Open petition against cheating

The very latest International round up of English news.
LawrenceCooper
Posts: 7174
Joined: Tue Dec 20, 2011 8:13 am

Open petition against cheating

Post by LawrenceCooper » Thu Feb 07, 2013 10:52 am


User avatar
Peter D Williams
Posts: 839
Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2011 2:15 pm
Location: Hampshire

Re: Open petition against cheating

Post by Peter D Williams » Thu Feb 07, 2013 1:40 pm

Does any one in authority ever take any notice of a petition? Governments tend to bin them lets hope FIDE do not do the same :wink:

I am off to get some milk for my after noon tea back later.
when you are successful many losers bark at you.

User avatar
Paolo Casaschi
Posts: 1187
Joined: Thu Jan 08, 2009 6:46 am

Re: Open petition against cheating

Post by Paolo Casaschi » Thu Feb 07, 2013 3:17 pm

It would have been better to know what the ACP is actually proposing to cope with the cheating problem. I would not sign such a generic petition, the medicine might be far worse than the actual disease... as such, in the name of fighting cheating, FIDE might even feel entitled to try crazy ideas such as to get formal registration of all players in the world, asking for all kind of personal details such as DOB, pictures and passport details.

Roger de Coverly
Posts: 21301
Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 2:51 pm

Re: Open petition against cheating

Post by Roger de Coverly » Thu Feb 07, 2013 4:07 pm

Paolo Casaschi wrote: It would have been better to know what the ACP is actually proposing to cope with the cheating problem.
What they think the cheating problem actually is would help.

Do they think it's organised teams analysing away from the game and signalling moves either electronically or using some code? Perhaps it's people wearing spy glasses and getting moves from engines using earpieces? Devices concealed in clothing perhaps. Or is it simply people consulting their mobile phones whilst play is in progress? All are covered under the general prohibition of seeking advice, but some are more premeditated than others. Simple clarification that not having the phone make a sound during play also means the phone stays switched off even when the player is not at the board may help, although the laws of chess already say this.

Chris Rice
Posts: 3417
Joined: Thu Nov 08, 2012 5:17 am

Re: Open petition against cheating

Post by Chris Rice » Thu Feb 07, 2013 8:42 pm

It's basically a Mission Statement to kick start the process and get some momentum going:

"We, the undersigned chess professionals and regular competitors in FIDE rated events, share the view that computer-assisted cheating is a major problem in chess and ask the ACP to address FIDE in order to take all necessary steps for fighting this plague."

Once there is enough support (and a petition would be reasonable evidence of that) and an acknowledgement from the powers that be, in this case FIDE, that there is a problem that needs to be addressed it then becomes more granular. Setting up a Committee/working party etc, then defining the problem, finding out the size of the problem and investigating how widespread it is.

I suspect gathering evidence of the various ways that individuals have been cheating using computer-assistance won't be easy, but then again it hasn't been easy to combat the drugs problem in other sports, but ways and methods have been found.

There are already a number of documented cases that have been discussed on other threads here for instance so there is already enough material for a proper investigation. Once this is completed it then starts a discussion of ways of combating "the plague" and penalties that might be enforced. This is not going to be an overnight solution and it can't be done piecemeal. The solution ideally should come from the top through a combination of FIDE and the top pro's in the ACP but it also has to get buy-in from the chess player on the Clapham Omnibus as well of course if it's going to be effective. Maybe FIDE could publish a consultation paper for national organisations to comment on. That would be great although probably unrealistic.

Basically, detailed suggestions as to how to combat the problem should come at the end. At the moment all people are being asked to do by the "chess professionals and regular competitors in FIDE rated events" is stick their placard up in the air and chant "what do we want? No cheating! When do we want it? Now!"

Roger de Coverly
Posts: 21301
Joined: Tue Apr 15, 2008 2:51 pm

Re: Open petition against cheating

Post by Roger de Coverly » Thu Feb 07, 2013 8:54 pm

Chris Rice wrote: Basically, detailed suggestions as to how to combat the problem should come at the end.
In principle over the board chess is already a sealed environment and there are very clear existing rules prohibiting external advice. Is it necessary to do any more than ensure their enforcement, such as making it a rare exception to leave the board whilst on the move? So that German case where the guy refused to hand over his phone, why wasn't he defaulted for just having the phone switched on?

That differs from all forms of correspondence chess where the rules are muddy. Even those sites purportedly disallowing engine assistance would allow the consultation of databases and books which in some cases contain engine analysis.

User avatar
Greg Breed
Posts: 723
Joined: Thu Apr 05, 2007 8:30 am
Location: Aylesbury, Bucks, UK

Re: Open petition against cheating

Post by Greg Breed » Fri Feb 08, 2013 8:59 am

Chris Rice wrote:It's basically a Mission Statement to kick start the process and get some momentum going:

"We, the undersigned chess professionals and regular competitors in FIDE rated events, share the view that computer-assisted cheating is a major problem in chess and ask the ACP to address FIDE in order to take all necessary steps for fighting this plague."
Is it really a major problem? I've heard about it on this forum but i've never come across a cheat at a match or tournament. Is it all being blown out of proportion? How often is it happening? And how often are players getting caught or not as the case may be?
Just because it is being reported more does not mean it is happening more. It could just be a case of better communication (no pun intended).
We shouldn't need to petition against cheating. it should be our default stance.
Hatch End A Captain (Hillingdon League)
Controller (Hillingdon League)