The Elo Rating System

🎯 What is Elo?

The Elo rating system was originally invented for chess by Arpad Elo in the 1960s. Today it's used everywhere — from FIFA rankings to online games and tennis leagues.

The core idea is simple: your rating reflects your actual skill level, not just how many games you've won. Beating a stronger opponent gains you more points than beating a weaker one.

⚙️ How It Works

Before each match, the system calculates an expected outcome based on both players' current ratings. After the match, ratings are adjusted based on the actual result vs. what was expected.

The K-factor of 32 is standard for club-level play — it means ratings adjust quickly enough to stay dynamic but not so fast that a single upset throws everything off.

📊 Point Exchange Examples

Here's how many points change hands in different scenarios:

✅ Why Elo for Our Group?

1. Fair despite different match counts — someone with 3 games can be ranked alongside someone with 10
2. Rewards beating strong opponents — no point farming against weaker players
3. Self-correcting — if you're underrated, you'll gain points quickly; if overrated, you'll drop
4. Motivating — every match matters and the leaderboard stays dynamic
5. Transparent — everyone can see exactly how many points they'll gain or lose

🎾 Match Rules

1. All matches played at Shanghai Raquet Club count for the ranking
2. Best of 2 or 3 sets — the set winner is determined by standard tennis scoring
3. Both players must agree on the result before it's logged
4. Results should be entered on the same day the match is played
5. Any disputes about scores should be resolved between players before logging
6. New players start at 1000 Elo and can join anytime

🏅 Rating Tiers