Analysing ADLG Player Numbers

Introduction.

This carries on from the previous post with a much more detailed analysis of the data from the BHGS and ADLG rankings.

It is a more structured analysis using database techniques to correct the data (where possible) and tackle the quirks of the two data sets.

It aims to quantify the number of regular players, those attending infrequently, those who stop playing and also how many players haven't played since Covid.

1. Contents

• Summary
• Data Considerations
• Findings
• Conclusions
• Appendix 1: Annual trends
• Appendix 2: Pattern Analysis
• Appendix 3: New & Returning Players
• Appendix 4: Single Event & Former Players

2. Summary

BHGS data (2022-25) GB & Ireland

• 168 players (on average) took part in at least one event each year.
• 239 different players took part.
• 103 players attended at least one event each year.
• 44 players attended just one event during 2022-25.
• 10 of these were new players in 2022-24 (all GB) who hadn’t returned by 2025.

ADLG ELO data (2009-25) GB & Ireland

• 343 different players took part.
• 104 had not played since 2021.
• 78 were GB players and the balance of 26 were from Ireland.
• 35 GB players attended just one event before 2019 and none thereafter.

Estimate of “One-Off” players (2019-25)

• 45 (35+10) GB players attended one ADLG event and never attended a second: some 13% of the ADLG ELO player pool (or about 1 in 8).

3. Data Considerations

3.1 Sources & Corrections

What follows is the results of an analysis of the data sets from the latest BHGS (13 Dec) & ADLG ELO (15 Dec) rankings. Both data sets were corrected to account for errors and to improve consistency:

• Many BHGS players had incorrect or missing ADLG ELO numbers.
• Some player names weren’t spelt correctly.
• Some UK resident players were incorrectly assigned elsewhere in the ADG ELO set.

3.2 Data Quirks

The BHGS data records events and time based data whilst the ADLG ELO data records games played.

Unless stated otherwise all data is based on the BHGS data for 2002-25 which has been linked to the ADLG ELO set such that all BHGS records are visible before any filters are applied.

Two ADLG ELO records are for a regular doubles team. The BHGS data set treats them as four separate entries. This complicates comparing BHGS and ADLG ELO totals: when linked to the BHGS data some high level totals increase by two.

3.3 Definitions

To analyse new & returning players it was necessary to use the following definitions when dealing with those who had played in just one BHGS event:

• New players are those with fewer than six games in their ADLG ELO record, that is played in three or five games and so equivalent to one event. It was assumed that the one event was in the BHGS data.
• Returning players had more than six games in their ADLG ELO record equivalent to at least two events, one of which was assumed to be in the BHGS data.

4. Findings

4.1 Player Pool

• There’s a pool of 302 players in the BHGS data (after correction).
• It consists of 239 GB & Ireland players, 35 overseas players and 28 who did not have a matching record in the ADLG ELO data.

4.2 Annual Attendance Trends & Patterns

• There’s a strong core of 103 players who attended at least one BHGs event each year during 2022-25 (Appendix 1).
• There was a significant churn of 24-34 players each year amongst the remaining 136 players; with players often taking a one year break (Appendix 2).
• A significant number of players stopped playing each year and few returned after taking a break of more than one year in 2022-25.
• The 161 strong "class of" 2022 best illustrates the long term trends. 103 (64%) played every year to 2025, but a number stopped playing every year and did not return (17 in 2022, 14 in 2023, and 10 in 2024). The balance of 17 took a break before returning.

4.3 New & Returning Players (BHGS data)

• This analysis looked at events unlike the previous analysis that looked at who had played each year.
• 44 (18% of 239) BHGS players attended just one event in 2022-25 (Appendix 3). Of these 25 (10% of 239) attended one event in 2022-24 and hadn't played a second by 2025.
• The 25 players break down into 10 new and 15 returning players (see Definitions above). All 10 were GB players.
• The 12 new players in 2025 are excluded as their future attendance is unknown.
• Clearly, some of the new & returning players are not becoming regular players (yet?).

4.4 Single Event & Former Players (from ADLG ELO data)

• There are 104 ADLG ELO players from GB & Ireland (30% of a pool of 343 including duplicates) who do not have a corresponding BHG record for 2022-25. 26 players were from Ireland.
• Of the 78 from Great Britain (22% of 343), 35 (13% of 343) had fewer than six games recorded (Appendix 4).
• Thus 35 Great Britain players tried tournament play once before 2022 never to return.

