How is the Bulldog World Champion decided?

Here is an overview of the bulldog challenge system, which I last posted November 2017 (and re-issued recently as a reminder). Also please note that although I created this challenge system, I would eventually like it to be controlled by a "Bulldog committee". But I'll talk about that later (anyone in this club might be considered to be elligible to be on the committee).

(For reference these rules were also posted at the Top Players thread, page 2, #38).

Players can challenge the champion with the following conditions:
a) They must have at least one "level 2" win. This means they have won at least one game against an opponent who also has a win.
b) If a player previously played the champion but lost, he can challenge the champion only if his score has improved since his game against the champion.
c) If there are multiple qualifying contenders, the player with the highest score can challenge the champion. If this player is idle (not in a game) and does not challenge the champion within 7 days, then the qualifying contender with the next highest score can challenge the champion.
d) A tie in score is broken first by judging the scores of player's opponent, and then by the number of games won as Black.
A champion normally plays White (unless he requests Black), and can choose the game to be played (any of the four Bulldog games). A champion that does not accept a challenge and begins play within two-weeks forfeits the crown.
Also note that the bulldog champion is allowed a "two-week rest" between championship games, and is allowed to finish any active games before starting a championship-level game.

However:
These rules will have some significant revisions (I hope) prior to the completion of the challenge game currently in-progress (Junebug444 vs. Martin0).
I don't know the specific amendments yet, but the champ will get more "protection" from the larger number of players who are now playing. One possible change is if you challenge and lose, then challenging again will be made even more difficult.

I might also make a stronger definition for what qualifies as a bulldog game. Currently only this has been stated previously:
Bulldog games are played on a 10x8 board, and usually have one or two different pieces compared to classical chess. Games do not aim to be wildly different simply to be exotic or strange. Some consistency is desired so that concepts of strategy can be developed, without everything becoming obsolete with each new variation. On the other hand games intend to be different enough so that new territory is explored, and the games being played are not programmed in engines or stored in databases.
Other ideas are welcome. Just post here. But too many ideas can be hard to keep track of, and I'm trying to keep everything simple and fair at the same time.

Perhaps we can drop legacy and angel as a game that the challenger can use, roughly considering that very few people play them. Maybe we could add spirit or something to balance it?

I think that any game played on a 10x8 board with only 1-2 different pieces (excluding the bulldog itself, which I think should be allowed to be added into any game) should count. Also, maybe contenders should need to have won at least three level 2 games before challenging, and if they lose the challenge, they need to win 4-5 more before re-challenging.

Also, how quickly can a champion who loses a challenge re-challenge for the crown? Are they dropped down to a normal contender again?

Yes, but they have to raise their score.

As an idea, how about having a candidate game which is played in parallell with the championship game? The winner of the candidate game gets to challenge the champion. One of the players in the candidates game can be the highest rated player (excluding those in the championship game). The second player could be chosen by the committee or something. One added requirement could be that the nominated player must be in the top 10.

Right now that would mean horribleTomato could be a candidate by rating and I would like to nominate captaintugwash as the second player for being undefeated with his 3-0 score, which includes a win against JohnHS, a previous contender.

Well, that is an idea at least.

That's a good idea.

Seems logical. 

My rating???

@horribleTomato, you were rated #3 behind me and @Junebug444 at the time I posted that. Not anymore.

Yeah. Sigh...

The challenge game is finished.

Congratulations @Martin0 - I see you won and have defended your title as World Champion! There will be a medal ceremony tomorrow.

As for making new rules on how the world champion is perpetually decided, I missed my goal to "upgrade" the system before this game was finished.

I do like your idea of candidate games being held, which must be played prior to earning the right to challenge the champion. I believe this is similar to a "ladder tournament". Less experienced players must "climb up", earning their right to compete in the candidate game.

Also: I would like to relinquish my role as the sole arbiter of how these games are held. Instead I would like to turn it over to a "committee" or "federation".

Then if I'm away or too busy, decisions can keep being decided on how the tournament is run, and who can compete for the top spot.

Who would like to be a member of the Bulldog chess game federation?

Responsibilities include (for example):

1) Deciding which games qualify to be included in the bulldog elo score keeping system (which Martin0 is basically doing all on his own right now).

2) Managing or making updates on rules for correspondence play (forum here).

3) Deciding who is allowed to compete in candidate games, used to decide who is elligible to challenge the world champion.

4) Admitting new members to the federation (in particular when a member quits or goes absent).

If I get 3-5 volunteers to be on the federation, then I'll propose a "constitution", and then the system for deciding the word champion can be decided from there.

Note: I do not want to quit my involvement in bulldog chess. I'm just finding that I'm too busy to manage the system to decide world champion all by myself, while also having time to play games just for fun.

Let me know if any comments or volunteers.

I want to be part of this Committee. Can I suggest that @HorribleTomato and @captaintugwash play a candidate game and the winner challenges me? It would be @captaintugwash by rating and @HorribleTomato as a nominated player. After that game is completed, then we can start with the simultaneous challenge game and candidate game.

I volunteer.

I would be quite happy to take on tomato for the right to play Martin in a championship game.

Then again, I'm perfectly happy to wait until the bulldog tourny has been completed, since both myself and Martin are in the semis.

I want to join the Federation!

Ok, cool. So far the charter members of the bulldog chess federation will be:
Martin0
Fly-Eagles-Fly
aidanB1
vickalan
I think a committee of about five people is good, so maybe one or two more members is possible.

I will draft a "constitution" which explains the laws for bulldog chess, and explain member's responsibilities. Let me have a few days to do this.

That sounds good. To make sure I understand, tug and tomato play a candidate game. The winner of this earns the right to play Martin0 for the world champion crown.

Your last statement "...then we can start with the simultaneous challenge game and candidate game" means that there will be a challenge game, and another candidate game (after the tug vs tomato game) to be started, right?

If anyone protests, leave a comment. If both @captaintugwash and @HorribleTomato are ready to play let me know here, and I'll start the thread.

Yes, that is correct @vickalan We can decide who should play the next candidate game after the first one finishes.

Can we have an update on the standings? Or at least, I want to know my rating since I've won a couple games recently.