Once again I had some problems.  Istomin should read 2  and Bubka and Istomin should change places.  I hope to get this worked out.

Didn't Donald Young just WIN a challenger?????  Some people think he had too many free passes early in his career.

 Isner definitely gets honorable mention, no way he could move 174 places.  Trying to figure out how to handicap it.  Maybe we need a speadsheet that would calculate the percentage a player moved from his start position to the number one position instead of the absolute value of ladder rungs he has stepped up. 

It is up to Xiowa who always works hard at giving us this credible update, thanks.

Actually D. Young improved from  229 poionts to 187 which is a big jump but it only move him up two places in the contest.

 I have tried to figure out a handicap system for this contest, but have not succeeded.  If you or anyone else can do it, let me know.

I know X. Malisse jumped from 22 to 13 last week.  That is one of the biggest jumps I have seen.

Just so you know, I have never done well in my own contest.  I will continue to stick with my Austrians.  This year I had high hopes for Stefan Koubek who is making a come back from back surgery.  He is in 6th place now but lost in the first round this week.

It is fun to see how well you all are choosing players.   This is the best year for the +'s over the -'s.  I cross my fingers that we will all pick players in the +'s some year.  Start looking for next year.  It is not that long until December.

 The Challengers are BRUTAL.  Koubek is doing well and 6th with our panel of experts is pretty good.

Well I could never do all the hard work you do so I say it is entirely your call on how to figure the winner.

As you have it now the winner is the fan who picks a player who moves furthest along on the number line.

Maybe, if you wish, change it to how much a player moves by a percentage basis from their prior spot toward the #1 spot.  Currently a guy who goes from 200-20 (180spots) loses to a guy who moves from 300-100 (200spots).  A guy who goes from say 200 to 20 moved up 90% or 90 Xiowa points, and a guy who goes from 300 to 100 moves up 67% or 67 xiowa points.  The guys who got to 20 got into a more rarified air and actually moved more on a percentage basis than the guy who moved 200 places from 300-100 but only 67 xiowa points. 

 It would be up to you and I would enjoy playing either way.

 and should you decide, it would be best to do it at the start of next year's contest.

Xiowa, I also need to ask a favor and need to reveal my new Identity- I SmokingAce was formerly posting as Lendlfan.  I had some troubles logging in and had to change my moniker at this site so I have operated the last couple months incognito.  Would you please change Lendlfan to SmokingAce on your next posting?  Thanks

 I have Excel set up to do the contest as it is now.  If you know how to change it so I would get the results you mention which does seem fairer to me, please send the set up to me.  I did not create the program I use in Excel, but Lynn did.  I do not know if Excel does percentages.

 I will change your name on Monday when I do the contest.

Thanks.  I am not sure how to set it up in Excel and get that to you but there must be a computer literate player around who could help.

 I am happy you like my suggestion.