Final prediction contest request

[cueman]

On the eve of the final event of the season, the World championship, I think it maybe a good idea for the leading 3 predictors in the season long contest to pm their predictions for each round of the world championship so that none of the other competitors can copy that persons predictions. It is a request basically to deter any of us to cheat by ensuring that all the leaders have to do to win is to copy their nearest rival to ensure top spot at the end of it all.

I'd like to hear everyone else's views on this, obviously statman must have the final say but at least if the leading 3 or 6 or however many are considered to have a chance of winning the overall prize should be able to have their predictions kept secret from their rivals!

[PaulTheSoave]

You have a point there, though I think the leading trio are genuine people. The current number one could predict tactically and put his predictions on the board after the others have done.

[cueman]

That's why I raised the point paul! Obviously I don't want to call anyone a cheat but naturally if you know all you have to do is copy what either the second or third placed person has predicted to win then you are going to use that to your advantage. Its no surprise that neither any of the top 5 have entered their predictions yet and I'm sure they are waiting to see what the others have gone for before listing their own.

[PaulTheSoave]

Well, if none of the top 5 have entered their predictions yet, it surely raises a question. Its a good idea you have raised and i second it. Maybe you should PM Statman before the first round goes under way.

BTW, I have not predicted yet!

[PaulTheSoave]

Well, if none of the top 5 have entered their predictions yet, it surely raises a question. Its a good idea you have raised and i second it. Maybe you should PM Statman before the first round goes under way.

BTW, I have not predicted yet!

Ps. one of the top 5 is lurking right now!

[Alex0paul]

As a member of the top 3 I have already posted my 1st round predictions so it may only be able to done for the latter stages.

[cueman]

Sorry alexopaul, I didn't realise you had already predicted. I only looked through the names quickly to check who'd posted, you can't accuse me of cheating! LOL

Do you agree its a good idea though? You could maybe ask statman to delete your predictions and pm them to him. I just want all of us on a level playing field and to be as fair as possible.

[Alex0paul]

Well I don't mind either way as I usually predict as soon as the thread opens so I can hardly cheat there. It can also be exciting knowing that the person behind you may have predicted something different and then it adds a bit of spice to the viewing pleasure.

[Nugget]

Well I'm sitting in 5th, so if this applies to me then I'm happy to PM the predictions. I always leave them until the last minute (as with everything else )
I think I was a point off the lead before the China Open so I'm dissapointed to have done so badly in that one!
Pressure I guess...

[The Statman]

It is a good suggestion.

However, is it not true that the onus is on the Predictor not to post his/her predictions till the last minute, so that his/her challengers are not able to copy them?

If one of the leaders decides to post early, that is his prerogative and done in the knowledge that he is open to being copied.

I am reluctant to agree to it, particularly as the time of posting is a potential tie-break. It also is not stated in the rules that such a requirement would occur.

[cueman]

Okay, fair enough but would it be fair to say that anyone that prefers to can pm you their predictions? I think its only a fair solution to this particular situation bearing in mind what is at stake. If it wasn't for the fact there was good prize on offer I would have no fears but in any competition surely taking away the opportunity to cheat should be something that is taken into consideration.

[The Statman]

I have no problem with that. The Rules state that predictions may be conveyed by any means, as long as they are timed/dated and I receive them in good time.

However, for openness, I prefer all predictions to be displayed on the thread, which is why I always post predictions that I receive by email, text or in person. Particularly, when announcing the scores, I invite people to check their own scores and anyone else's, which cannot be done if some predictins are publicly hidden.

Bear in mind that, as far as the tiebreak goes, if all other matters are equal the earliness of the post is the deciding factor in a first-place tie, with predictions made on the proper thread taking priority over those communicated by other means. This is fairly unlikely to occur – indeed it has only happened once in 48 rounds this season – but the nearer we get to the final, the more likely it is.

[PaulTheSoave]

A matter which has not been mentioned yet with The PM option, is the time you are going to put them actually on the board. Can anyone who is PMMing also request a time to be published on the board?

[The Statman]

They would not be able to do that, no. Especially as I will be at Sheffield throughout, it would be whenever I happened to be online. But it would usually be after the deadline.

[cueman]

I'm happy with that Statman and I will PM you my predictions shortly.