ICU rating lists were published as usual in January, May and September. A large amount of work has gone into the new ratings web site (see below) which is partially functioning and expected to be ready to replace the old rating system at the end of the 2011-12 season.

Top Twenty

The left hand table below shows the top 20 rated ICU members. Previous rank and rating change are shown in brackets for players who were also ICU members in Sep 2010. The right hand table lists the top 20 members with the biggest improvements between Sep 2010 and Sep 2011 (not including players whose ratings are still provisional). Compare with last season's top 10. See also the latest WAR.

New Ratings Web Site

The new ratings web site is up and running, but not yet complete. Tournament controllers can log in, upload and edit reports and make use of information about both ICU and FIDE players. Ordinary users can see tournament tables without having to log in.

From now on, controllers are encouraged to make use of this new facility to submit their reports, instead of the old method of emailing them to the ratings officer. Logins are the same as for the icu.ie site, although your account first needs to be enabled for reporting (please ask the rating officer).

The core rating engine, which is a straight port of the old engine and performs calculations in the same way, has been written but not yet integrated into the web site. This, along with various ways of displaying rating information (including full breakdowns of the calculations per player per tournament) and administrative tools for the rating officer, are the main features still in development.

Policy for the new site, when it's finally ready, still has to be discussed by the ICU executive. For now, it is being assumed that in order to see all the additional information that will become available, it will be necessary for users to login. In other words, you will need to have a current ICU subscription. Other policy matters are going to arise for which the best way forward is not entirely clear at the moment and will require consultation with the executive and perhaps also the membership.

While the new site is still in development the old system will continue to generate official rating lists as usual. At some stage during 2011-12 both systems will be producing ratings in parallel, allowing the two to be compared (they should be the same, ideally, or very close). Towards the end of the season a decision will be made as to whether the new system is ready to take over.

Trends

The next table show various statistics for the last 3 seasons. The upward trend in members and ratings noted last season continues.

FIDE Rated Tournaments

The following tournaments have been rated with FIDE this season: Armstrong, Bernadette Stokes, City of Dublin IM, Elm Mount CC, Glorney Cup, Gonzaga, Heidenfeld, Irish Championships, Jesse Gilbert, John Robertson, Leinsters, Munster League 1, NCC, Ulster Championships.