English Chess Forum

Hello All,

A Question I need to know the answer for.

What is the Punishment for Mobile Phones going off during play in League chess?

I Played a game on Wednesday night, in the Berkshire League and it was all going extremely well nice atmosphere was pretty quiet then I heard a shock.

During my game my opponents phone went of on about move 14 the first time, I thought well he's obviously forgot to turn his phone off so fine; so he went outside the playing room and answered it, I thought right fair enough he was about 5 minutes or so.

Then the same incident occurred again about 10 moves or so later his phone went off again at the board I thought to myself well this is taking the mick abit, he was again about 5 minutes or so before he arrived back at the table.

Basically I had a rough idea on the circumstances on what to do but was not 100% sure on the situation how to proceed. So I did not bother, but am I right in thinking Fide Laws take presidence in chess leagues which are ECF based or not.

Or is it simply the case you can stop the clocks and get an additional time for the phone going off during play like 2 minutes. Or can you claim a win which I know in 4ncl or something you can do so.

I mean I was not particularly bothered because I was not sure what to do. So I didn't make a scene of it, but it was certainly a distraction. Do you have to get the captain over to make the amendments to the clock or what seen there is no actual official arbiter present.

Matt

Any views are welcome!

Currently, loss of the game. Another four years of Kirsan and it will probably be "death by firing squad".

Thank you John, So basically it does not matter under what conditions your playing it is an automatic default.

Matt.

According to the Berkshire League Rules (available from the Berkshire Chess Association web site):

The use of a mobile phone during the match is not
allowed. Match Captains may leave the playing area to give directions to the venue. Any
phones in the playing area must be on silent mode. Any sound from a mobile phone or other
electronic means of communication shall result in a two minutes added to opponents time.

So the local rule overrides the FIDE law, awarding two minutes to the opponent's time for each occurrence. However, your opponent contravened the first sentence of the BCA rule (he used the phone). I would assume that the penalty for this is a loss.

I was only kidding (I think). Different leagues have different rules regarding mobile phone rings. You'll have to investigate your local league rules. Under strict FIDE rules, a noise = a loss, but understandably local leagues choose to do their own thing. Ian Kingston has just posted something as I finish typing this - no doubt he has it right.

John Saunders wrote:I was only kidding (I think). Different leagues have different rules regarding mobile phone rings. You'll have to investigate your local league rules. Under strict FIDE rules, a noise = a loss, but understandably local leagues choose to do their own thing. Ian Kingston has just posted something as I finish typing this - no doubt he has it right.

Not totally sure about that: by not specifying the penalty for actually using the phone the BCA has left a tiny loophole for those of a disputatious nature to argue about. The FIDE laws don't need to bother with that issue because making a sound is enough for the default.

Well Perhaps the BCA should bring a rule in maybe the first time could be a penalty although I do believe this is not really enough because people are still doing it.


I don't believe under any circumstances should anyone but the captain be allowed the phone for obvious reasons I will be putting in suggestion at the AGM next year about it! And with any luck if the player I played is there I will name and shame at the meeting.

I don't see any excuse for allowing phones on during the game it's totally inappropriate, it's like someone speaking on loud speaker in a library it is totally disrespectful their must be somewhere you can get away with out hearing a mobile phone.

The thing that frustrated me the most about this incident is the player showed absolutely no remorse he casually walked back in to the room as if nothing had happened, totally oblivious to what had happened. I don't believe for one minute he didn't know the rules.

I just think he didn't give a tom dick or harry what he had done.

Matt.

Possibly a ban would be good cause of action!

Matt.

The rule is my local league is as follows:

(iii) Players will be allowed to take mobiles into the playing room, but are requested where possible to have ring-tones switched off, and must not make outgoing calls during a game.

Where the sound of a player’s mobile phone interrupts a game, this does not automatically incur a penalty, but a second occurrence for the same player in the same match will result in a default win for the opponent.

simple really.