French Chess Federation investigates cheating players

[Roger de Coverly]

The parallel thread at the Chess Scotland site contains some anecdotes about dubious behaviour in Scottish tournaments. I seems you have to watch out for players who will change the position (and forge the scoresheet) whilst you are away from the board.

http://scotchess.s4.bizhat.com/scotches ... asc-0.html

[LozCooper]

I think its such a shame he cheated. Was it Feller's idea or the other guys, I mean if you look at his current results, they are very impressive given all the problems off the board etc. hes performing over 2700 in one of the toughest open fields ever seen....

Let's just hope he doesn't claim a world cup place at the expense of Luke

[Jonathan Bryant]

It still amazes me that people think cheating does not go on in chess ...

Could you cite an example these "people" of whom you speak? I've yet to hear/see anybody say that there's no cheating in chess.

One of the big problems is getting officials to grasp the nettle and take action....

It seems rather unfair on Andrew Farthing to write the above without acknowledging his contributions to a thread in ECF Matters
(http://www.ecforum.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=2864).

[Tim Spanton]

I'm not sure why people seem to think cheating is less likely in amateur chess.

Professionals have more to lose if they are caught, ie their livelihood for an unspecified time.

[Stewart Reuben]

Ernie >I take the view that any person found cheating or indeed taking drugs to enhance a performance, ought to be banned for life full stop<

When the Swedish U13 team cheated en bloc against the England U13 team would you really have banned them for life?
Wht they did was copy the moves. The English board 1 played perhaps 1 r4, so the Swedish board 2 played 1 e4 and so on throughout the game. The idiot arbiter said he couldn't do anything about it. The 4 English players had more gumption and got very short of time, but sadly they only won 3-1. The Swedish CF banned the adult captain.

Stewart Reuben

[Tristan Clayton]

This is a topic I have been giving a lot of thought to, and especially since a recent tournament I played in where one of my opponents was found to have been cheating. Having defeated me in an earlier round with the assistance of a pocket computer, he was subsequently rumbled, disqualified from the tournament, and reported to FIDE and the ECF. I don't know what the consequences of this will be for him, but it has given me something to think about.

The point I was retrospectively awarded, though welcome for me in the tournament, certainly didn't feel like a victory. Combined with the high-profile story that started this thread, it has led me to ask some questions about the game, where it's heading, and whether I still want to be involved in it.

These examples may be isolated; the fact the cheats have been uncovered should be encouraging. However, they might just be the tip of the iceberg. How many of my other losses were to cheats whose actions went undetected?

Personally I would never even consider cheating because, whether I was caught or not, it would immediately invalidate the reason I play. There would no longer be a point to it. Perhaps it's the lure of the prize money that tempts people. If that's the case, I'd gladly play without any prospect of prizes, though I suspect I might be in the minority here.

Without wishing to sound dramatic, this is something that could kill the game, or at least a part of it. To state the obvious: I don't want to play against people who cheat. And I certainly don't want to waste my limited annual leave and even more limited money to play chess if there's a good chance it's not a fair fight. Securing the playing environment at GM level may be an option, but I seriously doubt it's even a remote possibility in the amateur game. You've only got to look at the large number of laptops used by parents, friends etc. during tournaments, often very close to the playing area, in spaces used by the players, to see one of the problems. Then there's the issue of portable devices, and the huge difficulties in preventing their use.

I don't want to stop playing because of this. Chess has been a hugely enjoyable part of my life for longer than I can remember. But after the end of the season, I will be spending the summer thinking hard about whether it is really worth it anymore.

[Roger de Coverly]

. Securing the playing environment at GM level may be an option, but I seriously doubt it's even a remote possibility in the amateur game. You've only got to look at the large number of laptops used by parents, friends etc. during tournaments, often very close to the playing area, in spaces used by the players, to see one of the problems. Then there's the issue of portable devices, and the huge difficulties in preventing their use.

You have to make it clear to players that the rules of the event are that they don't seek advice or assistance from third parties whether electronic or human. Organisers though could do more to discourage spectators, parents or friends from having laptops etc. within range of players and advising them against following the game on the electronic device.

and especially since a recent tournament I played in where one of my opponents was found to have been cheating. Having defeated me in an earlier round with the assistance of a pocket computer, he was subsequently rumbled, disqualified from the tournament, and reported to FIDE and the ECF.

Are you prepared to risk disclosing any hints of when or where?

[David Sedgwick]

and especially since a recent tournament I played in where one of my opponents was found to have been cheating. Having defeated me in an earlier round with the assistance of a pocket computer, he was subsequently rumbled, disqualified from the tournament, and reported to FIDE and the ECF.

Are you prepared to risk disclosing any hints of when or where?

