SC2 World Ranking, Part 4: Exhaustion

Part 3: http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/viewblog.php?id=359320

+ Show Spoiler [Introduction] +

Lately, I've heard lots of discussion about a StarCraft 2 World Ranking based on tournament results. Essentially, the concept is that you assign points for tournament rankings. Unfortunately, no matter how it is done, the ranking will always be subjective. One person may say that the GSL is worth as much as every other tournament combined, whereas another person may say that the GSL is worth about as much as a MLG.

How do I get around this "subjective" problem? Here's my answer: I'll let you choose the values!

That's right, I'm starting a project to create a World Ranking. The cool thing is that you get to choose how many points each victory is worth and more.

Make sure you enable Macros when you download this version:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/43612415/World Ranking.xlsm

+ Show Spoiler [How to Use] +

The first sheet is known as "Values" and it is the only spreadsheet you should edit. The left column shows the ranking of the player and the right column shows the points that the player receives from that ranking. For example, 1st 5,000 means that the winner of the tournament receives 5,000 points.

Only edit the highlighted areas!

The "Sort" button will automatically sort the lists in order of points.

The sheet known as "Rankings" has the ultimate ranking which you are looking for.

+ Show Spoiler [Regression] +

One thing that is very popular in point rankings such as this is the concept of regression. Basically, your points degrade over time, meaning that a GSL today is worth more than a GSL one year ago. I completely agree with this idea, so I've included this.

The sheet "Values" has a "Regression Factor" which you can edit. Right now, the spreadsheet only supports simple regression - exponential decay. Here's how the regression model works:

New Point Value = Original Point Value * (Regression Factor)^(# of Days since the Tournament)

The value I prefer is "0.99769217652702". If you use this value, the number of points will be halved after 300 days (so 10,000 points becomes 5,000 points), the number of points will be 25% after 600 days (so 10,000 points becomes 2,500 points), and so on.

You may choose your own value! If you do not wish to use regression (you think a GSL from one year ago is worth exactly the same as a GSL today), then simply use the value "1".

However, this is not completed yet! So far, I've only added GSL Code S, IPL, and MLG. In fact, I need your help!

+ Show Spoiler [My Progress] +

Part 1: I started this project on Google Spreadsheets and added the three GSL Open Seasons. NesTea topped the rankings with his GSL Open Season win.

Part 2: I added all of the GSL Code S seasons including the World Championship, Super Tournament, and Blizzard Cup. I also moved the project to Microsoft Excel, which is much much faster than Google Spreadsheets. With the addition of more GSL seasons, the GSL king (also known as Mvp) topped the rankings.

Part 3: I added IPL. I changed the spreadsheet into a macro-enabled spreadsheet and protected each sheet except "Values". The addition of IPL allowed Squirtle to break the top ten!

Part 4: I added MLG. MLG gave a lot of points to DongRaeGu and MarineKing, and they rose many places. MC, MMA, and Leenock also rose some places, while NesTea didn't gain any points.

+ Show Spoiler [How You Can Help!] +

I need lists of tournament rankings. First, I need the name of the tournament, and the date it ended. Then, I need a list of players starting from 1st place until last place. Here's an example:

GSL Open Season 1
10/2/2010

FruitDealer
RainBOw
Ensnare
LiveForever
HongUn
InCa
Maka
TricKsteR
anypro
Check
Clide
Hyperdub
LegalMind
Nettie
San
TOP
IdrA
JookTo
justfake
Keeping
Maru
Polt
TaeJa
Tankboy
TheWinD
TLO
ZanDarke
Zenio
Aory
Artosis
Astraea
BrEEzE
Cella
Cezanne
Chipmunk
Dos
FoCuS
Genius
Gerrard
GuineaPig
Hansin
JiTaeHoon
jjonga
JSL
Junwi
LosirA
MC
miso
Myth
NesTea
New
RenieHouR
SengKun
Sopia
Spunky
SSoja
TorcH
Wind
Xian
Yong

My next goal is foreign tournaments. Do not worry about Code A yet!

Finally, here is my own ranking:

+ Show Spoiler +

1. 26,976 Mvp
2. 21,012 DongRaeGu
3. 17,328 MC
4. 16,958 MMA
5. 15,852 NesTea
6. 14,053 MarineKing
7. 9,811 Seed
8. 7,801 Polt
9. 7,640 Leenock
10. 6,607 aLive

DongRaeGu and MarineKing made significant gains. MC, MMA, and Mvp also gained points from MLG, and Leenock managed to break into the top 10! Every time I update this list, the closer and closer it gets to my list of the top 10 players.

I'm tired today, so I won't write as much. I want to cover the difference between a MLG and a GSL.

Obviously, GSL is more prestigious and has a much larger prize pool. However, if you compare MLG Providence to, say, GSL November, there isn't much difference in terms of level of competition and prize pool. In fact, most MLGs are really stacked and they aren't too far behind GSL.

The main difference is the format. MLG is the sprint where everyone collapses of exhaustion by the end, with one happily smiling winner. GSL is the long marathon, the tournament where you put your heart into each and every game. Each set is prepared for and an inferior player with superior preparation can easily overcome a superior player with inferior preparation.

Something that is frequently mentioned is the concept of how utterly exhausting a MLG is. Open Bracket players have to play through endless amounts of games with little rest in between. The time between games is an antsy, tense period while waiting for your next game, something that can be announced at any moment. This is how MLG has been described.

If the two finalists in a MLG are utterly exhausting after 3 days of gaming, then the level of play isn't going to be at its highest, with exceptions. The one exception I can think of is that lots and lots of gaming and the exhaustion could build up momentum and remove nerves, allowing the player to play his best. Usually, that is not the case.

MLG is not for everyone. NesTea, who has dominated the GSL before, does not do well in MLG. Considering that he can barely stay awake for GSL Group Nominations, it's no surprise that he cannot perform as well under the strenuous conditions of MLG.

I would never claim that a MLG win is more valuable than a GSL win. Still, MLG requires skills that GSL players don't utilize. When MC can go to a MLG with little preparation, go deep in the tournament (fighting off the exhaustion), and return to Korea to dismantle Code S players who have been preparing specifically to take out an exhausted MC... you gotta give him some respect.

So, my question for you: what tournament shall I add next?

Part 5: http://www.teamliquid.net/blogs/viewblog.php?id=359812

SC2 World Ranking, Part 4: Exhaustion

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