Canadian Chess Open Championship: Pairing Issues

[Egidijus Zeromskis]

Re: Canadian Chess Open Championship: Pairing Issues

r9


While there are still spikes of >500, the "background" is ~200.

[Gary Ruben]

Re: Canadian Chess Open Championship: Pairing Issues

r9

While there are still spikes of >500, the "background" is ~200.

If the pairing for last years event in Alberta, which I seem to recall used normal Swiss pairings, still exists, it would be interesting to compare that one as a check. Of course, the players were not the same so it's not exactly comparing apples with apples.

[Gary Ruben]

Re: Canadian Chess Open Championship: Pairing Issues

The pairings for the last round of 2009 are here:

http://monroi.com/2009-canadian-open...-pairings.html

The players ratings are here:

http://monroi.com/2009-canadian-open...p-players.html

Of course, the issues I'm reading seem to be more than last round pairings but it's one point.

[Jean Hébert]

Re : Re: Canadian Chess Open Championship: Pairing Issues

If the pairing for last years event in Alberta, which I seem to recall used normal Swiss pairings, still exists, it would be interesting to compare that one as a check. Of course, the players were not the same so it's not exactly comparing apples with apples.

That reminds me of an organizer's suggestion of some years ago. He proposed that the FQE hired a master to analyse suspected sandbaggers' games to "prove" whether they were cheating or not to win class prizes. Of course we do have an abundance of chess masters with lots of time and no life to perform such an important task...

[Gary Ruben]

Re: Re : Re: Canadian Chess Open Championship: Pairing Issues

That reminds me of an organizer's suggestion of some years ago. He proposed that the FQE hired a master to analyse suspected sandbaggers' games to "prove" whether they were cheating or not to win class prizes. Of course we do have an abundance of chess masters with lots of time and no life to perform such an important task...

I suspect a computer program is being used to produce the graph. It's simply a matter of typing in the ratings.

Some people take a great interest in statistical tasks. Look at all the people who spend a lifetime with the global warming temperatures charting trends from before the dates when such statistics were tracked.

Then there are those who perform the important task of calculating chess moves. I'd hesitate to suggest they have no life but the time may depend on how much they have used for previous moves.

While I have your attention, are you a governor or the CFC and part of the establishment these days? I was a governor until I smartened up. :)

[Jean Hébert]

Re : Re: Re : Re: Canadian Chess Open Championship: Pairing Issues

While I have your attention, are you a governor or the CFC and part of the establishment these days? I was a governor until I smartened up. :)

The infamous title of CFC governor came automatically with my winning the Canadian Championship. One of those really worthy side benefit. ;) I could of course take the pain to officially resign, but why should I bother ? Isn't that better to keep the threat of getting more involved alive ? (the threat being stronger than its execution...) :)

[Gary Ruben]

Re: Re : Re: Re : Re: Canadian Chess Open Championship: Pairing Issues

The infamous title of CFC governor came automatically with my winning the Canadian Championship. One of those really worthy side benefit. ;) I could of course take the pain to officially resign, but why should I bother ? Isn't that better to keep the threat of getting more involved alive ? (the threat being stronger than its execution...) :)

Just so you don't go so far as voting conservative in the federal election. :) That would really be establishment.

Why don't you get more involved in the CFC and try to make things better?

The problem I always had with playing and organizing was it seemed to take hundreds of rating points from my game. I couldn't seem to do both. Not that it mattered much with my chess game. It's not like I ever thought I'd make a living from doing it.

[Jean Hébert]

Re : Re: Re : Re: Re : Re: Canadian Chess Open Championship: Pairing Issues

Why don't you get more involved in the CFC and try to make things better?

It is not only you who can "smarten up"! :) Jokes aside, what could I do that I am not already doing ? Put in a vote ? Give me a break... Regarding the Canadian Closed for example, I have already stated my opinion: the CFC should set absolute minimal standards for it, not too far away from those set out by FIDE. Is the CFC going this way ? Absolutely not. Instead it may pass a useless and counter productive motion asking organizers to make "reasonable efforts to find sponsors". Both toothless and confusing for everybody. Getting myself any deeper in that would simply increase my blood pressure, which I'd rather keep in its perfect current state.

