Joseph Ripa

2008

Weapon Type Strength Estimate Range* Min Max
Épée DE 1663 1378 - 1947 1663 3012
Épée Pool 1672 1498 - 1845 1504 2306
Foil DE 1834 1632 - 2035 1391 2346
Foil Pool 1754 1585 - 1922 1334 2150
Saber DE 1636 742 - 2529 1636 1636
Saber Pool 1253 649 - 1856 1253 1253

* We're quite confident that the person's true strength is somewhere between those numbers. For those statistically inclined, it is a 95% confidence interval of the estimate (i.e., μ ± 2σ).

Matchup against me

Outcome Chance My strength change Their strength change
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Strength over time

The strength changes are summaries from all events of that day. The dotted line indicates that the strength rating is too uncertain.

Explanation

  • The strength number is a numeric representation of how a fencer has performed against others historically.
  • The system "learns" your strength as you fence. It takes about 12 bouts for it to zero in on a good estimate. This is why in the beginning you will often see wild fluctuations.
  • An unknown fencer starts with a 2500 strength, but with very high uncertainty.
  • Due to their different natures, pools, direct elimination, and mixed gender bouts are tracked separately.
  • The lowest possible is zero, average is around 2500, highest possible is around 5000. The scale is not linear, which means that higher numbers are increasingly harder to obtain. To be precise, the distribution of strength numbers looks like a bell curve.
  • If you beat a much stronger fencer, your strength will go up by a lot. If you beat a much weaker fencer, your strength will go up by little or maybe even not at all. Losses follow the same logic. You can see detailed changes after each bout in the bout history.
  • Probability of winning doesn't account for difference in fencing styles, familiarity with opponents, or any of such things. It is a reflection of the difference in strength estimates assuming that both of you perform just like you did against others in the past.