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BGonline.org Forums
Scale of Open/Intermediate Players
Posted By: Bill Riles In Response To: Scale of Open/Intermediaate Players (Rory)
Date: Sunday, 26 April 2009, at 4:34 p.m.
I don't know the answer; however, I, as usual, have opinions and observations.
I've recorded most all of my Championship Division matches at ABT tourneys for almost two years now. I've even occasionally recorded matches for others, including one Intermediate/Advanced Division final. I've played most of the best players in the States. Anyone I omit please excuse me, no offense intended. All of the ratings discussed below are Snowie ER's.
I've seen/experienced some great play. Stick's recent 2.09 was one of the best. Ray and Steve Sax, both of whom I seem to draw a lot, have posted some great numbers against me -- I seem to recall a <2 from Ray for a 5 or 7 point match in Chicago once. Richard Munitz has posted some good numbers. Neil, of course, is always good. Kit Woolsey put a 2.8 on me in NYC last year and lost. Petko is always strong. I don't think I've ever drawn JohnO but have great respect for him and his game. EdO has played some great matches against me.
I've also seen/experienced some really terrible play in the Championship Division. The worst two I've recorded were last night's 14.9 (16 game, 15 point match) and one about eighteen months ago of 17+ (in a 9 pt match).
I recorded the Intermediate/Advanced final in Las Vegas 12-18 months ago, won by Jonah Seewald over Kamyar Hosseinian (sp?), and they were both in the 4.0 range.
I've personally played all over the spectrum -- I'm capable of the 3.01 against Stick, I'll typically play in the 4's or 5's, and I'll occasionally hang up the the grosteque 8.
I think the big distinguishing factor is consistency. Stick, Steve, Ray, Richard, Neil, Kit, JohnO, EdO, MCG, UBK, Petko and others consistently play in a low range with little variance. Many others, and I include myself in this grouping, have the ability to play (depending on the complexity of the game, the choices presented, and other factors physical, mental, emotional, and psychological) in the World Class range (<4.4) but can't do it consistently, and occasionally hang up much higher numbers. It makes us certainly dangerous in individual matches but makes putting together a good streak against world class competition problematic. Some other players that play in the Championship Division don't have the ability to play in a World Class range and display their inconsistency in the higher ranges.
In my opinion, the Intermediate/Advanced division should be populated with players, in the top range, who average 6-7, and it should go up from there. Sure, you'll occasionally see a great match from someone, but it should be the exception rather than the norm. I think Kamyar is now playing Championship Division and Jonah, though he plays few ABT tournaments, should be.
Other factors are pride, challenge, greed, and economics. When I started playing the ABT I wanted to test/challenge myself, play/learn from the best, and improve. So, I played in the Championship Division from the beginning and, though I've certainly taken my lumps, it has certainly served well in the improvement of my game. Some, and this also applied in my case, have a pride factor in only playing in the Championship division. Some think their equity, and chances of making money, are better served in the Intermediate/Advanced and will play there till forced up -- the word 'sandbagger' comes to mind. Others, perhaps, don't have the cash to pay the large difference in entries between the Championship/Masters level events and the Advanced/Intermediate/Limited events -- and that is certainly understandable.
I think, generally, someone should be allowed to play where they wish -- certainly going up the scale. I think it rare when the true Championship level player plays down -- and that should be disallowed. But, as an example, there is a lot of conversation about Dave Settles playing in the Intermediate/Advanced forever and winning/cashing many times. Perhaps it is 'unfair' to other players in the division but I don't think Dave is a Championship Division player -- and apparently he doesn't either. So, what do you do?
It is interesting to observe tournament results and ABT annual standings. As we all know, to win a backgammon tournament you have to be good (to varying degrees) and you have to be lucky. The luck can manifest itself in several manners -- good/great dice for the player, poor/terrible dice for the opponent, and the old reliable 'luck of the draw'. Random draws, upsets, etc. may provide one player a tulip lined path through the park to a final while the other finalist had to face the Yankee's Murderers Row. I know in the 128 bracket Seniors event in Las Vegas last week I had the good fortune of most of the big names getting knocked out early on my side of the bracket. I had tough first and second round draws and then good fortune on to the final -- Glass, Wiggins, Intermediate, Intermediate, Leibster, Intermediate, before playing Grunwald in the final. A couple of years ago I won the Open Jackpot in Las Vegas by beating Grunwald, Fogerlund, and O'Laughlin in succesion to reach the final against an Intermediate player from Mexico.
Certainly within a tournament the best players have the highest likelihood of winning by stringing together 5-6 quality wins -- and we consistently see their names at the tops of the leaderboards. But the dark horse -- through good fortune and good play can steal the occasional event. The ABT annual point accumulation similarly sees many of the same names consistently at the top -- it being harder for the one-time dark horse winner to string several wins or cashes together through the year. But if that one win is in Novi or one of the other big tourneys he/she may be in the hunt throughout the year.
Individual tournaments and the annual ABT standings are perhaps analogous to matches of varying lengths. We all recognize, at least I think/hope we all recognize, that the longer the match the better the chances of the stronger player. So, a weaker player has a better chance at a 16 player tourney than a 32, 64, or more player tourney. And the stronger players have a better chance in the larger tourneys and for the duration of the year.
But, anything can happen at anytime and, as they say, that is why we play the game.
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