French Chess Federation investigates cheating players

[LozCooper]

As to the evidence of guilt, the texts between Marzolo and Hauchard seems to demonstrate fairly convincingly that the moves at least got as far as him - unless either of them can come up with a reasonable alternative explanation for sending numerous messages consisting of apparently random numbers whilst a chess match was in progress in which the recipient was a team captain, which neither of them has tried to. Hauchard's system for passing them on to Feller seems trickier to prove, though - was there any video footage from the Olympiad which might show Hauchard standing behind the relevant players immediately before Feller made the corresponding move?

Not sure about video footage, I don't recall thinking anything was unusual during the match other than that David's opponent playing a various complex line in an opening new to him which was way too complicated for me to understand (not saying much I know). I spent most of the Olympiad shushing noisy arbiters and stopping photos being taken during the games to notice suspicious behaviour from opposing captains though

I'm trying to visualise where the match was played. If it was played in the first row of matches then there was seating alongside board 1 for each captain and the match arbiter/official. If, as I think was the case, it was played in the second row then there was no seating for captains and so I'm less likely to have noticed anything unusual as I would have spent less time in close proximity as the seating was further back.

[Paul Sanders]

So there were 8-digit text messages for every move, Hauchard had to keep going to and fro from the bar, and from eight people he had to stand behind two of them each time to indicate not a move, just a square. Nobody made a transmission error? The player could always see him even when he was standing behind the French team boards? The player never got into time trouble?

Sounds a bit like morris dancing.

[Roger de Coverly]

stopping photos being taken during the games to notice suspicious behaviour from opposing captains though

I'm trying to visualise where the match was played.

There's a picture that you must have failed to prevent at http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=7094.

It's probably early on, you can't see the times on the clocks but the Adams game is fairly obviously in a position from one of the main lines of the Marshall.

[Jonathan Bryant]

... it looks as if the accused hardly attempted to protest their innocence, but solely to avoid a guilty verdict on technicalities (supposedly inadmissible evidence, case not within the FFE's jurisdiction).

That could be because of how chess vibes and chess base chose to report things rather than being a reflection of what actually happened.

Still, while it's a very reasonable principle that accused folk need not prove their innocence but rather it is down to the prosecution to prove their guilt, the reality is that unless and until the three provide a plausible account of their actions there's going to be a cloud hanging over them (and that will be the case whether or not they are actually guilty).

One thing that I don't think I've seen discussed anywhere is the issue of the punishments handed down. Does the French Federation actually have the power to ban these folk? What if they came to Britain - or wherever - and wanted to play in a tournament and the organiser was happy for them to play? Could the French Federation actually stop them?

[Roger de Coverly]

Does the French Federation actually have the power to ban these folk? What if they came to Britain - or wherever - and wanted to play in a tournament and the organiser was happy for them to play? Could the French Federation actually stop them?

That's actually a very good question. I believe the FFE runs the French equivalent of the 4NCL so it would be easy enough for any games they tried to play in team chess to be declared invalid. Also the FFE could probably sanction organisers if they allow the suspended players in tournaments.

Outside of France, I suppose, they would be reliant on their entries not be accepted by the foreign event. It would be a brave organiser who accepted them, their opponents might refuse to play them, or demand special conditions like a separate room with no spectators.

[Ian Kingston]

Since the alleged offences occurred at a FIDE event, one would think that FIDE would also be able to take disciplinary action.

[Michael Jones]

Since the alleged offences occurred at a FIDE event, one would think that FIDE would also be able to take disciplinary action.

Is it possible to be sanctioned numerous times for the same offence by different organisations? Not defending them in anyway.

I would think so - to take an example, if someone is proven to have committed a criminal offence in the course of their job, then the court will impose the penalty laid down for that offence, and their employer will presumably fire them. In this case the event at which the cheating is alleged to have taken place was run by FIDE, but Feller and Hauchard were representing France, and hence presumably the FFE. Whether FIDE will accept the FFE verdict and impose its own sanctions, consider the matter but insist on holding a separate hearing first, or decline to do anything about it at all, remains to be seen. Presumably if FIDE does either accept from the FFE or conclude itself that the players are guilty, there would be some sort of consequences with regard to the Olympiad results (if Feller is stripped of his board prize that would then go to Bartel, with Gawain moving up to 4th on the list).

[LozCooper]

I notice that Sebastian Feller is playing on board 40 of the European Individual today which is being held in France

[Alan Walton]

I notice that Sebastian Feller is playing on board 40 of the European Individual today which is being held in France

Does his suspension only cover French sanctioned events, presumably the ECU and FIDE would have to ban him personally to bar him from ECU and FIDE individual tournaments, presumably the French have also suspended he from selection of the French teams as well

[Jonathan Bryant]

I notice that Sebastian Feller is playing on board 40 of the European Individual today which is being held in France

I think I remember some chat somewhere - possibly in the comments box of the Chess Vibes report - saying that the sentences had been suspended pending the outcome of the appeal.

[Roger de Coverly]

I notice that Sebastian Feller is playing on board 40 of the European Individual today which is being held in France

Now that the signalling method is known, arbiters will have to watch for spectators observing games in an organised manner. They/he/someone else wouldn't try to do it again surely?

[Ben Purton]

I knew the French couldnt beat us without cheating...

[Christopher Kreuzer]

To me, the mentions of confessions, of other team members being told that cheating had occurred, and the sheer number and timing of the text messages, looks damning and pretty convincing, even if circumstantial to some degree. Looking to the future, does anyone think we will see more incidents like this, and were the sentences in this case (if they are upheld on appeal) proportionate or too lenient?

[Christopher Kreuzer]

I notice that Sebastian Feller is playing on board 40 of the European Individual today which is being held in France

Now that the signalling method is known, arbiters will have to watch for spectators observing games in an organised manner. They/he/someone else wouldn't try to do it again surely?

Maybe there will be increased restrictions on spectators, which would be a pity.

[James Byrne]

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