nabla: You don't need to use Brains for that. Just select the prize checkbox when you create the tournament and then use the standard Paid Membership page to pay for the prize. That's all.
I don't think there would be a problem with not enough players.

Fencer: It is just that I prefer to offer brains, that can be used either for a membership either for something else - for instance, black rooks would not care about winning a one-year membership
And you don't know what minimum number of players I will set

nabla: If you are going to provide the price (that is with no entry fee), then you can offer just about anything you want. If you would like to offer brains instead of membership, then just make sure you put that in the description of the tournament you create.

Then when you send money (PayPal) to Fencer to cover the brains, just make sure you let him know that you are using it to buy "brains" to use as a prize.

(Of course, then the winner could just use the brains to upgrade his membership if they wanted to - then again, if a person wins a membership, I'm sure Fencer would also let them trade it in for brains.... Fencer is usually pretty flexable about things like that)

Maybe you could offer the choice of XXX Brains or XX membership that the winner can choose from (which of course cost the same amount of money for each)

= = = = =

As a side note, Ambiguouse Chess (NEW GAME!!!!) looks pretty interesting. I'm not a chess player, but always like to try new games. Everyone should Check Out The Current Ambiguous Chess Tournaments!

Hum... and of course the new game before that, Breakthrough - Some of those tournaments

Fencer's been pretty busy lately - Great job Fencer!

BIG BAD WOLF: Thank you for the help, that is clearer now !