there has been a lot of comment about the strategies that some are using to continually win gems in tourneys.

Most players don't necessarily want to win large amounts, but just have a chance to win a bit to get to their next goal.

My suggestion: why not remove the gems as direct rewards and give a decent number of smaller packets away as spot prizes that anyone in top 250 places can win. This would remove much of the justification to cheat, everyone gets a fair chance, but still gives us all an incentive to partake in the tourneys.