MSA Data

Thanks to Tacticus Maximus for linking a program called MSA Data, which downloads and analyzes tournament results from the USCF.

It was a tad nostalgic seeing all those names from tournaments and clubs past. I was a bit surprised at how infrequently I met some of them in tournaments–1 person thrice, 10 twice, and 49 just once. (Oddly, I’ve already played one person from the Houston Chess Club twice in two tournaments.)

The good

My best upset was 327 points higher.
My best draw was 588 points higher.
Worst loss was to a 1400 (168 points lower at the time), and the next worst was to a 1497 (112 points). (I thought there’d be at least one real crapball game where I lost to an 1100 or something, but no such luck.)

The bad

Record against similarly rated opponents is +5/-8/=2. Not particularly healthy.
Record against players 100 or more points higher? +7/-28/=5. It’s not like I’m playing Experts and Masters all the time (9 games) to make the disparity so great.

The optimistic

Unofficially, I’m 31% of the way to obtaining the 100 point increase I’m shooting for. As far as following that +100 plan? Kinda doing parts 1, 3, and 5, while ignoring 2 and 4.

[UPDATE: One of the tournaments I played in was called the "Waco Full Frontal Autumn Open". Not the most optimal verbiage, methinks.]

November 19th, 2007 7 comments
Posted by Donnie Filed under Chess