Chess Player Strip Searched

[Geoff Chandler]

You could be on to something there James.

His opponents approach the game with a loss in their mind knowing
they can never beat a computer.
He has planted the seed of defeat in his opponents brain before the game begins.

It could be hypnosis.

....or maybe he is not doing anything at all but playing good chess.

[Chris Rice]

A quote from the The Sign of the Four (1890) by Conan Doyle comes to mind

"How often have I said to you that when you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?" Chap. 6, p. 111

So if he isn't cheating then having to turn up at Pamplona with two friends acting as bodyguards due to the fact that he's scared of being attacked by other chess players is most unfortunate for him. However, most of the top players suspect they just haven't found his MO yet.

[Phil Neatherway]

Regarding the possibility of a device under the skin, have a look at this:-
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-21841829

This device communicates with a mobile phone.

[MartinCarpenter]

And its years off mass production with no obvious communication method or method to get the moves into the device. In a while that sort of thing might be 'easy'. For now you're looking at a scary amount of effort for essentially tiny reward. The whole thing really is bizzare.

[Matthew Turner]

It may not be 100% clear that it is is a lot of technology for a "tiny reward". Ivanov might be hoping for a book, or even a film deal. Or he might be publicly testing a device for security services/organised crime. Still quite a lot of possibilities out there, but it certainly is all a bit bizarre.

[Mick Norris]

More info here:
http://www.chessbase.com/Home/TabId/211 ... 30313.aspx

[Clive Blackburn]

This article provides food for thought.

http://nakedsecurity.sophos.com/2013/03 ... veillance/

If you introduce CCTV to catch suspected chess cheats then you might inadvertently be providing a live video stream for them to tap into!

Of course, the prize money in casinos is a lot higher than in chess tournaments!

[John Foley]

The debate rumbles on in Croatia

[Chris Rice]

I thought an extract from the Chess Vibes article on 26 March was quite telling regarding what went on in Pamplona:

"It was reported by players present at this tournament that there were a lot of incidents. Obviously Ivanov was again suspected of cheating (some asked him to keep his jacket and phone away from the table) and the atmosphere was far from how it should be at a chess event.

After the tournament the Spanish Chess Federation sent a letter to regional federations in which they warned about Ivanov. They wrote:

For our part, we can do little at the moment, not least because the tournament was not FIDE or FEDA rated and also because, before official intervention, there is first is the presumption of innocence and in this case the only evidence is [statements from participants].
We can only applaud the Spanish Chess Federation for taking a careful approach and holding up the presumption of innocence. However, by now it's hard to deny that there's something fishy about Ivanov's results at the Zadar Open, the Tringov Memorial and in Villava. But even if the Bulgarian player turns out to be innocent, we can safely assume that cheating is happening at a lot of other tournaments these days. The ball is in FIDE's court to join the ACP and take urgent measures."

This report seems consistent with the allegation that Barsov's one move draw offer prior to his game v Ivanov was a take it or else offer. (He is known for his right hook). Further GM Fedorchuk is convinced that Ivanov is using the Critter programme in combination with Rybka 4 and Chess Assistant 11's opening tree although how he has come to this conclusion is beyond me.

[JustinHorton]

For our part, we can do little at the moment, not least because the tournament was not FIDE or FEDA rated

Anybody know why?

[Chris Rice]

2nd Memorial "Bogomil Andonov"

This was a rapid in Plovdiv which was won with 7.5/9 by our hero Borislav Ivanov including a win against Kiril Georgiev (2657) and a default win in round 8 against a 2500+ GM Grigorov who refused to play him.

[Leonard Barden]

2nd Memorial "Bogomil Andonov"

This was a rapid in Plovdiv which was won with 7.5/9 by our hero Borislav Ivanov including a win against Kiril Georgiev (2657) and a default win in round 8 against a 2500+ GM Grigorov who refused to play him.

Fastest time limit yet for an Ivanov success, in fact blitz, 10 mins +5 secs increment....

[Sean Hewitt]

What the hell is going on here?

I spoke to some Bulgarian friends of mine and they all think he is cheating and none of them have the faintest clue how.

[Ray Sayers]

Maybe he is just suddenly really good.

Or is a cyborg.

Or maybe he is like that guy from 'the Dead Zone' - does he clutch his opponents' hand, his eyes roll back and he sees future moves? Though that may get a bit annoying, especially in blitz.

<shrug> no ideas here.

[Chris Rice]

Round 6 White: Ivanov (2303) - Black: Georgiev, Kiril (2657)

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 d5 3. Bxf6 gxf6 4. Nf3 c5 5. e3 Nc6 6. c4 dxc4 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Nxd4 9. exd4 Bg7 10. Nc3 O-O 11. O-O f5 12. d5 Qd6 13. Re1 Bd7 14. Qe2 Rfe8 15. Bb5 Rac8 16. Rad1 a6 17. Bxd7 Qxd7 18. Rd3 Rc4 19. h3 b5 20. a3 Qd6 21. Qh5 Qg6 22. Qd1 Qd6 23. Rg3 Kh8 24. Qh5 Rf8 25. Qxf5 Rf4 26. Qg5 Qf6 27. Qh5 Rf5 28. Qg4 Rf4 29.Qd7 Qd4 30. Rge3 Qd2 31. Ne4 Qxb2 32. g3 Rxe4 33. Rxe4 Bf6 34. Rxe7 Bxe7 35. Qxe7 Kg8 36. d6 Qxa3 37. Qg5+ Kh8 38. d7 1-0