Ok , I get eorror messages posting in idea section so I will introduce it here first.

Rorschach and probably some others already suggested this idea so I would like to give them credit for this idea first.

The idea is to have a head to head MTT:

there would be 4 types of tables: * small ones just like the end phase of normal MTT's
* medium size ones with only 1 stacks (similar to Friday 5 starting rounds)
* medium size with normal dice distribution but also at least 50% grey lands
* medium size with normal dice distribution but no grey lands

Round 1: best out of 3 games for randomly assigned head to heads. every game of those 3 is randomly chosen from the 4 types mentioned above. all winners advance to round 2.

Round 2 and above (depending how many players enter): similar best out of 3.

quarter final head to heads (last 8):best out of 5 games

semi final head to heads (last 4): best out of 7 games

Final head to head: best out of 9 games. maybe best out of 7 is enough too.

Of course, if a player wins the 2 first games in a best of 3, 3rd game doesn't have to be played.

The idea is to start with 32 or 64 players but if say 54 players enter, 10 bots can be randomly added into the first round head to heads (shame on those who let a bot advance to round 2 ;-)

Advantages: 1 no favors can be given
2 how can you pga/cheat in this type of MTT, only thing I can think of is that a large goup of players try to enter this mtt and eliminate all they can but agree to flag if they get into a head to head with their "leader".
3 no backstabbing, no diplomacy, no flagging, no endless discussions about who deserves what, no 2v1,.... ummmm, after typing all that, I hope there still will be some fun left, yikes
4 as rounds advance, more games to decide the winner. that should reduce the luck factor
5 Ryan can sleep a bit more, he doesn't need to keep a close eye at this type of MTT's ;-)