ACF Titles
The ACF is proud to present titles to players who demonstrate impressive to outstanding performance at tournaments. There are 3 different titles that a player can receive based on his or her performance: Grandmaster, Master, and Expert. In order to achieve Grandmaster or Master title, players must reach a minimum rating as well as reach a specific performance standard at a tournament. To achieve the Expert title, players will only have to reach a minimum rating. Players who achieve these titles will be rewarded with special ID’s and badges.
Rating/Minimum Game Standard
1. Rating History: In first half of 2008 and prior, players were rated under the David Butler system. Players’ ratings ranged between 2600-1000. A couple years later, the ELO system was established and replaced the Butler system. Players in the 2nd half of 2008 and after have been rated under this system. A fluctuation of ratings have occurred in this time. The rating range now ranges from approximately 2300-1300.
2. Rating Inflation/Deflation: Players who were rated under the David Butler system may either have an inflated or deflated rating. Players with a rating of 1850 or higher under the David Butler system will be considered to have/had an inflated rating. Therefore, players will need to play a certain number of games under the new ELO system in order to adjust their inflated rating. How many games they have to play depends on where their rating was at the last time it was rated under the Butler system. Since there was a high percentage of players with inflated and deflated ratings for the first several years under the ELO system, the minimum game standard will not begin for players until the beginning of 2013. Players that were never rated under the Butler system will not have to meet a minimum game standard. Players with deflated ratings (1849 and below), will also not have to meet any minimum game standard.
3. Minimum Game Standard:
· 1850-1950 – 10 games
· 1951-2050 – 20 games
· 2051-2150 – 30 games
· 2151-2250 – 40 games
· 2251-2350 – 50 games
· 2351-2450 – 60 games
· 2451-2550 – 70 games
· While a player playing their minimum game standard will undoubtedly adjust their rating to a more proper number, there is still a chance it won’t be completely accurate. Perhaps some of their opponents that he or she played still had inflated or deflated ratings themselves. At this point it can be assured that most active players under the ELO system have a fairly accurate rating, while there are a few who do not. In the event that a player plays someone in a tournament with a very high inflated or deflated rating, the rating processor (Joe Moore) will adjust the inflated rating accordingly for the purposes of determining if a player should receive a title or not.
· Example: If player A played opponent player B who has a rating of 2400 or above (very inflated), I will adjust that players rating accordingly in order to determine a more accurate average rating of opponents that player A played. This way, no one will have an unfair advantage in trying to capture a title.
Requirements
Grandmaster:
Rating Requirement
1. Achieve a rating of 2200 or higher (player does not have to maintain this rating. He or she just has to reach it once).
Tournament Standard Requirement (Player just needs to achieve one)
1. Finish ahead of at least 70% of the competition in at least one tournament with the following requirements:
· At least 7 opponents.
· At least 25% of the players are Grandmasters.
· Average rating of the players that you played is 2100 and higher.
o Example: In a tournament of 7 opponents, at least two of them must be Grandmasters. You must finish ahead of at least 5 of the 7 players. The combined average of the opponents that you played needs to be at least 2100 and higher.
2. Finish ahead of three or more Grandmasters and place within the top 3 of a tournament. No other requirements necessary.
3. Finish ahead of two or more Grandmasters and place within the top 3 of a tournament with the following requirement:
· Average rating of opponents you play is 2100 and above
4. Finish ahead of one or more Grandmaster and place within the top 2 of a tournament with the following requirements:
· At least 7 opponents
· Average rating of opponents you play is 2100 or higher.
Master:
Rating Requirement
1. Achieve a rating of 2000 or higher (player does not have to maintain this rating. He or she just has to reach it once).
Tournament Requirement (Player just has to achieve one)
1. Finish ahead of at least 70% of the competition in at least one tournament with the following requirements:
· At least 7 opponents.
· At least 25% of the players are Masters or Grandmasters.
· Average rating of the players in the tournament that you played is 2000 and higher.
o Example:
In a tournament of 7 opponents, at least two of your 7 opponents must be Masters. You must beat out at least 5 of the 7 players. The combined average of your opponents that you played needs to be at least 2000.2. Finish ahead of three or more masters and place within the top 3 of a tournament.
3. Finish ahead of two or more masters and place within the top 3 of a tournament with the following requirement:
· Average rating of opponents you play is 2000 and above.
4. Finish ahead of one or more master and place within the top the top 2 of the tournament with the following requirements:
· At least 7 opponents
· Average rating of opponents you play is 2000 and above.
Expert:
1. Achieve a rating of 1900.
· Player does not have to maintain this rating. He or she just has to reach it once.
· Player must maintain a rating above 1750 once they obtain the title. If their rating drops below 1750, they lose the title and will need to reach 1900 to obtain it again.
Titles/Norms Expiration
1. Titles themselves do not expire, only the norms that make up the title do.
2. Once a norm is achieved, it is valid for a 10 year period and will expire once 10 years is up.
3. If a norm(s) expire there are several things that can happen:
· Player will lose their title if they have not achieved another norm(s) requirement a second or more time within the 10 year period.
· Player will keep their title provided they obtained the norm(s) requirement a second or more time within the 10 year period.
4. There is no time limit within the 10 year period that the player needs to achieve both norms for the Grandmaster and Master titles.
· For example: Even if a player achieves one norm in the year 2015 and the other in 2024, he or she will still obtain the title for at least a one year period. Once the one year is up, the norm obtained in 2015 will expire and the player will lose their title until they can achieve that norm again.
Grandmaster and Master Titles 2008-Prior
Players who obtained a Grandmaster or Master title in 2008 or prior (pre ELO system) will be able to hold their titles until 2018. In 2018, these players will need to have achieved a tournament norm requirement mentioned above within the last 10 years and a rating norm requirement within the last 5 years.