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Revised Giants List has been posted.

Posted By: Florin Popa
Date: Tuesday, 8 March 2016, at 3:55 p.m.

In Response To: Revised Giants List has been posted. (Leonardo Jerkovic)

Someone disagreed with the fact I said, as Bill Riles did, the revisioned list is worse than doing nothing so I'll write here my full explanation.

The Giant List is at the moment the only existing ranking in backgammon world. Since the beginning the process has been flaws, mainly the fact were not precised criterias but only this year we have seen a clear attempt to exploit the weakness, and was quite successfull.

The organisation that for years has done a great job but this year it made a few mistakes, it starts with the leaking news of a lot of croatians balots and finished with the fact they checked well who has the right to vote only after they published the list. Considering all this facts is it enough to have a new list taking out a few votes ? For me no becuse this means to ignore the core problem. I think now is the moment to make clear what this list is now but more important, for the future. Looking at the BMAB list and at the Giant List (first 12 positions), they are almost the same. So most of the people vote based on the strengthness they perceive much more than on results, otherwise Akiko should have been at least number 2 and a few should not be there. It looks people have guessed quite well for the top positions. A rating system for sure will look different compared to the two lists.

The organizers are a private body so they can keep doing things as till now with the main goal to increase the number of voters, is a positive thing for backgammon anyway. In this case for sure the list, as already happened for the positions beyond 20, will continue to loose credibility as representing the best players. Some american giants players have already said this list should come to the end, I think this can be decide only by the organization, anyway I expect them to say something at some time about the intention for the next list.

The federations should discuss if having a ranking based on votes is something we need shortly, by the nature of the game is clear results only is not enough and considering just PR has weaknesses as well. For the future other systems like Barry-Siliman or USBGF master points sould be considered, XGMaster tournaments style can be an option for a ranking as well.

Messages In This Thread

• Revised Giants List has been posted.
  Bill Riles -- Saturday, 5 March 2016, at 11:08 p.m.
  • Revised Giants List has been posted.
    Bill Riles -- Sunday, 6 March 2016, at 5:11 p.m.
    • Revised Giants List has been posted.
      Casper Van der Tak -- Sunday, 6 March 2016, at 7:21 p.m.
    • Revised Giants List has been posted.
      Florin Popa -- Sunday, 6 March 2016, at 7:27 p.m.
      • Revised Giants List has been posted.
        TarHeelFan -- Sunday, 6 March 2016, at 8:11 p.m.
        • Revised Giants List has been posted.
          Casper Van der Tak -- Sunday, 6 March 2016, at 8:53 p.m.
          • Revised Giants List has been posted.
            TarHeelFan -- Sunday, 6 March 2016, at 9:51 p.m.
            • Revised Giants List has been posted.
              Casper Van der Tak -- Sunday, 6 March 2016, at 11:11 p.m.
        • Revised Giants List has been posted.
          Bill Riles -- Monday, 7 March 2016, at 1:11 a.m.
      • Revised Giants List has been posted.
        Leonardo Jerkovic -- Tuesday, 8 March 2016, at 3:56 a.m.
        • Revised Giants List has been posted.
          Colin Owen -- Tuesday, 8 March 2016, at 12:24 p.m.
          • Revised Giants List has been posted.
            Leonardo Jerkovic -- Tuesday, 8 March 2016, at 3:22 p.m.
        • Revised Giants List has been posted.
          Barry Silliman -- Tuesday, 8 March 2016, at 12:46 p.m.
          • Above post meant as a reply to Colin's reply *NM*
            Barry Silliman -- Tuesday, 8 March 2016, at 12:49 p.m.
        • Revised Giants List has been posted.
          Florin Popa -- Tuesday, 8 March 2016, at 3:55 p.m.
    • Revised Giants List has been posted.
      Leonardo Jerkovic -- Monday, 7 March 2016, at 5:52 p.m.