[please note this page is under review]
Why does the ECF Board plan to introduce monthly ratings?
The website consultation – https://www.englishchess.org.uk/grading-consultation/ – says the following –
‘The ECF Board is responding to changes in the expectations of both members and potential members by working to move grading from a six monthly to a monthly update. The intention is to introduce the change with effect from the January 2020 grading list update.
This has also focused the Board on whether we should continue with the traditional three-digit grade used in English chess since the 1960s or move to a four-digit, Elo style system. This has been discussed within the Board who are minded to use this opportunity to move to a four digit system.
This has several advantages —
• It would bring English chess in line with FIDE ratings and the rating systems in most of the rest of the world, including – the other countries in the UK, most other National Federations, correspondence chess, online rating systems
• It would help comparability between English grades and other ratings
• It would make the grades more meaningful for younger players who are accustomed to four digit ratings from playing online
• It is likely to reduce substantially the cost of introducing the monthly grading system (as it will be easier to replicate existing software using four digit calculations).’
Subsequently new 4 digit ECF grades became called ratings
How will monthly ratings be calculated?
The method is set out here —https://www.ecfrating.org.uk/v2/help/help_rating.php
Why include a dummy result for new players?
There are three reasons –
1. Inclusion tends to stabilise population average ratings
2. Extreme results occasionally happen; inclusion recognises that such an event might be an outlier.
3. The method ensures all results can be rated
FIDE discard results against unrated players, so why complicate by attempting to rate such results?
The ECF has decided that as many games as possible should be rated. This recognises that the system is aimed at serious recreational rather than elite chess.
Why do juniors have an alternative k-factor?
It is a widespread view that younger players tend to improve. In the 3-digit system junior grades are re-evaluated on last period results and points added for subsequent anticipated improvement. The higher upwards k-factor is an alternative way of handling this situation. Analysis has shown that doubling the upwards k-factor has maintained the all list average rating.
Why limit the k-factor for very active players?
This is a technical adjustment for the way Elo works. Above this limit the unadjusted formula would rate a player entirely on the results of that month.
What is happening about Categories?
At present the ECF has categories A-F. It will consult about what to do in the future. The same goes for delineating Active and Inactive players.
How will Results Officers handle the increase in workload?
The ECF has a League Management System up and running. The results will be extracted from these records automatically. Other event management systems will have the opportunity to plug into this approach after a pilot phase. This overdue change should be a substantial mitigant. The new software allows instant feedback which reduces the correspondence delay and workload.