Curious-Do Fargo ratings differ by location?

Cartune

Cartune

Member
I live in Southern California and there is TONS of great players out here. My question is, is a Fargo say 600 stronger than a Fargo 600 player in a much less populated location? I have a good friend who is a 650ish well-established player. He went to Montana and CRUSHED every player out there. I assume it is the big fish in a small pond dilemma. But given how Fargo is supposed to be as fair as possible, is my question valid? Since there is so much more competition out here, seams to hold weight? Thoughts
 
Cartune said:
I live in Southern California and there is TONS of great players out here. My question is, is a Fargo say 600 stronger than a Fargo 600 player in a much less populated location? I have a good friend who is a 650ish well-established player. He went to Montana and CRUSHED every player out there. I assume it is the big fish in a small pond dilemma. But given how Fargo is supposed to be as fair as possible, is my question valid? Since there is so much more competition out here, seams to hold weight? Thoughts
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Not knowing the guy's robustness makes this a little hard to answer. With enough games in the system a 650 should play 650 speed regardless of location.
 
Cartune said:
... I have a good friend who is a 650ish well-established player. He went to Montana and CRUSHED every player out there. ...
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Were the players in Montana rated? What was their robustness?

It is possible to have an "island" of players that is isolated from the larger pool-playing world. Let's imagine that Montana is such an island. The players there play each other and nobody else. However, one player from Missoula, who is about average for Montana, goes to a rated tournament in Wyoming and by some miracle doesn't miss a ball. He performs 150 points over his real, average performance for the 20 games he plays there. What happens?

Since that is the only link between Montana and the world, all Montanans would be judged by that performance. All of them would be rated 150 points over their real ability based on just those 20 amazing games. And because they play in a lot of local leagues, their robustness is high.

Yes, such a thing is possible, but it is very unlikely. Players move for work or retirement. Players go to regional and national tournaments. Every time a Montanan plays outside the state or an established player moves to Montana, the connection between Montana and the world is strengthened. The 20-game connection changes to 2000 and the "island" anomaly disappears.
 
Hi Bob,

I completely agree with your "island" theory. I am unsure of the players in Montana's ratings. I just checked my friends rating, and he is currently a 649 with a robustness of 1172, this is not really important, as this was more of topic I was curious to get others perspective on. I always value your opinion, you have more knowledge in pool than I could ever imagine and very glad you chimed in. Thank you
 
A 650 traveling anywhere will pretty much crush all the competition. It will take each city’s best players to beat him.

So who did he crush? Local players in a weekly $20 tournament?

Or did he play $1000 sets and the houseman called the best guy in the city to play him?

Your question is missing the most important information.
 
I agree with both of the last 2 posts, however...

This is more of a big fish little pond vs average fish in the ocean conversation than my friends a killer player, I just wanted to get others perspective on the ratings validity. If they were playing for money is a completely different discussion.
 
Definitely different depending on location.

I find that a 600 in Northern California, CA Billiards, is different than the 600's at lets say at Modesto, Fresno and Bakersfield.

As you head towards LA county it is also different and the 600's feel underrated.

Not sure about San Diego. I normally go there to party. LOL

In a nutshell, you are as good as your opponent. In the long run it corrects itself unless you're getting smashed by "lower level" players who should be higher than you are.
 
A man in Florida was 752…..a woman in China was 779…..the guy in Florida felt the woman in China couldn’t beat him…they had never met.
The woman was flown into Virginia for the money match….race to 25…..she beat him two matches.
Look at it as six degrees of separation…..Mike Page has done a good lob.
 
Cartune said:
I agree with both of the last 2 posts, however...

This is more of a big fish little pond vs average fish in the ocean conversation than my friends a killer player, I just wanted to get others perspective on the ratings validity. If they were playing for money is a completely different discussion.
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I’ve played all over the country and feel they are equivalent everywhere, as long as the player has 500 or more robustness.

I do think your reality is a bit skewed, however, if you don’t think a 650 is more than an avg player.

A 650 is certainly not a “road player”, but the top local players that are over 700 these days rarely get out of bed. A 650 would do pretty well in any state playing walking into any room out of his car with everyone in the room.

It would take the Housman to call the top guys, get them out of bed, and back them, for him to lose.
 
Fore Rail said:
Just who did your friend crush?

Did he play?
Coby Jaap
Jim Winter
Nate Neergaard
Wade Thompson
Jeff Boucher
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You know for a fact that he didn't play Boucher. 743 and #58 in the US.

I have no fargo rating, never played in an event that reports. I do have a lot of time playing with people from both Seattle and Bozeman and know their ratings. I wouldn't bet a used sandwich either way against Seattle 650's and Montana 650's,
 
Fore Rail said:
Yeah but the friend CRUSHED every player out there.
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He also didn't play me. He'd likely win, but I doubt it would be horrible.

I'd like to know where he played. I don't know if the holiday classic is still going on in boz, but fifteen years ago a 650 would have been fighting for mid pack.

But he crushed them all and I bet they had their own pool poles, too!
 
Again, this is a question about location and strengths being evenly rated using the Fargo system, not who or how good any specific player is....
 
Cartune said:
Again, this is a question about location and strengths being evenly rate using the Fargo system, not who or how good any specific player is....
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Asked and answered. Unless you have some evidence of the Fargo rates of the people your friend crushed, you haven't provided a single compelling reason to suggest ratings vary. I already said that I have a lot of years playing in two areas and that the ratings seem consistent.

Why don't you answer the questions. Where did he play and who did he crush?
 
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