c# - LINQ to Entities equivalent of sql "TOP(n) WITH TIES"

Question

I have been searcing for LINQ equivalent of WITH TIES in sql server lately, I came across a couple things, which couldn't proove to be useful.

I know this question was asked before and has an accepted answer, but it doesn't work the way with ties does. The solution using GroupBy() doesn't result as expected for TOP(3) WITH TIES considering a data set consisting of {3 2 2 1 1 0} the result set will be {3 2 2 1 1} where it should be {3 2 2}

Using the following sample data (taken from this question):

CREATE TABLE Person
(
    Id int primary key,
    Name nvarchar(50),
    Score float
)    

INSERT INTO Person VALUES (1, 'Tom',8.9)
INSERT INTO Person VALUES (2, 'Jerry',8.9)
INSERT INTO Person VALUES (3, 'Sharti',7)
INSERT INTO Person VALUES (4, 'Mamuzi',9)
INSERT INTO Person VALUES (5, 'Kamala',9)

Traditional OrderByDescending(p => p.Score).Take(3) will result with: Mamuzi, Kamala and one of Tom (or Jerry) where it should include BOTH

I know there is no built-in equivalent of it and i've found a way to implement it. I don't know if it is the best way to do it and open for alternative solutions.

Answer 1

var query = (from q in list.OrderByDescending(s => s.Score).Take(3).Select(s => s.Score).Distinct()
             from i in list
             where q == i.Score
             select i).ToList();

Edit:

@Zefnus

I wasn't sure in which order you wanted it but to change the order you can put a OrderBy(s => s.Score) between select i and ToList()

I don't have the possibility to check what sql statement my linq clause would produce. But your answer is much better i think. And your question was also really good. I never thought about top with ties in linq. ;)

Basically it only takes top 3 scores from the first list and compares them with the whole list and i takes only those scores which are equal to the scores of the first list.