[Gary Ruben]

Re: Re : Re: Re : Re: Re : Re: Canadian Chess Open Championship: Pairing Issues

Jokes aside, what could I do that I am not already doing ? Put in a vote ? Give me a break... Regarding the Canadian Closed for example, I have already stated my opinion: the CFC should set absolute minimal standards for it, not too far away from those set out by FIDE. Is the CFC going this way ? Absolutely not. Instead it may pass a useless and counter productive motion asking organizers to make "reasonable efforts to find sponsors". Both toothless and confusing for everybody. Getting myself any deeper in that would simply increase my blood pressure, which I'd rather keep in its perfect current state.

You have a good point. There isn't much one person can do against an established mindset. Kind of like changing The Borg. :) You're already doing a lot with your work and your newsletter. Your results demonstrate clearly chess is a hobby for a lifetime and not something a players should abandon in his 20's.

Maybe the chess organization here has to be scrapped and replaced. A new start.

Still, a chess player with perfect blood pressure. Doesn't the pressure ever get to you in an event? Like before an important game starts.

[Egidijus Zeromskis]

Re: Canadian Chess Open Championship: Pairing Issues

If the pairing for last years event in Alberta, which I seem to recall used normal Swiss pairings, still exists, it would be interesting to compare that one as a check.

I'm not interested doing that.

(it was posted long time ago) a "yo-yo" graph for CO'09

I may produce this kind of plot when the tournament will be CFC rated.

[Egidijus Zeromskis]

Re: Canadian Chess Open Championship: Pairing Issues

"yo-yo" graph for CO'09

Using the CFC crosstable and ratings

CO'10

(Absence of the line/circle - a bye or an unrated player)

For the top 9 finishers


This picture clearly shows the mentioned issue that the mess is shifted from round 1 to round when accelerated pairings are not used any more:
3 - start of the new accelerator
5 - standard
On other hand, there are more games between GM/IMs and lower rated players ;)

For the top 9 rating holders

[Ed Zator]

Re: Re : Re: Errare humanum est PERSEVERARE DIABOLICUM

The solution would rather be to have two sections ; the Open one for the few norm seekers and players who wants serious chess, and the other one for those who can't figure out accelerated pairings.

Years ago at the Weston Chess Club, we tried random pairings amongst players with equal points. This was relatively easy to do with a computer and handwritten code, and seemed the most efficient method (requiring the fewest rounds) to determine a winner, even better than accelerated pairings.

Also, I believe, it is the least biased of any pairing system. For instance, with traditional Swiss, bottom of the table players rarely play each other until the end. Accelerated pairings on the other hand always handicap the stronger players.

(This last often shows up in higher performance ratings for higher rated players within the same point group, as the stronger players play against each other more often).

Random pairings removes bias by giving every player the same chance of playing any other player in their point group.

The method also has the benefit of being able to pair right up to the last minute, which can eliminate unplayed games becaiuse of no-shows. Or pairings can be made in advance for tournaments where preparing for opponents is preferred.

Organizers of the next Canadian Open should seriously consider random pairings, as I think it is probably the most efficient and the fairest.

[Gary Ruben]

Re: Canadian Chess Open Championship: Pairing Issues

Using the CFC crosstable and ratings


This picture clearly shows the mentioned issue that the mess is shifted from round 1 to round when accelerated pairings are not used any more:
3 - start of the new accelerator
5 - standard
On other hand, there are more games between GM/IMs and lower rated players ;)

Yes. It's like I wrote to one person that it's a case of paying early or paying later with the style of Swiss ratings. I prefer a regular Swiss where the big mismatches are in the early rounds and by round 5 the players can play more competitive games, particularly on the higher boards.

[Ernest Klubis]

Re: Re : Re: Re : Re: Re : Re: Canadian Chess Open Championship: Pairing Issues

You have a good point. There isn't much one person can do against an established mindset.

Kind of like changing The Borg. :) Very valid point, but what the solution?

You're already doing a lot with your work and your newsletter. Your results demonstrate clearly chess is a hobby for a lifetime and not something a players should abandon in his 20's.

There's no doubt about Jean's work makes tremendous contribution to Canadian and International chess.

Maybe the chess organization here has to be scrapped and replaced. A new start.

Gary, stop being sarcastic, and refrain from using word "maybe".

Doesn't the pressure ever get to you in an event? Like before an important game starts.

It's all depends if opponent exert pressure on Queen's side or King's side.