The platform
How Compete's skill rating works
Compete maintains a proprietary skill rating for every player. Here is exactly how it works, what counts, and what does not.
Every player on Compete has a skill rating. It is calculated using a proprietary algorithm derived from Elo — the same mathematical framework that powers chess ratings and has been used in competitive games for decades. We have adapted it for racket sports and the specific dynamics of the Chennai player pool.
What makes it different from DUPR or federation ratings
Compete's rating is entirely our own. It is not DUPR. It is not connected to any federation, external platform, or third-party system. It lives entirely within Compete and reflects only play within our ecosystem.
That means your rating here is earned specifically through Compete-organised, officially-validated competition. Nothing else counts toward it — not casual matches at your local court, not other organised events, not self-reported scores.
What counts toward your rating
- Results from any ranked Compete tournament
- Scores confirmed by a Compete umpire or tournament director
- Matches played in singles or doubles, depending on which format the tournament covers
Casual tournaments do not affect your rating by default. In rare cases, a tournament director can upgrade specific matches to ranked status if all players of the match agree and conditions are met — but this is the exception, not the rule.
How new players are rated
New players start with an initial rating and build from there. Early results have a stronger influence on your rating — the system is designed to place you quickly and accurately. As you accumulate more validated results, each individual match has a proportionally smaller effect, stabilising your rating over time.
How the algorithm evolves
The algorithm is actively maintained. As the player pool in Chennai grows, we recalibrate to ensure the rating system remains accurate and fair at all levels. When we make material changes to the algorithm, we publish release notes so players understand what changed and why.
Where to see your rating
Your current rating and your position on the leaderboard appear on your player profile and on the public leaderboard. Leaderboards are maintained separately for badminton singles, badminton doubles, pickleball singles, and pickleball doubles.
To earn your rating, find an upcoming tournament and register through the Compete app.