Gipf: I play the game

January 15, 2005

Aha! Le nouveau ranking list est arrivé! Merci beaucoup, Maître des Points. The Maître has decided to carry through an adjustment of the ELO points of the established players (i.e. players with minimally 20 games behind their name). He has subtracted 100 points from those who have not played in an official context since 2000, and 50 points from the ones who have not played since 2001. Only one exception: the ELO total of the leader of the pack, Yoshi Ikkai, was reduced with only 50 points in stead of 100. But somehow he'll have to prove this year that he's still worth to be the nummer one of the rankings. We hope to set up a match between him and some of the strongest players during the fair in Essen (Germany) in October 2004.

But that is not the only adjustment that has been made. In the very beginning the estimated strength of a new GIPF player was set to be 1500 Elo Points. Two years ago the Maître des Points had calculated that the average strength of a beginner was more likely to be something like 1400 in stead of 1500. Meanwhile we have again cosiderably more data in our archives. Based on the results of the last two years, the Maître has been calculating again. And he came to the folowing conclusion: to come to more reliable ratings for the players with a provisional ranking, the beginners total has been lowered with another 100 points. So, newcomers now get a rating of 1300 points. This new beginnners total has been applied with retrospective effect. This adjustment, together with a possible subtraction of 50 or 100 Elo points, have cause quite a bit of changings in the ranking list.

Another significant detail - not really a detail, rather the main conclusion when you take a look at the new rankings below !!! - is Ad Rovers' amazing jump forward: from the 16th place all the way to the 2nd spot, leaving Patrick Van de Perre just 12 points behind! So, the Belgians have something to think about. Hopefuly Ad's *tour de force* will inspire the other Dutch players, and will it make clear to the Belgians that their hegemony is not that big deal any more - unless they are in for a bit of revenge...

Concerning the rankings

RnkNew:	New place in the list.
RnkOld:	Previous place.
Player:	Name.
Nat:	Nationality.
Cod:	Players with less than 20 officially played games get a preliminary ranking, i.e. their Elo-points are not reliable yet. Players with 20 or more games are marked with an "x"; these players have been taken into a separate list at the bottom of this page.
EloNew:	Actual number of Elo-points
EloOld:	Previous number of Elo-points.
Gms:	Total of the officially played games.
Score:	Number of wins since the previous update. (Those who played less than 20 games, always get complete results.)
Gmspld:	Number of games played since the previous update. (Those who played less than 20 games, always get complete results.)
AvgAdv:	Average strength (Elo-points) of the opponents.
LstTrt:	Last update.

Newcomers start with 1300 Elo-points. The more games one plays, the more his/her Elo-points will be adjusted to his/her strength. However, since not so many players are playing GIPF in the context of tournaments and competitions yet, it will take a few more years before the Elo rating system will reveal the true strength of the players.

So far 45 players have an "established" status (i.e. with more than 20 offically played games). These players are taken into a separate ranking list. The rankings below is a mix of established players and provisionals (i.e. with less than 20 officially games played).

