Rio de Janeiro, May 18 2017 - With the creation of the “star” system on the FIVB World Tour for the 2017 international Beach Volleyball campaign, the Main Draw competition here Thursday at the US$300,000 Rio Open will feature “modified” pool play for both men and women at the Olympic Park in Barra da Tijuca.
Instead of the usual four-team, six-match schedule for each group, the “modified” pool play format still features four teams, but with only four matches in the quad with three being played Thursday. The top seed in each pool will play the lowest seeded duo in the group with the second- and third-seeded pairs in each group meeting in the first two matches.
The winning teams in the opening pool matches will meet later Thursday afternoon with the victors advancing as the group leader to the elimination round and securing a first-round “bye”. The loser will gain a spot in the first-round of elimination as does the winning team from Friday’s early match schedule in the meeting of the opening pool losers.
Men’s and Women’s qualifying highlighted Wednesday’s schedule at Olympic Park in Barra da Tijuca with eight teams from each gender’s preliminary competition advancing to the “money” rounds. The elimination rounds will highlight Friday and Saturday’s schedule with the medal matches being played Sunday. The winning teams in each gender’s competition with win the gold medals and the $20,000 first-place prizes.
Following the Rio Open, the next stop on the FIVB World Tour will be May 31-June 4 in Moscow for a three-star event in the Russian capital. Highlighting the 2017 international calendar for men and women Beach Volleyball players will be the $1-million FIVB World Championships July 28 through August 6 in Austria and the $800,000 SWATCH FIVB World Tour Finals August 23-27 in Hamburg, Germany.
Here is Thursday's Rio Open schedule for women and men:
