RACE CODE CHESS: August 2024

Tournament Format Description

1. Basic Structure of the Tournament

The tournament consists of a series of individual chess games, each played between two participants. Each game is recorded in a database with key details about the players involved, the game date, and the results.
Players are tracked and ranked based on a dynamic value system that reflects their performance throughout the tournament.

2. Player Value System

Participation Value: Every player who participates in a game starts with a base value of 1. This value is given just for playing the game, regardless of the outcome.
Outcome Value:
- Win: A player who wins a game receives an additional 1 point. Thus, the total value for a win is 2 (1 point for participation + 1 point for winning).
- Draw: If the game ends in a draw, each player receives an additional 0.5 points, making the total value 1.5 (1 point for participation + 0.5 points for drawing).
- Loss: A player who loses only retains the participation value, resulting in a total value of 1 point.
Bonus for Defeating Higher-Value Players:
- When a player wins against an opponent who has a higher current value, the winning player earns a bonus equal to the value of the defeated opponent. This bonus is added to the player’s win value.
- For example, if Player A with a current value of 0 defeats Player B with a current value of 2, Player A earns a total of 4 points (1 for participation, 1 for winning, and 2 for the defeated opponent's value).

3. Game Recording and Outcome Tracking

GameData Table: Each game is recorded with:
- GameID: Unique identifier for each game.
- PlayDate: The date on which the game took place.
- Player1ID and Player2ID: References to the two players involved in the game.
- Player1Outcome and Player2Outcome: The outcome for each player (Win, Draw, Loss).
- Player1Value and Player2Value: The calculated value for each player based on the game’s outcome, reflecting the rules outlined.

4. Player Ranking and Current Value Calculation

Players are ranked based on their CurrentValue, which is updated after each game according to the outcomes and values earned. The CurrentValue represents a player's latest standing in the tournament.
RankRating Table: This table reflects player standings, showing each player’s name, their ethnic background, and the highest value they have reached in the tournament.

5. Updating and Maintaining Player Values

Player values are updated after each game to reflect participation, outcomes, and any bonuses for defeating higher-value opponents. This dynamic update ensures that player rankings accurately represent their current performance and achievements within the tournament.
Queries are used to calculate and update these values based on the outcomes recorded in the GameData table.

Conclusion

The described chess tournament format is designed to dynamically reward players for participation and performance, emphasizing not just winning but also the challenge of defeating higher-ranked opponents. The system encourages competitive play by providing significant value boosts for players who manage to overcome stronger opponents, thereby making the tournament more engaging and rewarding. The use of a well-structured Microsoft Access database allows for efficient tracking and updating of player values, ensuring that standings and rankings are always up-to-date and reflective of the latest results.

By incorporating the participation value, outcome value, and bonus value for defeating higher-ranked players, the tournament structure encourages both consistent participation and strategic play, leading to a competitive and engaging tournament experience.