Ranking Algorithms

Published below is how the ‘value’ of a tournament is achieved

Each tournament is given a value according to the quality of entry; at the date of the tournament Final, the then current world top ten is calculated; number 1 gives a value of 10, number 2 of 9, down to number 10 who gives a value of 1. These values (of those of the top ten who entered the tournament) are added together and the result divided by 12. If the tournament had best-of-three-set matches, 1 is subtracted. If it is a grand slam event (a National Open Tournament) the number is doubled. This gives us the intrinsic tournament value.
If it is the World Championship (eliminators are included provided the player has won a match), the intrinsic tournament value is always 15.
For the rankings at the date required, tournaments more than two years old are worth nothing. Tournaments more than a year but less than two years old are worth their intrinsic value, and tournaments less than year old are worth double their intrinsic value. This gives us a weighted value for each tournament.
For each player, every tournament is examined. For each tournament the player has entered, he is awarded ten times the weighted value for a win, six times the weighted value for being a finalist, thrice for being a semi-finalist, once times weighted value for being a quarter-finalist, or nothing for being a loser. The accumulation of these tournament points is divided by the sum of the weighted values of the tournaments he entered, giving an average per tournament (if this is less than 1 then it becomes 1). The player’s accumulated points are multiplied by this average.
The value for each player is “beautified” without changing the relative rankings by taking its square root and multiplying by 10. A comparison of these “ranking points” numbers gives the rankings for the date required.
It should be noted that rankings points are only gained by winning matches. Where a player advances to the rankings points-scoring stage through byes or walkovers and then loses the first match that he has played and therefore has had no opportunity to win a match beforehand, the compromise solution is to not record the player’s involvement. This will reduce the tournament value but not affect the rankings points of the player concerned.

1. Results Points

Winner

Losing Finalist

Losing Semi-Finalist

Losing 1/4 Finalist

Other

2. Tournament Value

The Tournament Value is a combination of the Quality of Entry, the Tournament Rating and the Time Factor.

a) Quality of Entry (Q)

The Quality of Entry is the sum of the positions in the Current Ranking List of each player participating in the tournament who is included in the top 10 ranked players, divided by 12

Sum (No1 = 10 points + No2 = 9 points +...No10 = 1 point) /12 = Max of 4.58

b) Tournament Rating

	Tournament Rating	Maximum	Recent Average
World Championship	15.0	15.0	15.0
National Open	Q x 2	9.17	6.52
Other Tournament (Best of 5 sets)	Q x 1	4.58	2.71
Other Tournament (Best of 3 sets)	Q-1	3.58	1.06

c) Time Factor

Tournament played within the last 12 months x 2
Tournament played within 12-24 months x 1
Tournament played more than 24 months ago x 0