What does "Code S level" mean?

TheBB

Switzerland5133 Posts

February 01 2013 12:21 GMT

So this came up in the LR thread for today (whould've thunk it). Is Stephano Code S level or not? So I thought, well, with my statistical model I can maybe answer that question in an objective manner, so here's what I've done.

Code S currently contains 32 players, including people such as Huk who are generally agreed upon by many not to belong there. Nevertheless he is there. These 32 players will be our benchmark group.

Then we take a bunch of other players counted among the best in the world, let them play 32 hypothetical games against everyone in the benchmark group, and record their expected score. This is a number between 0 and 32.

For players already in the benchmark group, they get a "free" 0.5 because that's their expected score against themselves. Thus their score will be somewhere between 0.5 and 31.5.

Before I present the list I'd like to first point out that this rating considers games, not tournaments, and it weighs recent performance quite heavily compared to past ones. Thus, if your guy is a serial GSL code S winner from the bygone age, such as the holy trinity of MC, NesTea and Mvp, well that doesn't matter here.

Note also that this list is based on the top 150 rated players (active and inactive), and the code S players. The ranking can change a little bit in the lower levels if I expand this, because players who have high ratings against T and Z but low ratings against P will do better than normal, since the benchmark group contains so few Protosses.

If you have questions about the math you can read the FAQ or just browse the website where I play around with all this stuff.

So what do we find?

1.

Life 22.669 (code S)
2.

First 21.351

First may be the best player currently not in Code S.

3.

DongRaeGu 20.202 (code S)
4.

Sniper 20.111 (code S)
5.

PartinG 20.103 (code S)
6.

Symbol 19.083 (code S)
7.

Bomber 18.868 (code S)

So far so good. Code S has six of the top seven players in the world. It seems likely to be the hardest individual league to win in the world.

8.

Jaedong 18.779
9.

viOLet 18.705
10.

Monster 18.362
11.

Scarlett 18.284

These four are not in code S, of course, but I don't think many people would disagree that they show the level, gender be damned.

12.

Squirtle 17.743 (code S)
13.

Leenock 17.683 (code S)
14.

BBoongBBoong 17.549 (code S)
15.

GuMiho 17.534 (code S)
16.

Rain 17.445
17.

Maru 17.405
18.

HyuN 17.348 (code S)
19.

VortiX 17.254
20.

Soulkey 17.195 (code S)
21.

San 17.083
22.

Sen 16.635
23.

TaeJa 16.631 (code S)
24.

Polt 16.630
25.

Curious 16.549 (code S)
26.

JangBi 16.338
27.

ForGG 16.327
28.

HerO 16.182
29.

NesTea 16.159 (code S)
30.

Tear 16.000

This concludes the list of the players who can expect at least an even score in the code S with the current lineup. I have skipped

Dark, who sneaks in on place 22 between

San and

Sen, but he is inactive after having played no rated games in eight weeks.

Perhaps surprising is the appearance of people like

Maru,

Vortix,

San,

Sen,

JangBi and

ForGG, who are not usually brought up in these discussions.

31.

YoDa 15.768 (code S)
32.

EffOrt 15.730

That is the size of the code S. Would you consider the above lineup an improvement to the current one? Probably not, I'm guessing.

YuGiOh sneaks in on 31st place just ahead of

YoDa, but like

Dark, he is inactive (will return next list though, as he some games from January 31st).

33.

Flash 15.506
34.

RorO 15.499 (code S)

RorO is the strongest player currently in code S who has a "dubious" claim to his spot. Fun fact:

CoCa's rating puts him around here, but he is of course also inactive.

35.

Last 15.243
36.

Arthur 15.172
37.

MC 15.109 (code S)
38.

SuperNoVa 15.001
39.

Ryung 14.996 (code S)
40.

MarineKing 14.905 (code S)
41.

Giantt 14.863
42.

Oz 14.814
43.

Hack 14.763 (code S)
44.

Vampire 14.568
45.

Creator 14.549 (code S)
46.

BaBy 14.549 (code S)
47.

INnoVation 14.539 (code S)
48.

Dream 14.434
49.

Brown 14.306
50.

Lucky 14.220

So that concludes our top 50. "But wait!", you might say, "what in the name of Dustin Browder is Giantt doing there?". Yeah, good question, I don't know either. He is probably helped out by the fact that he has a very low ZvP rating, but there are so few Protosses in code S, so he gets a bit of an artificial boost.

"But wait!", you might say again, and I'll answer "what now?". "There are code S players missing!" Indeed there are. Some end up quite far down the list, it turns out.

51.

Noblesse 14.140 (code S)
54.

LosirA 14.026 (code S)
55.

Stephano 14.026 (code S)
63.

Keen 13.891 (code S)
96.

Mvp 12.376 (code S)
120.

ByuL 11.322 (code S)
121.

HuK 11.268 (code S)
129.

Byun 10.847 (code S)

+ Show Spoiler [Full list] +

  1. Life (Z, KR)         22.669 (code S)
  2. First (P, KR)        21.351 
  3. DongRaeGu (Z, KR)    20.202 (code S)
  4. Sniper (Z, KR)       20.111 (code S)
  5. PartinG (P, KR)      20.103 (code S)
  6. Symbol (Z, KR)       19.083 (code S)
  7. Bomber (T, KR)       18.868 (code S)
  8. Jaedong (Z, KR)      18.779 
  9. viOLet (Z, KR)       18.705 
 10. Monster (Z, KR)      18.362 
 11. Scarlett (Z, CA)     18.284 
 12. Squirtle (P, KR)     17.743 (code S)
 13. Leenock (Z, KR)      17.683 (code S)
 14. BBoongBBoong (Z, KR) 17.549 (code S)
 15. GuMiho (T, KR)       17.534 (code S)
 16. Rain (P, KR)         17.445 
 17. Maru (T, KR)         17.405 
 18. HyuN (Z, KR)         17.348 (code S)
 19. VortiX (Z, ES)       17.254 
 20. Soulkey (Z, KR)      17.195 (code S)
 21. San (P, KR)          17.083 
 22. Dark (Z, KR)         16.853 (inactive)
 23. Sen (Z, TW)          16.635 
 24. TaeJa (T, KR)        16.631 (code S)
 25. Polt (T, KR)         16.630 
 26. Curious (Z, KR)      16.549 (code S)
 27. JangBi (P, KR)       16.338 
 28. ForGG (T, KR)        16.327 
 29. HerO (P, KR)         16.182 
 30. NesTea (Z, KR)       16.159 (code S)
 31. Tear (P, KR)         16.000 
 32. YuGiOh (Z, KR)       15.905 (inactive)
 33. YoDa (T, KR)         15.768 (code S)
 34. EffOrt (Z, KR)       15.730 
 35. Flash (T, KR)        15.506 
 36. RorO (Z, KR)         15.499 (code S)
 37. CoCa (Z, KR)         15.491 (inactive)
 38. Last (T, KR)         15.243 
 39. Arthur (P, KR)       15.172 
 40. MC (P, KR)           15.109 (code S)
 41. SuperNoVa (T, KR)    15.001 
 42. Ryung (T, KR)        14.996 (code S)
 43. MarineKing (T, KR)   14.905 (code S)
 44. Giantt (Z, BG)       14.863 
 45. Oz (P, KR)           14.814 
 46. Hack (T, KR)         14.763 (code S)
 47. Seal (Z, KR)         14.595 (inactive)
 48. Vampire (P, KR)      14.568 
 49. Creator (P, KR)      14.549 (code S)
 50. BaBy (T, KR)         14.549 (code S)
 51. INnoVation (T, KR)   14.539 (code S)
 52. Dream (T, KR)        14.434 
 53. Brown (P, KR)        14.306 
 54. Lucky (Z, KR)        14.220 
 55. Noblesse (T, KR)     14.140 (code S)
 56. LiveZerg (Z, RU)     14.107 
 57. TLO (Z, DE)          14.091 
 58. LosirA (Z, KR)       14.026 (code S)
 59. Stephano (Z, FR)     14.026 (code S)
 60. soO (Z, KR)          14.003 
 61. Inori (P, KR)        14.003 (inactive)
 62. XlorD (Z, DE)        14.000 
 63. XiGua (Z, CN)        13.995 
 64. Yong (P, KR)         13.989 
 65. NaNiwa (P, SE)       13.976 
 66. sOs (P, KR)          13.965 
 67. Fraer (P, UA)        13.942 
 68. insect (Z, KR)       13.923 (inactive)
 69. Dayfly (T, KR)       13.905 (inactive)
 70. Keen (T, KR)         13.891 (code S)
 71. Classic (T, KR)      13.811 
 72. Daisy (P, KR)        13.806 
 73. Stork (P, KR)        13.780 
 74. Puzzle (P, KR)       13.740 (inactive)
 75. sculp (T, KR)        13.730 
 76. Lure (P, KR)         13.707 
 77. Seed (P, KR)         13.698 
 78. finale (P, KR)       13.650 
 79. Yonghwa (P, KR)      13.554 
 80. ZerO (Z, KR)         13.453 
 81. Socke (P, DE)        13.448 
 82. Zero (Z, KR)         13.447 
 83. Snute (Z, NO)        13.354 
 84. TheStC (T, KR)       13.321 
 85. Welmu (P, FI)        13.052 
 86. RevivaL (Z, KR)      13.038 
 87. Heart (T, KR)        13.017 
 88. Crazy-Hydra (Z, KR)  12.945 
 89. Genius (P, KR)       12.917 
 90. Miya (Z, KR)         12.866 
 91. hyvaa (Z, KR)        12.863 
 92. ToodMing (Z, CN)     12.710 
 93. Sage (P, KR)         12.677 
 94. StarDust (P, KR)     12.643 
 95. frCoolTea (P, RU)    12.632 (inactive)
 96. herO (P, KR)         12.570 
 97. Jjakji (T, KR)       12.557 
 98. TAiLS (P, KR)        12.531 
 99. Action (Z, KR)       12.509 
100. LucifroN (T, ES)     12.502 
101. TOP (T, KR)          12.479 
102. Light (T, KR)        12.440 
103. mOOnGLaDe (Z, AU)    12.432 
104. sKyHigh (T, KR)      12.417 
105. Mvp (T, KR)          12.376 (code S)
106. Killer (P, KR)       12.335 
107. GuineaPig (P, KR)    12.316 (inactive)
108. goswser (Z, US)      12.311 
109. MMA (T, KR)          12.276 
110. RagnaroK (Z, KR)     12.274 
111. FLY (Z, TW)          12.242 
112. Kas (T, UA)          12.228 
113. Sting (T, KR)        12.202 
114. SortOf (Z, SE)       12.073 
115. Trap (P, KR)         11.976 
116. Rain (T, KR)         11.962 (inactive)
117. Alicia (P, KR)       11.905 
118. EffkA (T, IT)        11.874 (inactive)
119. free (P, KR)         11.854 
120. PuMa (T, KR)         11.790 
121. Choya (P, KR)        11.746 
122. MacSed (P, CN)       11.739 
123. Nerchio (Z, PL)      11.738 
124. Avenge (P, KR)       11.725 
125. CranK (P, KR)        11.724 
126. Wizard (P, TW)       11.688 
127. elfi (P, FI)         11.671 
128. JYP (P, KR)          11.623 
129. Freaky (Z, KR)       11.548 (inactive)
130. Sea (T, KR)          11.466 
131. sC (T, KR)           11.433 (inactive)
132. HwangSin (P, KR)     11.389 
133. Min (Z, KR)          11.345 (inactive)
134. MaNa (P, PL)         11.324 
135. ByuL (Z, KR)         11.322 (code S)
136. HuK (P, CA)          11.268 (code S)
137. oner (T, CN)         11.264 (inactive)
138. Jaehoon (P, KR)      11.220 
139. KiLLeR (Z, CL)       11.152 
140. Dear (P, KR)         11.113 
141. BabyKnight (P, DK)   10.954 
142. GanZi (T, KR)        10.938 
143. cyrano (P, KR)       10.906 
144. JonnyREcco (Z, UK)   10.884 
145. Byun (T, KR)         10.847 (code S)
146. Happy (T, KR)        10.759 
147. Tree (T, KR)         10.706 (inactive)
148. aLive (T, KR)        10.581 
149. Center (T, KR)       10.495 
150. FanTaSy (T, KR)      10.479 
151. Lyn (T, KR)          10.050 (inactive)

In the end I must say it is extremely impressive for a tournament with a relatively rigid qualification structure to be able to gather 16 of the top 32, and 32 of the top ~130. It's much easier to assemble ridiculous lineups in invitationals.

Zealously

East Gorteau22261 Posts

February 01 2013 12:24 GMT

I love all the work you do on Aligulac and with all these statistics and ratings in general. Keep up the great work!

bittman

Australia8759 Posts

February 01 2013 12:30 GMT

Nice little breakdown, I really like what you're able to do with the website.

Acnologia

Australia410 Posts

February 01 2013 12:39 GMT

good post

you have parting as a zerg in your post, better change that

Gladiator6

Sweden7024 Posts

February 01 2013 12:39 GMT

Nice list, I think you should change PartinG's race to protoss though instead of zerg.

For me Code S quality is basically a player who enters a tournament should win it or end in top 3 if there's no other Code S players in it.

Garfailed

Netherlands409 Posts

February 01 2013 12:40 GMT

These are some very cool statistics indeed! Well done!

mijellin

China740 Posts

February 01 2013 12:41 GMT

The topic title hinted at potentially cringe worthy content, but this post was awesome! Thanks for the really cool insight.

randomsaint

42 Posts

February 01 2013 12:43 GMT

Can you explain in detail how these scores were calculated? Just off TLPD ELO or something? I feel like Jaedong certainly does not belong in Code S yet, let alone top 8, and I'm shocked that his score would be so high.

Targe

United Kingdom14103 Posts

February 01 2013 12:46 GMT

On February 01 2013 21:43 randomsaint wrote:
Can you explain in detail how these scores were calculated? Just off TLPD ELO or something? I feel like Jaedong certainly does not belong in Code S yet, let alone top 8, and I'm shocked that his score would be so high.

He probably did it off aligulac.

Chsal

Australia23 Posts

February 01 2013 12:47 GMT

#10

Woah Flash and MKP. Lower than I thought D: ... Stephano too.

TheBB

Switzerland5133 Posts

February 01 2013 12:48 GMT

#11

Read the FAQ. If you have more questions after, just ask.

Flowsick

Estonia234 Posts

February 01 2013 12:48 GMT

#12

Fantastic work! Quite interesting to read, so sad for Mvp

Gorlin

United States2753 Posts

February 01 2013 12:54 GMT

#13

On February 01 2013 21:48 TheBB wrote:

Show nested quote +

Read the FAQ. If you have more questions after, just ask.

You should put that in the op (unless you did and I just don't see it), I also had no idea what it was until I saw this post.

TheBB

Switzerland5133 Posts

February 01 2013 12:56 GMT

#14

On February 01 2013 21:54 Gorlin wrote:

Show nested quote +

You should put that in the op (unless you did and I just don't see it), I also had no idea what it was until I saw this post.

Sorry, I'll put it in there. I just assumed most people had heard about this by now.

DavoS

United States4605 Posts

February 01 2013 13:07 GMT

#15

Awesome research by the way, very level headed compared to a lot of threads that skew data to "prove" something is imba or whatever.
While Code S is hard to qualify for, it doesn't make it foolproof. Look at Code A's YongHwa vs Life. If YongHwa had fought anyone else he would've made it through, instead he had to play up and downs while suffering with some kind of eye infection.And even the up and downs themselves can have groups of death as well as soft groups (Hence HuK making it through, no offense to him, he still played great that night). So basically, while GSL does what it can to get the cream of the crop, even it isn't immune to bracket luck.

On February 01 2013 21:21 TheBB wrote:

8.

Jaedong 18.779
9.

viOLet 18.705
10.

Monster 18.362
11.

Scarlett 18.284

These four are not in code S, of course, but I don't think many people would disagree that they show the level, gender be damned.

Eh, give players time to figure out how Scarlett is able to tech up so quickly and they'll come up with plenty of 2 or 3 base all ins to kill her. Same for JaeDong, as long as players mentally prepare themselves for treating his creep like lava then they can deny his biggest asset. But since we're using Code S level as a skill level instead of just how they would do in Code S, I'm in agreement

mrRoflpwn

United States2618 Posts

February 01 2013 13:08 GMT

#16

.... I swear we have a similar thread like this atleast once a week. People sure do love there statistics these days...
Kind of interesting though I guess (surprised Lucky is on that list)

winthrop

Hong Kong956 Posts

February 01 2013 13:12 GMT

#17

if he manage to beat (Z)

Curious

Poopi

France12886 Posts

February 01 2013 13:14 GMT

#18

Wow I always thought this statistical model wasn't fitted for SC2, but I did not know it was that bad.

frogrubdown

1266 Posts

February 01 2013 13:15 GMT

#19

Speaking of recent LRs, a lot of people in the PL LR today were rehearsing the common line that EG-TL is losing not because of the quality of players but because they don't know how to play in PL format. What's interesting to me about this is that not only is there no evidence provided that this is the case, but they also don't even provide enough evidence to show that there is a phenomenon that needs explaining.

That is, I haven't seen it shown that the players on EG-TL have actually under-performed compared to what you would expect them to do given the matches each has played.

Have you checked out the data on this, TheBB? If not, I think it'd be a pretty interesting project.

Sea_Food

Finland1612 Posts

February 01 2013 13:16 GMT

#20

Code S level has as much meaning as Grand Master level.
Not really anything, because everyone has so different opinion of what it means, so there is not a majority opinion so basically it means nothing.

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