Controversial Decision by the Indian Chess Federation

Sandbagging was on a rise in India recently due to the ridiculous amounts of Rating category Tournaments with High cash prizes.So,just 2 days ago the All India Chess Federation(AICF)took a decision to disallow players whose rating at any time exceed the maximum rating of the age category tournament.

For example-Say player A was rated 1601 at any point in his life,he cannot play below 1600 tournaments.

Same applies for all rating category tournaments.(Below1500,1700,1800,2000,2200)etc.

There's been a lot of criticism over this move.Is this justified or wrong?Does this rule exist elsewhere like in the US or some other country?

Online chess site Redhotpawn.com applies rating floor 100 points lower than the highest achieved player's rating.

I meant OTB.This systemdoesnt consider the player's highest ratings or stuff like that just their rating according to the category they want to play.

o_O

Large cash prizes for lower rated players are crazy.

'large 'is a relative term ...when I won a thousand rupees prize at the age of ten; it was quite large for me...;)

Yeah, India is just messed up

The thing that Bugs me about this rule is that I know players who had 2000+ ratings 10 years ago but are now hovering around 1700,1800's.This rule makes it impossible for them to compete in any rating category events except above 2000.

@Likhit1: exactly what I was thinking. Isn't there a time frame attached to this rule, like 6 months or a year prior to the tournament or maybe even the time of announcing the tournament right up to the start of the tournament? That takes away most of the problems I guess.

No time frame,nothing.

hey man i have performance rating of 1376 i played 6 rated players so still need to play 3 more rated people 

anyhow i am about to play in a fide rapid tournament is the rule same (play 9 rated players to get a rating)

or is it different?

                         There's nothing controvercial about the rule. It was established to combat sandbagging. It will only hurt the people in the middle. It won't hurt the high rated players because well, the're strong. And it won't hurt the sandbaggers. They'll just find another way to cheat.

The rule was introduced to combat sandbagging, but you just stated that the sandbaggers will find another way to cheat. That makes the rule useless for its aim, which IMHO makes it controversial.

Rapid and Classical are different.You'll have to play three more classical games to get your classical rating.

In the US (and talking about continental chess tournaments like the recent World Open in Virginia) you can participate, but there is a cap on the prize money if you were rated too high too shortly before the tournament. That makes more sense than prohibiting playing.

The USCF has rating floors as well. Although, you can appeal to have your floor lowered, if it has been a few years sinse your rating was that high, or whatever.

But as to your original point, yes sandbagging and (computer use) are very much commonplace at tournaments in the US.

Here is an example from the 2014 World Open which just finished last weekend:

Prize limits: 1) If any post-event rating posted 6/27/13-6/27/14 was more than 30 points over section maximum, prize limit $2000. 2) Players with under 10 lifetime games rated as of 7/14 official list cannot win over $1000 in U1200, $1500 U1400, $2000 U1600, $2500 U1800, or $3000 U2000. Games rated too late for 7/14 official list not counted toward 10 game total. 3) Balance of any limited prize goes to next player(s) in line.

@varelse1: You say "sandbagging and (computer use) are very much commonplace at tournaments in the US."

Are you sure that is the case? I saw no evidence of that the last couple of tournaments I was at this year. Ocassionally there is something in the news, but I would not say it is rampant.

Organizators are getting stricter with the rules too, e.g.

"Players must submit to a search for electronic devices if requested by Director. In round 3 or after, players with scores of 80% or over and their opponents may not use headphones or earphones, and may not go to a different floor of the hotel without Director permission. No players are allowed to use cellphones during play without Director permission. No players may use headphones or earphones if the opponent objects."

@alghul

I woudln't know. I stopped going to big-money tournaments years ago!

LOL

My friend lost to a computer user at the Chicago Open, three or four years ago. (His opponent just needed to leave the tournament hall each move, to be told what to play. Wasn't that hard.)

Sexy_Sunshine is back!! Welcome!