Pool challenge system

I. Introduction

I. 1. Basic principle

All participing players are ranked.

One player can challenge another with a better rank to the billiard game of their choice. If the challenger wins, his ranking improves and that of the loser decreases. Otherwise rankings are left unchanged.

Players can play at any time they agree upon (during or outside of club meetings), playing any cue game they agree upon.

I. 2. Who can participate?

All club members can participate in this challenge system. However, participation is not mandatory. A club member can decide to be added or removed from the challenge system at any time.

New players are added at the bottom of the list.

I. 3. Status of this document

The system is meant to be easy to understand and to use. This document's purpose is to establish the basic format of the challenge system, not to create finicky or strongly constraining rules.

Common sense and sportsmanship are expected from all.

I. 4. Semantics

For the purpose of the present document, "high" rank means "good" rank, "increasing" ranking means "improving" ranking. "Low" and "decrease" are used in a similar fashion. So, by beating better players a low-rank player may increase in ranking to become a high-rank player.

II. Challenging another player

II. 1. Who can challenge whom?

A player can challenge any player ranked at most three places higher than himself.

II. 1. a. The "line"

A "line" is drawn after the top 20 players. Below this line, all players can be challenged whatever the rank difference. The figure below shows (in bold) the players you can challenge, depending on where you are with respect to the line.

II. 2. What game is played?

The player being challenged, thereafter called defender, has the choice of the game. If the game picked by the defender is not a common game (8-ball, 9-ball), the challenger can refuse to play that game and the defender must propose a different game. The players then agree upon the length of the match (number of games or of points.)

You can challenge players who happen to be in the billiards room when you are there, or you can contact them to make an appointment. Club meetings are a good opportunity to challenge people and to make appointments.

II. 3. How do rankings change?

If the challenger loses the match, rankings are not modified. If the challenger wins, the challenger takes the place of the loser whose ranking decreases by one.

II. 4. Can I refuse a challenge?

II. 4. a. Refusing once

You can refuse a challenge for instance if you are not available to play. You can refuse a challenge from somebody who has just challenged you or whom you have just challenged. If you want to refuse the challenge itself, not just to postpone it, please refer to the next paragraph.

II. 4. b. Consistently refusing

No time commitment is required, players are allowed to play as much or as little as they wish. Some participating players may not be willing or able to be very active. Such players may want to refuse challenges, in order not to play too much. This is acceptable. However the player must make it clear whether he refuses to play against the challenger for the time being (see previous paragraph) or whether he refuses the challenge altogether. In the latter case, the player accepts that his ranking may be modified to allow more active players to pass him.

The "line" represents a border between more and less active players. Players who do not plan to be very active should remain below the line (or the line should remain above them.) If you think the position of the line is incorrect, please let a club officer know.

If you do not accept challenges to avoid losing ground, remember that you would never have got there if other players had refused your challenges. Also keep in mind that you lose one place whenever a player below you beats a player above you (see section II.3.) Always refusing challenges for this reason therefore lacks sportsmanship and efficiency.

III. Troubleshooting

III. 1. What if there is nobody I can challenge?

It can happen that the players ranked above you are not regular players or that they play at different times than you. If this happens, you can meet the players you would like to challenge at the club meetings or you can contact them by e-mail. If you get no reply or if they refuse your challenge, please refer to a club officer.

III. 2. What if I do not understand the rules?

If you do not understand the rules or think they are flawed, drop a note at the desk of the billiards room. This will help us improve the rules and their clarity.

© Mathieu Bouville, October 29 ^th 2003