Difference between revisions of "Power-matching"
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| − | '''Power-matching''' is a [[tournament format]] building block in which teams' schedules depend on their performance in previous matches. Teams generally play matches against other teams of the same or similar records, resulting in many more meaningful (i.e, close) matches than [[round | + | '''Power-matching''' is a [[tournament format]] building block in which teams' schedules depend on their performance in previous matches. Teams generally play matches against other teams of the same or similar records, resulting in many more meaningful (i.e, close) matches than [[round robin]]s provide, but at the expense of it becoming impossible to meaningfully compare teams' strengths of schedule. |
Power matching is used at many [[NAQT]] national championships, [[Scobol Solo]], and some other local events. Although he was not the first to use it, power matching is most prominently associated with [[David Reinstein]], whose innovations in pairing algorithms led NAQT to ask him to write the power-matched schedules for several years, though he has since been voluntarily replaced by a computer program (that he helped create). | Power matching is used at many [[NAQT]] national championships, [[Scobol Solo]], and some other local events. Although he was not the first to use it, power matching is most prominently associated with [[David Reinstein]], whose innovations in pairing algorithms led NAQT to ask him to write the power-matched schedules for several years, though he has since been voluntarily replaced by a computer program (that he helped create). | ||
Revision as of 13:14, 22 December 2017
Power-matching is a tournament format building block in which teams' schedules depend on their performance in previous matches. Teams generally play matches against other teams of the same or similar records, resulting in many more meaningful (i.e, close) matches than round robins provide, but at the expense of it becoming impossible to meaningfully compare teams' strengths of schedule.
Power matching is used at many NAQT national championships, Scobol Solo, and some other local events. Although he was not the first to use it, power matching is most prominently associated with David Reinstein, whose innovations in pairing algorithms led NAQT to ask him to write the power-matched schedules for several years, though he has since been voluntarily replaced by a computer program (that he helped create).
Reinstein and NAQT independently started using power-matching during the 2001-2002 season. Neither had any idea the other was doing it until New Trier attended the 2005 HSNCT.
Teams are generally seeded going into power-matching, although this is not strictly required. It is possible to obfuscate the seeds such that teams cannot tell who actually has what seed.
Power-matching is essentially equivalent to Swiss pairing based only on wins rather than other statistics, and done in advance rather than adapting during the tournament to avoid repeats.
Card System
A card system is by far the most common way to implement power-matching. (It can also be implemented using individual instructions given out after each match.) Teams are given cards with a prominent number and a schedule of when the team holding the card at the time will play the team holding a specified other card in each round (as well as other auxiliary information). Game officials have a "room card" indicating what cards should appear in what rounds. (You can see a sample team card and a sample room card from the 2017 HSNCT.)
After each round, the winning team takes the card whose number is closer to 1 and the losing team takes the card whose large is closer to n, where n is the number of teams playing on the card system. It is important to explain this carefully; in particular, do not say or write "the winning team takes the lower-numbered card", since although this is mathematically correct, lower-numbered cards correspond to higher rankings within the tournament, which may result in confusion.