Let's go with this! A top player has to start a pair of games of his own OR accept a top 5 player's challenge, within two weeks. That should keep the top guys honest! It won't really affect players with lower ratings.

Is there any thought to a "top" player's life or schedule.... perhaps they don't have time to play all challengers... ... why don't people get to be a "top" player themselves by winning games on their own accord???...

How about this? I am sure Fencer can set it up. Have a 2 game tournament every six months. That way the top spot is up for grabs. Make it an 8 player tournament. It would be a required tournament and you could give each player like 2 or 3 days to make the move. To sweeten the pot so that these "phony players" will want to play put up a prize. This could be a 6 month membership, merchandise, or a cash reward.

Are you sure that this (playing only as white and not accepting challenges from good players) is so common that it needs to be done something about?
Or is it maybe only 1 or 2 players who do that?
None of the top10 (or lower) Five-in-line players has declined an invitation (2-game matches) from me so far. This was also true when I just started playing here and was still unrated.
And one thing: I think you have seen this problem with Pente which is a new game here and so the BKRs are based on relatively few games. As the number of played games increases the BKR becomes a much better indication of the players skill than after a few games only. For example, I`d imagine after 50 or so played games Dmitri will have a BKR in the neigbourhood of 2500 points AND can still keep on increasing it. A not-so-good player may be able to get a good rating in the beginning BUT is bound to lose a few games at some point AND can never climb back up. To do so he would have to play against good opponents, who probably wouldn`t agree to play only as black.
This is because after you have reached a high BKR getting points gets really difficult and you have to play good opponents to get ANY points at all. For example, if I win a Five-in-line game against an opponent who has BKR as good as 2100 my BKR increases with a whole 1 point.
Shortly: provisional BKRs are often misleading, when you get an established BKR it is already much more reliable and the more you play the better indication of your skill it gets.
Top10 (or so) tournaments might actually be a good idea, BUT to be REQUIRED to play in a certain tournament is not.

Lovely Sharon, you make a good opint with "Is there any thought to a "top" player's life or schedule.... perhaps they don't have time to play all challengers... ... why don't people get to be a "top" player themselves by winning games on their own accord???..."

however, that is not the reason I was given. THe reason I was given was "I won't play you because you might win." in other words-- (my paraphrase): "I won 5 games, all as player 1, and now I will just sit here and play only the weakest players so that My rating never goes down."

It is difficult to move from the 2 spot into the 1 spot of thep erson in the 1 spot who is 80 points ahead refuses to play.

But, Sundance makes a good point about the long term raitngs, so before too long, this fruad will be a distant memory.

Dmitri that is only one person... perhaps their rating may not go down.. but yours can go up... Invite the #3 person... I'm sure if you win your's will climb much more than his by conning some poor soul into playing... soon others will catch on and refuse invites by him/her until he sees the light.. ..

"as in life there will always be those who take advantages .. ".... BOMB them!!! .

although I indeed fully support the basic idea, I think a time-range
of two weeks only will let the whole system become a bit obsessive ...

go figure what kasparov would think about
if we project the whole construct at chess

leads to a second objection, the timing simply MUST depend
on the regular game-length of a certain gametype inflicted ...
how should a brainpawn be able to accept all
the challenges regarding his/her limited slots ?

to all my sincer suggestion to reflect all sidelines properly

some people actually have a life and can't stay on 24/7 to accomodate challenges

let's cool down and make a substantial idea of it !

have a blessed sunday, you all ~*~

"some people actually have a life and can't stay on 24/7 to accomodate challenges " Cant believe HE has the odasity to make such a statement...lmao. What did ya do, take a whole 3 hours off so you could post that? (not TOO transparent)hehe. Or was it the threat of some of us making admissions and getting over it? In any event I see you werent man enough or classy enough to join the ranks. Dont worry though, you'll find another sparring partner, you ALWAYS do.