diff --git a/api.py b/api.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0e04e0b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/api.py
@@ -0,0 +1,82 @@
+#!/usr/bin/python3
+
+import riotwatcher
+import json
+import argparse
+import os
+import time
+from jinja2 import Environment, FileSystemLoader
+import requests
+
+REGION  = "euw1"
+
+def tierToNumber(tier):
+    ratingmap = {   'CHALLENGER' : 3500,
+                    'GRANDMASTER': 3000,
+                    'MASTER'     : 2500,
+                    'DIAMOND'    : 2000,
+                    'PLATINUM'   : 1500,
+                    'GOLD'       : 500,
+                    'SILVER'     : 0,
+                    'BRONZE'     : -500,
+                    'IRON'       : -1000 }
+    return ratingmap[tier]
+
+def divisionToNumber(division):
+    divisionmap = { "I"   : 300,
+                    "II"  : 200,
+                    "III" : 100,
+                    "IV"  : 0 }
+    return divisionmap[division]
+
+cache   = dict()
+counter = 
+
+def getCache():
+    return cache
+
+def getPlayerRatingFromApi(playerName, WATCHER):
+
+    if playerName in cache:
+        return cache[playerName]
+
+    while(True):
+        try:
+            pTmp = WATCHER.summoner.by_name(REGION, playerName)
+        except requests.exceptions.HTTPError as e:
+            # not found #
+            if e.response.status_code == 404:
+                cache[playerName] = 0
+                return 0
+            # rate limit
+            elif e.response.status_code == 429:
+                print("Ratelimit reached")
+                time.sleep(120)
+                continue
+            else:
+                raise e
+        if not pTmp:
+            cache[playerName] = 0
+            return 0
+
+        computed = 0
+        
+        try:
+            pInfo = WATCHER.league.by_summoner(REGION, pTmp["id"])
+        except requests.exceptions.HTTPError as e:
+            if e.response.status_code == 429:
+                print("Ratelimit reached")
+                time.sleep(120)
+                continue
+            else:
+                raise e
+
+        for queue in pInfo:
+            if queue["queueType"] != "RANKED_SOLO_5x5":
+                continue
+            computed = tierToNumber(queue["tier"]) + divisionToNumber(queue["rank"]) + \
+                                    int(queue["leaguePoints"])
+            print(computed)
+            cache.update( { playerName : computed })
+
+        return computed
diff --git a/server.py b/server.py
index 1be8241..3e9c830 100755
--- a/server.py
+++ b/server.py
@@ -10,12 +10,19 @@ import os
 import MapSummary
 import random
 import secrets
+import riotwatcher
+import time
 
 from database import DatabaseConnection
+import api
 
 
 app = flask.Flask("open-leaderboard")
 
+WATCHER = None
+KEY     = None
+
+
 if os.path.isfile("config.py"):
     app.config.from_object("config")
 
@@ -248,27 +255,21 @@ def balanceTool():
         # fix options with rating #
         bestOptionWithRating = None
         currDiff = 100000
-        for o in alternateOptions:
-            firstHalf = o[:2]
-            secondHalf = o[2:]
 
-            firstHalfPiL = [ db.getPlayerById(p.name) for p in firstHalf ]
-            secondHalfPiL = [ db.getPlayerById(p.name) for p in secondHalf ]
+        for o in alternateOptions:
+            firstHalf = o[:5]
+            secondHalf = o[5:]
 
             firstHalfVal = 0
             secondHalfVal = 0
-            
-            for pil in firstHalfPiL:
-                if not pil:
-                    continue # get rating from api here
-                else:
-                    firstHalfVal += pil.mu
+           
+            for pil in firstHalf:
+                if pil:
+                    firstHalfVal += api.getPlayerRatingFromApi(pil.name, WATCHER)
 
-            for pil in secondHalfPiL:
-                if not pil:
-                    continue # getRatingFromApi(pil.name)
-                else:
-                    secondHalfVal += pil.mu
+            for pil in secondHalf:
+                if pil:
+                    secondHalfVal += api.getPlayerRatingFromApi(pil.name, WATCHER)
 
             diff = abs(firstHalfVal - secondHalfVal)
             if diff < currDiff:
@@ -297,6 +298,17 @@ def balanceTool():
                                     positions=positions,
                                     sides=["left", "right"],
                                     ident=ident)
+@app.route("/get-cache")
+def getCacheLoc():
+    return (json.dumps(api.getCache()), 200)
+
+@app.route("/player-api")
+def playerApi():
+    result = api.getPlayerRatingFromApi(flask.request.args.get("id"), WATCHER)
+    if result:
+        return ("OK", 200)
+    else:
+        return ("Nope", 404)
 
 @app.route("/player")
 def player():
@@ -447,6 +459,11 @@ def init():
         with open(SERVERS_FILE) as f:
             SERVERS = json.load(f)
 
+    global WATCHER
+    with open("key.txt","r") as f:
+        key = f.read().strip()
+        WATCHER = riotwatcher.LolWatcher(key)
+
 if __name__ == "__main__":
     parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description='Start open-leaderboard', \
                                         formatter_class=argparse.ArgumentDefaultsHelpFormatter)
diff --git a/static/balance.js b/static/balance.js
index e90e8fb..54a2331 100644
--- a/static/balance.js
+++ b/static/balance.js
@@ -16,6 +16,20 @@ var checkPlayerFunc = function checkPlayer() {
     })
 }
 
+var checkPlayerApiFunc = function checkPlayer() {
+    if(this.value == ""){
+        return
+    }
+    url = "/player-api?id=" + this.value
+    fetch(url).then(r => {
+        if(r.status == 200){
+            this.style.background = "#74bb74"
+        }else{
+            //this.style.background = "#d25252"
+        }
+    })
+}
+
 var fastPosChangedFunc = function fastPosChanged() {
 
     accepted = [ "top", "jungle", "mid", "sup" , "bot" ]