I use nothing but last published rating at my tournaments (if such a rating exists). The only exception I would use is if a provisionally rated player had a much lower published rating than their online MSA. Even in that case, unless I knew of this discrepency, what good would it do? Directors can’t possibly be required to know a player’s MSA online rating.
My read of rules 28C through 28E is that any rating other than last published is a director assigned rating, regardless of the source of info the director uses. This would include mailing labels, MSA listing, or crosstable listing. The only “official” rating is the last published rating.
At least this is my read.
The rule does state that it is common practice to allow these ratings to
be used if they are higher than the last published rating. However, I do
not think it is a good practice. There are too many pitfalls.
According to 28E2, a rating may be assigned only for reasonable cause. Such causes are listed, though the list is not all-inclusive. What exactly
is a “reasonable” cause? Even the specifics are not completely clear: under 28E2: A. “The player has shown significant superiority to those in a particular class.” What is the definition of significant? My definition might vary from yours. It is a tricky rule.
I do not think whether a player informs you of his higher MSA or label rating should be the justification for using that rating. This is inherently inequitable. It is also usually impossible to verify. Most directors do not have on-site internet access, and most players do not have their printed MSA ratings or magazine labels.
Even if they do, here is a potential problem this could create: You move a player up into the next section based on their online rating. They
win a “class prize.” Would this be fair to another player who qualified for the class prize? I don’t think it would.
A printed MSA could also be from three weeks ago. There is nothing on the MSA member details giving the current date. Printed USCF labels by themselves also indicate no date. An unscrupulous player might print an MSA and use it later, or use an old USCF label. Unless the director compares this to the published rating, this trickery would not be caught. Of course this would mainly apply to players unknown to the director.
Even honest players can make mistakes about their rating. If I told you my rating is 1647 (by mistake) when my rating is actually 1646, then what difference does it make? But what if that one point qualified me for a class prize? Then it would be a big deal.
This is a very tricky rule, and there may be differences of opinion out there. I am convinced that using any rating other than last published should be the exception and not the rule. These exceptions should only be made for a reasonable cause. As a director, I would not use
anything other than last published without a compelling reason.
To allow some players to bring you a label or MSA printout while others
go by last published is not fair. All players should be required to compete from the same rating list, except under extraordinary circumstances (as
outlined under 28E2).
The TD tip under 28C states that it is “common” practice to use such
ratings if they are higher than last published. I think such use should
be uncommon, and the exception to the rule.
I welcome your opinions on this matter.
Sincerely,
William “Tom” Hales, TD newbie
Asheboro Chess Club (Asheboro, North Carolina)