Provisionals & established players

Rnk New	Rnk Old	Player	Nat	Cod	EloNew	EloOld	Gms	LstTrt
1	1	Ikkai, Yoshi	J	x	1842	1831	37	31/12/2004
2	2	Rovers, Ad	NL	x	1771	1787	81	31/12/2004
3	7	De Laet, André	B	x	1752	1699	134	31/12/2004
4	5	Van den Branden, Kurt	B	x	1746	1751	180	31/12/2004
5	4	Demerco, Jix	B	x	1745	1758	85	31/12/2004
6	3	Van de Perre, Patrick	B	x	1733	1775	185	31/12/2004
7	6	Dupont, Werner	B	x	1731	1740	127	31/12/2004
8	8	Ruyters, Romeo	B	x	1704	1698	64	31/12/2004
9	10	Monsieur, Dirk	B	x	1681	1681	33	19/05/2002
10	11	De Jongh, Koen	NL	x	1663	1663	82	31/12/2003
11	41	Mertner, Allan	DK	-	1652	1652	13	31/12/2004
11	12	Roelens, Jan	B	-	1652	1652	10	19/05/2002
13	9	Ruyters, Raf	B	x	1647	1687	63	31/12/2004
14	14	Jacobs, Walter	B	x	1639	1639	29	31/12/2003
15	13	De Meester, Aksel	B	x	1638	1646	84	31/12/2004
16	15	Lutton, Josiah	GB	-	1622	1622	6	31/12/2003
17	16	Ammerlaan, Boris	NL	x	1621	1621	89	31/12/2003
18	17	Kajiwara, Yoichiro	J	-	1611	1611	7	31/12/2003
19	18	Daelemans, Karel	B	x	1597	1597	76	31/12/2003
20	20	Habraken, Nico	B	x	1564	1564	35	31/12/2003
21	21	Tavener, Stephen	GB	x	1558	1558	35	31/12/2003
22	19	Wentzler, Angelo	NL	x	1555	1569	103	31/12/2004
23	22	Kishimoto, Masayuki	J	-	1530	1530	7	31/12/2003
24	23	Pauwels, Rita	B	x	1513	1518	163	31/12/2004
25	24	Engelaer, Maurice	B	x	1512	1512	45	31/12/2003
25	25	Delvaux, Johan	B	x	1512	1512	24	31/12/2003
27	26	Jacques, Robrecht	B	-	1510	1510	7	31/12/2003
28	27	Weyn, Jeroen	B	x	1505	1505	60	31/12/2003
28	28	Reynders, Ann	B	-	1505	1505	11	19/05/2002
30	29	Graafstra, Jelmer	NL	x	1504	1504	65	24/02/2002
31	30	Van Aelst, Frédéric	B	x	1495	1495	132	31/12/2003
32	31	Adam, Joke	B	-	1482	1482	12	31/12/2003
33	32	Burm, Jo	B	-	1471	1471	14	31/12/2003
34	33	Walvisch, Demian	B	x	1468	1468	26	19/05/2002
35	34	Baeleman, An	B	x	1463	1463	23	31/12/2003
36	35	De Bruyn, Mozes	B	x	1459	1459	40	31/12/2003
37	36	Debrueck, Bart	B	-	1456	1456	6	31/12/2003
38	37	Omodera, Asamu	J	-	1450	1450	19	31/12/2003
39	53	Knopper, Jan Willem	NL	x	1444	1372	36	31/12/2004
40	38	Bedersdorfer, Jochen	D	-	1440	1440	13	31/12/2003
41	39	Passmann, Hennes	NL	x	1439	1439	47	31/12/2003
42	40	Kok, Fred	NL	x	1438	1438	55	31/12/2003
43	41	Kuijpers, Gerard	B	-	1432	1432	14	31/12/2003
44	43	Decker, Hans	D	-	1431	1431	13	31/12/2003
45	44	Cannoodt, Johannes	B	-	1426	1426	17	31/12/2003
46	45	Schnider, Gert	A	-	1425	1425	7	31/12/2003
47	46	Hayashi, Daiki	J	-	1421	1421	7	31/12/2003
48	47	Vermeulen, Felix	B	x	1417	1417	50	31/12/2003
49	49	Basedow, Lueder	D	-	1405	1405	6	31/12/2003
50	50	Hanzen, Werner	B	x	1390	1390	50	31/12/2003
51	51	Slootmaekers, Romain	B	-	1389	1389	8	31/12/2003
52	48	Pauw, Brian	NL	x	1378	1408	27	31/12/2004
53	52	Sieuw, Olivier	B	-	1377	1377	5	31/12/2003
54	54	Dielen, Luc	B	x	1369	1369	28	5/11/2002
55	55	Claes, Bruno	B	-	1367	1367	17	31/12/2003
56	61	Claes, Robrecht	B	x	1364	1342	26	31/12/2004
57	-	Mertner, Morten	DK	-	1353	1353	7	31/12/2004
