Yorkshire Chess
Association |
Last
update: |
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What about Ungraded
Players? |
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Ungraded is not the same as
Zero-Graded
There is no connection whatsoever
between a player being ungraded and a player having a grade of zero. Players with a zero grade have demonstrated that
they are very, very, very weak. (See Zero and Negative Grades?) Ungraded players are ones whose strength has not
been measured, and might prove to be weak, average or strong. (See How Grades are Calculated regarding the grading of
games involving ungraded players.)
The Complete Beginner
A complete beginner will not have a
grade to start with. Also a complete beginner
will probably be noticeably weak. A complete
beginner probably has a playing strength of less than 100 and so would not be out of place
in the under-100 section of a congress.
The Temporarily Inactive Player
However, a reasonably competent
player who for some reason has missed a season or more of chess might well cease to have a
grade while retaining a playing strength of well over 100.
Thus when they returned to regular play they might be out of place in the under-100
section of a congress, but of course the congress organiser would not necessarily know
their strength was above 100.
Treatment of Ungraded Players
Entering a Congress
There is a definite possibility of an
ungraded player winning a congress section from which the player's previous grades would
have barred him. Such an occurrence would be
viewed as unfair by most people. For this
reason it is sometimes the practice to state on a congress entry form that in
grade-restricted sections ungraded players will not be eligible to win place prizes, and
will not be eligible for grading prizes in any section.
This can be justified by saying that an under-100 (for instance) section is limited
to players who are DEMONSTRABLY WEAKER THAN 100. The
current grade is usually the basis for this, though sometimes congress organisers accept
previous results as evidence of strength, or will accept a note from a local grader. Without such evidence an ungraded player has not
demonstrated his eligibility for the section.
"Ungraded" Prizes
To allow ungraded players to enter
congresses and have a chance of winning a prize, even if barred from place prizes and
grading prizes, some congresses award an token "ungraded" prize for the highest
placed ungraded player in the lowest section.