4.5 Estimated One-Offs

• The BHGS data contains 10 players (of 239) who played in one event during 2022-24 and had not returned by 2025. All of these players are from Great Britain.
• The ADLG ELO data contains 35 different players (Great Britain only) who have played the equivalent of one event (fewer than 6 games) and don’t have a corresponding BHGS record during (2022-25).
• Combining these two figures it is possible to estimate the number of players who’ve attended just one ADLG event at 45 players. This covers 2009-25 (ADLG ELO data) not just 2022-25 (BHGS data).

5. Conclusions

The years 2022 to 2025 saw between 161 to 174 players attend at least one BHGs ranking event. This is reasonably stable, but there is considerable churn with some 29-37 players changing each year.

Overall, in 2022-25, there was a pool of 239 players from Great Britain and Ireland; split 236 and 3 respectively. Of these, 103 played in all four years and 57 only played in one year. The latter reduces to 33 when the single year players for 2025 are excluded.

A significant number of players stopped playing each year. Some resumed, but few returned after taking a break of more than one year. 25 players attended just one BHGS event during 2022-24 and hadn’t returned by 2025. 10 of these were new to ADLG tournament play (4% of the BHGS player pool). 15 had played before 2022.

Analysis of the ADLG ELO data identified a further 35 players from Great Britain with just one recorded event before 2022. These, combined with the 10 new to BHGS events in 2022-24, indicates that some 45 players had attended one ADLG event and not returned (13% of the ADLG ELO player pool of 343).

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Appendix 1: Annual trends

How player attendance varied in BHGS events

Criteria	2022	2023	2024	2025	Avg
From previous year	-	131	134	142	136
Fresh players	-	37	17	24	-
Returning players	-	-	12	8	-
Total	161	168	163	174	168
Didn't play next year	30	34	21	-	28

Notes:

• Figures are for players with an ADLG ELO ID.
• GB & Ireland only with corrections for the wrong ELO country
• 2002 to 09 Oct, others from Dec.
• "Fresh" means not in the 2022-25 data set for any of the previous years.
• 2022 was the first full year post Covid.
• 343 GB & Ireland players have an ADLG ELO ID after corrections.

Attendance trends

Yrs played	2022-25	Share
1	57	24%
2	40	17%
3	39	16%
4	103	43%
Player pool	239	100%

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Appendix 2: Pattern Analysis

How long do players take a break for?

Pattern	1 Yr	2 Yrs	3 Yrs	4 Yrs	Gap Yrs
2022	17
2022-23		14
2022-24			10
2022-25				103
2022-23 & 25			4		1
2022 & 24		5			1
2022 & 24-25			7		1
2022 & 25		1			2
2023	13
2023-24		3
2023-25			18
2023 & 25		3			1
2024	3
2024-25		15
2025	24
Totals	57	41	39	103

Notes:

• Figures are for attendance at one or more events in a given year.
• Yr figures will not tally with the "New & Returning" table: some played in more than one event.
• 1 player from Ireland attended in 2022 & 25, another in 2023 & one in 2025.

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Appendix 3: New & Returning Players

How many played in just one BHGS event?

2019-21 (ELO)	2022	2023	2024	2025	Share
Returning (Active)	8	6	1	7	9%
New (Inactive)	3	5	2	12	9%
Total	11	11	3	19	18%

Notes

• All 44 players above attended just one BHGS event in 2022-25.
• Active players (19-21) defined as a minimum of six ADLG ELO games (two events).
• 15 returning players played in 22-24 but hadn't played again by 2025 (1 from Ireland).
• Share is the percentage of 239 total BHGS players in 2022-25.

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Appendix 4: Single Event & Former Players

How many played in just one event?

2019-25	All	One-Offs	Share
GB & Ireland (ELO)	341	69	20%
Without BHGS record	104	43	41%
GB only	78	35	45%
Ireland	26	8	31%

Notes

• Based on ADLG ELO data.
• One-offs defined as fewer than 6 games; equivalent to one BHGS event.
• Those without a 2022-25 record are former players.
• Total of 341 does not account for duplicates in BHGS data.