58	56	Van de Velde, Luk	B	-	1350	1350	14	31/12/2003
58	56	Sumi, Hiroharu	J	-	1350	1350	7	31/12/2003
58	56	Kawahari, Koichi	J	-	1350	1350	7	31/12/2003
61	59	Van Beersel, Steven	B	-	1349	1349	5	31/12/2003
62	60	Beersman, Johan	B	x	1348	1348	25	31/12/2003
63	62	Portael, Veerle	B	x	1342	1342	29	31/12/2003
64	63	Lesage, Friedl'	B	-	1339	1339	6	31/12/2003
65	64	Coppelmans, Henk	B	-	1336	1336	6	31/12/2003
66	65	Dielen, Sten	B	-	1330	1330	5	31/12/2003
67	66	Steffen, Joerg	D	-	1329	1329	13	31/12/2003
68	68	Terryn, Johan	B	-	1328	1328	6	31/12/2003
69	69	Torfs, Frank	B	x	1326	1326	30	31/12/2003
70	70	Bos, Stef	NL	-	1323	1323	6	31/12/2003
71	71	Weimann, Christophe	F	x	1320	1320	20	31/12/2003
72	72	Grimm, Roland	D	-	1319	1319	5	31/12/2003
73	73	Alard, Serge	B	-	1318	1318	8	31/12/2003
74	74	Sharma, Mamta	GB	-	1316	1316	6	31/12/2003
75	75	Boden, Koen	B	-	1314	1314	6	31/12/2003
76	76	Van Hoof, Ronny	B	-	1313	1313	15	31/12/2003
76	76	Van Eeghem, Marc	B	-	1313	1313	6	31/12/2003
78	78	Dryepondt, Christophe	F	-	1310	1310	6	31/12/2003
79	79	Tetteroo, Robert	NL	-	1309	1309	8	31/12/2003
79	79	Mignolet, Matty	B	-	1309	1309	6	31/12/2003
79	79	Symons, Wim	B	-	1309	1309	6	31/12/2003
82	82	Nuyttens, Christof	B	x	1307	1307	59	31/12/2003
83	66	Van Schaijk, John	NL	-	1305	1305	17	31/12/2004
84	83	Arts, Geert	NL	-	1300	1300	8	31/12/2003
84	83	Brike, Bert	B	-	1300	1300	8	31/12/2003
84	83	Ruyters, Kevin	B	-	1300	1300	8	31/12/2003
84	83	Van Langendonckt, Michel	B	-	1300	1300	8	31/12/2003
84	83	Van Der Straeten, John	B	-	1300	1300	6	31/12/2003
84	83	Beyers, Kris	B	-	1300	1300	6	31/12/2003
84	83	Adriaense, Jurgen	B	-	1300	1300	6	31/12/2003
91	90	Kirsch, Christoph	D	-	1299	1299	5	31/12/2003
92	91	Reitz, Michael	D	x	1297	1297	24	31/12/2003
93	92	de Leeuw van Weenen, Gijs	NL	-	1296	1296	10	31/12/2003
94	93	Cornelius, Kevin	D	-	1294	1294	5	31/12/2003
95	94	Pauwels, Stijn	B	x	1293	1293	21	31/12/2003
96	95	Timm, Andrea	D	-	1289	1289	6	31/12/2003
97	96	De Langhe, Teun	NL	-	1285	1285	19	31/12/2003
98	97	Trunz, Sebastian	D	-	1280	1280	6	31/12/2003
99	98	Mariman, Ludo	B	-	1279	1279	6	31/12/2003
99	98	Schrickx, Frank	B	-	1279	1279	6	31/12/2003
99	98	Van Hoof, Wilfried	B	-	1279	1279	6	31/12/2003
102	101	Vanstappen, Wouter	B	-	1278	1278	13	31/12/2003
103	102	Knoops, Gerard	B	-	1276	1276	6	31/12/2003
104	104	Lang, Tobias	D	-	1259	1259	6	31/12/2003
105	105	Alaerts, Tom	B	-	1258	1258	13	31/12/2003
106	106	Notredame, John	B	-	1256	1256	10	31/12/2003
107	107	Delapierre, Vincent	B	-	1250	1250	7	31/12/2003
107	107	Tatsutomi, Hirokazu	J	-	1250	1250	7	31/12/2003
109	109	Mattheeusen, Ellen	B	-	1249	1249	19	31/12/2003
110	111	Scheib, Klaus	D	-	1243	1243	5	31/12/2003
111	110	Stulemeijer, Wynke	NL	x	1224	1246	52	31/12/2004
111	112	Tesnsky, Jakub Aragorn	TCH	-	1224	1224	6	31/12/2003
111	113	Celis, Gie	B	x	1224	1224	20	31/12/2003
114	114	Potums, Johan	B	-	1219	1219	6	31/12/2003
115	115	Bleasdale, Sebastian	GB	-	1215	1215	7	31/12/2003