This is the incident to which Andrew Farthing has alluded in the thread at http://www.ecforum.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=2864.

Andrew has said that he doesn't want to divulge any details, mainly because the offender was a junior. I hope that others will respect this.

I was an arbiter at the event in question, but I was not involved initially. As Tristan has said, the incident was reported to the ECF and FIDE. FIDE said it was a matter for the ECF. The ECF have taken the action they consider appropriate (see Andrew's comments).

The controllers, the player's opponent and the player's previous opponent (Tristan) all found the episode very upsetting. However I hope that no-one will give up playing or arbiting chess as a result.

I should just make clear that we have no proof that the offender cheated in his game against Tristan. When he was "subsequently rumbled", we felt it appropriate that he should forfeit all his games at the event.

[Tristan Clayton]

I should just make clear that we have no proof that the offender cheated in his game against Tristan. When he was "subsequently rumbled", we felt it appropriate that he should forfeit all his games at the event.

Yes, that's an important clarification. Events during my game lead me to conclude that he was receiving computer assistance, but this wasn't actually discovered until a later round.

I had my suspicions at the time, but no evidence to support them. It's hard to make an accusation under those circumstances without being labelled a 'bad loser'.

The whole affair is very unfortunate, though I must give credit to the arbiters for their handling of the situation.

[LozCooper]

I should just make clear that we have no proof that the offender cheated in his game against Tristan. When he was "subsequently rumbled", we felt it appropriate that he should forfeit all his games at the event.

Yes, that's an important clarification. Events during my game lead me to conclude that he was receiving computer assistance, but this wasn't actually discovered until a later round.

I had my suspicions at the time, but no evidence to support them. It's hard to make an accusation under those circumstances without being labelled a 'bad loser'.

The whole affair is very unfortunate, though I must give credit to the arbiters for their handling of the situation.

I hope you don't allow one bad experience to put you off playing. I do think that it is a tiny minority of players who even think about cheating, never mind actually doing it. I think that runs true from the top GMs in England down to the occasional club player.

[Brendan O'Gorman]

Just to note that knowing the identities of the cheater's opponent (Tristan) and one of the arbiters (David) plus the likelihood that the games were FIDE rated (why else report the matter to FIDE) makes it easy to identify the culprit. Mind you, I'm less concerned about the offender's reputation than the risk that his behaviour might deter a keen player such as Tristan. Perhaps some naming and shaming is needed to deter folk from a 'crime' that is so hard to detect.

[Mick Norris]

This is the incident to which Andrew Farthing has alluded in the thread at http://www.ecforum.org.uk/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=2864.

Andrew has said that he doesn't want to divulge any details, mainly because the offender was a junior. I hope that others will respect this.

I was an arbiter at the event in question, but I was not involved initially. As Tristan has said, the incident was reported to the ECF and FIDE. FIDE said it was a matter for the ECF. The ECF have taken the action they consider appropriate (see Andrew's comments).

The controllers, the player's opponent and the player's previous opponent (Tristan) all found the episode very upsetting. However I hope that no-one will give up playing or arbiting chess as a result.

I should just make clear that we have no proof that the offender cheated in his game against Tristan. When he was "subsequently rumbled", we felt it appropriate that he should forfeit all his games at the event.

What was the response of the parents? Has it been reported to the school? Has the junior received any formal chess coaching and if so, what did the coach say?

I think juniors cheating is even worse than adults, and would question where the idea came from - whoever has coached the junior has surely got some questions to answer (and the ECF needs to consider this if the coach is ECF accredited)

[Mike Truran]

As you say, one doesn't have to be a Sherlock Holmes to track down who it was (took me about three minutes, which is probably on the slow side).

[Adam Raoof]

Perhaps some naming and shaming is needed to deter folk from a 'crime' that is so hard to detect.

Er, no. I believe passionately that people make mistakes, and should be punished if caught, show contrition in an ideal world, then be forgiven, and then move on. None of us are perfect.

When I first started organising there was a body called the London Chess Association, which brought together organisers to avoid clashes between events, and which also informally exchanged information about sandbaggers and occasionally players who misbehaved. However publishing names is not something we ever did.

[Adam Raoof]

I think juniors cheating is even worse than adults, and would question where the idea came from - whoever has coached the junior has surely got some questions to answer (and the ECF needs to consider this if the coach is ECF accredited)

I can't agree with this. All cheating is wrong, but kids do stupid things, adults have fewer excuses. I think, on reflection, you will agree that an adult who resorts to cheating is far more cynical and the crime more likely to be premeditated.

In the case of the French players, if proven, the situation is the worst I have seen, and I look forward to the punishment being of appropriate severity. In other sports they would never be allowed to represent their country or participate in tournaments ever again, even whilst the case against them is being prosecuted.