The rules talk about contrast and shininess of the pieces, but I've never seen a set rejected. On the other hand, I've never seen anyone try to play with a pink set. If you do have occasion to play in the US, I would advise you to buy the rule book and read it before the tournament to avoid being taken advantage of--more for other issues than for the set.

If my memory on the rules is correct, Black chooses the equipment, but there are some subtleties and subrules having to do with this, for example if Black is late, or if Black's equipment is insufficient or lacking compared to Whites, etc. I know I have been White and forced the use of my clock, as my opponents was analog.

One more thing. Now I see that you specifically said "a hundred people." You only need 50 sets to serve them, not 100. Actually, if every player has to bring their own set, you need twice as many sets in total.

It is easier for the arbiter of course, but more work for the hundreds of players was my point. So making it easier for 1 person and more difficult for 300 rather than other way rundt seems counterintuitive.

Like this:



[Image from http://www.chessdom.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Open-Sants-3.jpg]

If you look at the photo, the whole row to the back everyone has the same shared pieces, board and clock, and also a nametag with plastic holder provided by the organiser.

Now I think that the entry fee is something like 45€ in this tournament: http://www.cotxeres.org/open/. If I plaued in this tournament, and had to buy equipment maybe it would be spending like 150€ (assuming I did not already have the FIDE clock)? 

Also I think that pieces and clock has to be in accordance with FIDE rules, so how to all arbiters check, if everyone brings their own set? Checking each board each round would be hell, and probably much more work than just providing it themselves. 

Another thing is the zero tolerance attendence rule: arriving at the start of each round. What happens if both players arrive right before the start and neither has a set? That seems like a weird pickle.

Also a pickle is what happens with the metal detectors and searches? Following FIDE rules, you would probably have to check everyone's clock bag and piece bag to make sure that there is no mobile phone or electronic helping device inside if you force people to bring the equipment.

But luckily the organisers provide it for everyone. Seems like more organisation for the players to me , at least.

I don't have any problem with it.

Well, I don't think many people in Europe buy hundreds of sets just to use in their tournament.

Chess clubs own sets, probably because the members of the first clubs found that more convenient than bringing their own sets there every week, and it became the custom.

Tournaments are usually organized by those same 
clubs, or they can borrow material from them.

Where chess clubs are rare and tournaments are usually run by private individuals, you get other customs.

Well I can kind of see how this is impossible in poorer countries. Places like Cambodia, Bolivia, Georgia, Angola, Guatemala, I doubt that most can afford all equipment to buy and bring to tournaments.

Even then, if this were happen in Denmark, Norway, or France, I somehow doubt that people would want to do it, regardless even if the entry fee costs less. It would be a matter of principle.

The entry fee + flight + hotel and add to that the equipment (especially if it needs replacement) must be quite cumbersome for those who are low income in North America too, though?

To me what makes sense to USA and Canada (if this is case with Canada as well) is to regulate all tournaments and force the organinser to provide DGT clocks, same boards, same pieces, for everyone, like we do in Europe, Asia, Africa, Oceania, and Latin America. No one can bring faulty clocks on purpose this way, weird pieces, green squared-boards, and stuff like that.

Money cannot possibly be the problem.



[image from ChessBase]

Is it really that difficult to have the tournament look something like this for everyone?