Breaking a Tie in Standings (1 Viewer)

[Bredog]

I run a monthly tournament game and each finishing position points are awarded and at the end of the year the Top 10 in points make a final table to play for a winner take all pot. We never had a situation where there was a tie in the standings for 10th place but it could happen. Does anyone have an good idea on how to break the tie to only have 10 people at the final table game? I didn't create the points system and rules but took them over once someone left the group, the system works great but no one ever talked about if there ends up being a tie at the end for the final spots. Any ideas would be great, thanks.
-Ryan

 

[bentax1978]

Arm wrestle, obviously.

 

[RansomStoddard]

Either rock paper scissors (3 of 5), or a heads up tournament

 

[H|Q]

Let the two that tied figure out how they want to resolve.

 

[Machine]

A game of wits, but it requires Iocane powder, its odorless and tasteless... it comes from Australia as everyone knows, and its (Australia) entirely full of criminals.

 

[Dodger]

What other stats are kept?

Tie breakers can include:

• Most knockouts throughout the season
• Least amount of rebuys throughout the season
• Best finish during the year (I.e. one player’s best finish was a 2nd place spot, other player’s best finish was a 4th place finish)
• Most cashes during the season

 

[tabletalker7]

Heads up play - set them up with 200 BB and let them figure it out. That way there are no hurt feelings because you "wanted" one over the other.

 

[Kyle]

More games played. Encourages player participation.

I use this factor in my league.

 

[upNdown]

What other stats are kept?

Tie breakers can include:

• Most knockouts throughout the season
• Least amount of rebuys throughout the season
• Best finish during the year (I.e. one player’s best finish was a 2nd place spot, other player’s best finish was a 4th place finish)
• Most cashes during the season

This is what you 100% cannot do - not for this year. Yes write a rule that you'll use these stats to break future ties. But if there's no provision already in place to break a tie, you cannot just make one up now based on stats that have been accumulating all year that nobody knew would be used.

I think the best idea is to seat 11 players. Yup, that stinks, but it's the most fair.
If you won't do that then I guess the heads up tournament to break the tie makes the most sense. But if I were involved in that, I'd at least want it to be best 2 out of 3.

 

[bentax1978]

This is what you 100% cannot do - not for this year. Yes write a rule that you'll use these stats to break future ties. But if there's no provision already in place to break a tie, you cannot just make one up now based on stats that have been accumulating all year that nobody knew would be used.

100% agree with this.

IMO, if you want to create a tiebreaker, it has to be either random (like a coin-flip) or involve something that happens between the two players from this point forward (like a heads-up tie breaker match).

 

[AWenger]

Best finish during the year (I.e. one player’s best finish was a 2nd place spot, other player’s best finish was a 4th place finish)

^ I was going to suggest this as well.

 

[AWenger]

This is what you 100% cannot do - not for this year. Yes write a rule that you'll use these stats to break future ties. But if there's no provision already in place to break a tie, you cannot just make one up now based on stats that have been accumulating all year that nobody knew would be used.

After reading this, I agree.

I'd add to this that if the season is in progress or over, only if all players can agree with the new tiebreaker rules to be added, then I'd say you can add rules mid-season, but that might be a tough ask to get all players to agree.

 

[Marc Hedrick]

I think the best idea is to seat 11 players. Yup, that stinks, but it's the most fair.
If you won't do that then I guess the heads up tournament to break the tie makes the most sense. But if I were involved in that, I'd at least want it to be best 2 out of 3.

To play devils advocate and counter this -- seat nine. They're both out. Three are tied for 9th? All out and seat eight. Will make for a better game, IMO.

 

[BGinGA]

We use "best finishes" as the primary tie-breaker -- most wins, if still tied then most 2nd places, etc. If they have identical finish records, then it goes to "most $$ won", followed by "most bounties won", followed by "most appearances". If still tied after all that, we declare them FML Identical Twins and they are considered 100% equal. Never happened yet -- the deepest we've ever gotten is # of 3rd place finishes, but we're well-prepared in advance.

But the rules are known well before the tie scenario exists. Like others said, you can't add/change things midstream, at least not without 100% consensus and agreement from everybody. With no formal tie-break policy in place up-front, just consider them as equal and either a) let them both play, or b) have them play a tie-breaker heads-up (only if all agree to it).

 

[upNdown]

Will make for a better game, IMO.

Yes, I’m sure it would. Well except for Mr. #10. He probably would not enjoy that game very much.

 

[facinfears217]

all ties are broke via their place in last tournament!