Rating restricted tournaments, especially large ones, are never won by players within the original rating group. As a matter of fact, an 1853 is doing quite well to lead a 1600 capped tournament. Enjoy it while you can, once your rating is established you'll never win another.
Ethics question
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This is perfectly normal on this site. Don't worry.
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I wasn't playing here at all when the site emails me and offers a free week of premium services. I assumed at that time (incorrectly?) that non-members weren't allowed to play in tournaments so I thought I might "get over" and join a tournament that would naturally last more than a week. I found that I hadn't played enough games so I played a few quick ones and accepted an offered draw with a 1400 player in a complicated position. My rating then was 1520 and I joined a 1400-1600 tourney. After completing the first round, waiting for the 2nd round to begin, I began playing other games and, mostly due to piece-losing blunders by 1700 rated opponents, somehow managed, just now, to drag my rating up to 1853. I don't think I can maintain that, but now it appears I have unintentionally sandbagged everyone else in the tournament. Well, not everyone, there are several 1700+ ratings now from people winning all their games. So my questions are a) Should I withdraw from this tournament since I'm around a hundred points higher than the second place player? b) What are the consequences of withdrawing? Do you lose rating points? Is it ethical to withdraw or is that considered a bad thing to do? I am unclear on this.