116	116	De Langhe, Margo	B	x	1212	1212	22	31/12/2003
117	117	Penson, Thiery	B	-	1211	1211	8	31/12/2003
118	118	Jackson, Hardy	B	-	1204	1204	6	31/12/2003
118	118	Foqué, Nico	B	-	1204	1204	5	31/12/2003
118	118	Van Laere, Nadine	B	-	1204	1204	6	31/12/2003
121	121	Cortebeeck, Wouter	B	-	1203	1203	6	31/12/2003
122	122	Friedrich, Ralph	D	-	1194	1194	6	31/12/2003
122	122	de Greef, Joost	NL	x	1194	1194	20	31/12/2003
124	124	Bovens, Herman	B	-	1193	1193	5	31/12/2003
125	125	Meertens, Kris	B	-	1192	1192	6	31/12/2003
125	125	Embregts, Kris	B	-	1192	1192	6	31/12/2003
127	127	Burm, Jan	B	-	1189	1189	6	31/12/2003
128	128	Mattheeussen, Koen	B	-	1180	1180	12	31/12/2003
128	128	Van den Eynde, Lucas	B	-	1180	1180	6	31/12/2003
128	128	Van De Velde, Herman	B	-	1180	1180	6	31/12/2003
128	128	Van Asbroeck, Peter	B	-	1180	1180	6	31/12/2003
132	132	Burm, Dries	B	-	1176	1176	16	31/12/2003
133	133	Derick, Goele	B	-	1173	1173	6	31/12/2003
134	134	Van Steenbergen, Vera	B	-	1169	1169	6	31/12/2003
135	103	Portael, Lotte	B	-	1161	1161	5	31/12/2003
136	135	van den Berg, Patrick	NL	-	1160	1160	10	31/12/2003
137	136	Mertens, Renild	B	-	1142	1142	5	31/12/2003
138	137	Michel, Armin	D	-	1141	1141	7	31/12/2003
138	137	Nicaise, Etienne	B	-	1141	1141	7	31/12/2003
138	137	Bösch, Ulrich	D	-	1141	1141	7	31/12/2003
138	137	Drude, Hilko	D	-	1141	1291	7	31/12/2003
138	137	Murakami, Kagenobu	J	-	1141	1141	7	31/12/2003
138	137	Minakami, Tsuyoshi	J	-	1141	1141	7	31/12/2003
144	143	Berger, Joshua	D	-	1123	1123	5	31/12/2003
145	-	Sanyoto, Fenny	NL	-	1122	1122	7	31/12/2004
146	144	Princen, Koen	B	-	1106	1106	6	31/12/2003
147	145	Cottogni, Gianni	I	-	1096	1096	18	31/12/2003
148	146	Verbraeken, Eric	B	-	1083	1083	6	31/12/2003
149	147	Umeda, Masahiro	J	-	1059	1059	5	31/12/2003
149	147	Lippens, Sam	B	-	1059	1059	5	31/12/2003
151	149	Mijts, Eric	NL	-	1044	1044	6	31/12/2003
152	150	Faldon, David	GB	-	1033	1033	6	31/12/2003
153	151	De Langhe, Anton	B	-	1020	1020	12	31/12/2003
153	151	Van Der Stoelen, Kris	B	-	1020	1020	6	31/12/2003
153	151	Merckx, Marleen	B	-	1020	1020	6	31/12/2003
153	151	Devynck, Joke	B	-	1020	1020	6	31/12/2003
157	155	Van Hoof, Tina	B	-	1019	1019	5	31/12/2003
158	156	Scheib, Timo	D	-	987	987	5	31/12/2003
159	157	Corten, Marjan	B	-	980	980	11	31/12/2003
160	158	Burm, Klaartje	B	-	967	967	7	31/12/2003
161	159	Dixson, Aaron	GB	-	962	962	6	31/12/2003
162	160	Vermeulen, Jo	B	-	950	950	5	31/12/2003
162	160	Burm, Lotte	B	-	950	950	5	31/12/2003
164	162	Simoens, Cecile	B	-	945	945	6	31/12/2003
165	163	Dotremont, Kristel	B	-	939	939	7	31/12/2003
165	164	Verfaillie, Jan	B	-	939	939	5	31/12/2003
167	165	Vinay	IND	-	922	922	5	31/12/2003
168	166	Hamada, Akira	J	-	918	918	5	31/12/2003
168	166	Pottie, Jan	B	-	918	918	7	31/12/2003
168	166	X, Peter	B	-	918	918	5	31/12/2003
168	166	Tatsutomi, Hiroyuki	J	-	918	918	7	31/12/2003
168	166	JBS	B	-	918	918	6	31/12/2003
173	171	Gubbels, Peter	B	-	907	907	6	31/12/2003
174	172	Vermeulen, Bill	B	-	779	779	5	31/12/2003