By Stanley R. Sludikoff, Editor/Publisher
Back when Mike Caro and I started this newspaper, November of 1982; Mike was the Editor, and we discussed the idea of ranking tournament players. After much discussion, we abandoned the idea as having too many flaws to get an accurate ranking. Further, at that time, getting card rooms to supply the information needed was, at best, unreliable.
Over the years we have seen other publications and individuals create ranking systems, each one more flawed than the next, while some favored certain players (or events) over others. So we desisted from this task. We even came up with what would probably be the most accurate ranking, a sort of batting average, but, again, it required complete information from card rooms, all card rooms holding qualifying events, to be possible. This would include the identification of all people who played, even those who didn’t cash. As an example, who would you say is the better player: someone like Phil Hellmuth, who played in 2000 No Limit tournaments and won 12, or John Doe, who played in 20 tournaments and won 5? Since we don’t really know how many events they played in and lost, how can we tell?
The other day I received a phone call from Al Morris, an avid player and former tournament director at major card rooms, who wanted to see me. So, he came the next day, and he explained that he expected to retire in a year or so and wanted me to keep his ranking system alive. He also said I was perhaps the only publisher he would trust with his baby. I reviewed his methodology and, found it far less flawed than others currently out there. Al had formed something called the NRATPP, for National Rating Association of Tournament Poker Players. He has maintained a web site that describes everything at www.nratpp.com. He has done this for over two years, and, has achieved a high level of acceptance for his system.
So, I have agreed to publish these rankings, subject to feedback and acceptance by our readership, and by the participation of the card rooms whose events are the subject of the ratings. Although Al’s emphasis was on Non-no limit events, for which there were no ratings to speak of, I have convinced him to extend his methodology to No limit events as well, which will follow in subsequent issues. His rankings now cover four major categories, and four minor ones, which will be the subject of rotation in every issue of Poker Player. No Limit events will probably be introduced around the first of the year, which is the time period upon which all rankings are based, annually.
We trust that you will enjoy these rankings and find them interesting. Lists will be found on both our web site at www.pokerplayernewspaper.com/nratpp, and in print in this publication, starting right now for the 2012 season.
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