Re-sectioning players at US Chess national scholastics

All Things Chess
1

Several players have been moved to different sections at the national scholastics. This may be done for several reasons.

  1. Ratings in an alternative rating system may indicate a higher playing strength that the current US Chess rating.
    The player list is compared to ratings lists pulled from several other alternative ratings systems several times during the months and weeks leading up to the particular US Chess national event. Ratings from alternative systems may be adjusted to a comparable US chess rating if a conversion scale exists. Players with larger differences are flagged for review of the national events team.

  2. Prior ratings in US Chess are significantly higher
    The player list is compared to prior US chess ratings over a period of months before the tournament. Where the peak ratings so a significant drop in rating in months leading up to the tournament, those players are flagged for further review of the national events team.

I have left out the exact details of where the cut offs are and periods of time covered intentionally.

No player is re sectioned on the analysis mentioned above alone. Every case is considered by the national events director in consultation with the chief TD for that tournament and a representative of the scholastic council assigned to that task by the council. Changes are not made without careful consideration and many times through consultations with the players. parents and coaches. It is the goal of he process to deal with as many of these as possible ahead of time. However that is not always possible - sometimes it come up at the tournament.

Changes to the scholastic regulations makes some of this go away. Players with outstanding success in an under section are now required to move up to a higher section if they have not moved into a different age category.

Just wanted to let folks know there is a process into which several folks devote lots of time. The process is evolving as we learn more and as we use it more. Special thanks to NTD Mike Hoffpauir for his hard work in this area.

2

Always good to know. Thank you for the information.
Larry s. Cohen

3

Thanks - I just wanted folks to know that we do look at things - and we do not blindly adjust someone based on a formula. It is also difficult to deal with some issues on site- especially in later rounds - as an odd looking event in a plyer history may not be reflective of a problem.

I ran a tournament some years ago where a middle school age player lost a bunch of ratings points. The fact that he broke his arm a few days before, was on painkillers, but wanted to play anyway, may have had something to do with it.