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How do you define the term 'top tables' when talking about tournaments? (The top players at any given event.)

Is it the top X percentage of an event? (10? 25?)

Is it the top X players? (4? 16? 10?)

Or do you have a different definition?

If you aren't familiar with the term, here's some examples of it in the wild.

If you mean like power ranking?

I would assume it goes by what you would see in most leagues or comps.

IMO I dont count armies that win first prize in major tournaments, because at that point its down to skill.

IIRC BAO this year was won by a DA player.

No, I don't mean top codexes. I edited the post to clarify.

The table with the most vertical height?

edit: not top armies.

Are you talking about the players?

This seems like a super common term. People have been using it since I joined Dakka to refer to the top players in any given event. I'm just curious how they define it.

OP edited again for even more clarity.

Tables that are in real contend for tournament win?

The top tables are the competitors in the finals of the tournament, ie top 8 or so for most tournaments.

It kind of depends on the tournament size, but generally it refers to the top 1/8 or 1/16 of the tournament. For 64 players, I'd consider 8 people to be the 'top'. For 256, 16 or maybe 32 players are at the 'top' bracket.

There's not a hard-and-fast definition really, but its generally "the people who have a real chance at winning the event".

If you can still win the tournament, you're at the top tables.

I think "top tables" refers to the players fighting for the win in the last round of a tourney. The specific number of players really depended on the size or the tourney.

For example, my LGS has a tourney every month, and it's usually 16-24 players due to the size of the store. By the third round, only 4-6 players will have enough points to realistically place. The 2-3 tables that they will play on are the "top tables". No matter who wins or loses, one of those 4-6 players will be 1st, 2nd, 3rd respectively.

On a rare occasion, the points system for an event will create a lower gap between players and a possible "upset" might occur. I've seen this happen. I have been to Tourneys in which I won every game, but didn't place at all, because other players who also won gained more mission points in their games.
Yet I recently won 1st in a tourney in which I lost my final game on the "top-table". The points per mission were so top heavy that I got all the points I needed in my first 2 games that all I needed to do in the final game was deny points from my opponent, who wouldn't have enough point total to beat my overall score

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Also of note, the ITC scoring mechanic gives a bonus to people that finish in the Top 8 at any size of event. So, if you have 12 players, the top 8 get decent ITC points. If you have 120 players, it's still the top 8.

Everyone below that scores something based on the size of the event. For instance if you walk in the door at LVO you are going to score like 80 or 90 points just for participating. 9th place and 300th place will score roughly the same (minus a few bonus points for win streaks).

So when I'm at an ITC event talking about "Top Tables", I'm usually referring to the top 4 tables which have the players currently in the top 8.