and drinking)
Field food (forever)
Beer on Sunday (after noon)
Probably a disc (if we don't go broke)
Transportation
A crap ton of Facebook photos

Tournament director Jeff Orcutt et al. have been working real hard to make this a memorable weekend for China Ultimate, but we can't do it without your help. Remember, this is the national tournament for China's Ultimate teams, and all we ask, as organizers, is you set aside your cynicism about these players' talent, ability, drive and knowledge. If you come without preconceptions and prejudices, you just might be surprised by the level of play from people who've been at it, at most, for four years (the vast majority of Chinese players have been playing for a much shorter length of time).

This is the third year for this rather amazing event -- amazing in that 1) who could've thought, five years ago, we'd have an all-China Ultimate Frisbee tournament? and 2) it's a LOT of fun -- and it promises to be better than ever.

If you'll allow this bit of preachiness: the best part is we haven't even scratched the surface as far as this sport's potential in China. If you've ever taken a Frisbee to the park and, upon your second forehand toss, attracted a ring of spectators who ooh and aah at every throw, you know there's real promise for this game -- a bizarre, foreign pastime that isn't handicapped here by the legacy of hash and hippies (not to criticize, but the stereotype is still fairly ingrained in the States). I'm excited. If you know nothing about Tianjin -- how it finished 2nd in each of the first two China Natties -- or the two-time defending champs, Air Kazak, and its mercurial leader, Happy Rat, or ever seen Hong Kong play with a stud like Kwong or the story behind the team selection in Shenzhen, one of the favorites to win this year... you will. Soon.

Rubik's Cube parties are fun and all, but consider this a cautionary tale: here's what happens when you're not careful about the articles of clothing you trade...


Are you listening, Sara?

From Beijing with love:


More Facebook albums:

Mike Shyu: Jeju 2009 1/7


Jeju 2009 2/7

Kuru vs. Xtacles, Day 1.

Jeju 2009 3/7


Jeju 2009 4/7


Jeju 2009 5/7


Jeju 2009 6/7

In the stands during finals.

Jeju 2009 7/7

Tourney MVPs (center), K-Mike and Abby.

Sandy Wang: Jeju party

Beijing Big Brother near the end of the night.

Mary Carlson: To Jeju

Shanghai Huwa on camera in the parking lot.

Jeju Reg. (registration party)

Dre (Dray?) of Korea with Candice, who everyone knows.

Sunday Jeju: Mary: "JEJU! Titanic comes to mind when I think of that tournament..."

This is Titanic.

Jeju Airport

And that's it.

China Ultimate now turns its eyes on Beijing. Countdown till China Nationals: nine days.

The date for the best tournament in China (and Asia?) in terms of overall participation, competition, field quality, party, location, etc., has been set -- you'll want to save this date: June 13-14. Shanghai's Alec Hutson has more:

Shanghai 2009 - The Emperor's Reign - is rushing towards us (June 13 and 14) and as we set the fields and secure the party venue there is another thing we need for the weekend: teams.

Please send us your bids, with a bit about the make-up of the squad you are bringing. We are aiming for a similar number of teams as has attended in the past few years - 16-18 - so there is loose cap that hopefully we won't have to invoke.

The default ratio for the tournament will be 4-3 (4 guys, 3 girls).

We are planning a fantastic tourney at the newly rebuilt Shanghai Rugby Club, and more details will be released shortly regarding the party and field location - we are not, for the first time in a decade - holding the tourney at the Dulwich Fields, but instead will be breaking in brand new turf at a new facility. Should be exciting.

Send your bid to shanghaiultimate2009@gmail.com.

We'll have pictures from last year, etc. -- the usual hype -- up later.