I have just discovered that one of the top players on chess.com has been removed for cheating. I am currently playing a game against him (it's been going on for almost a year) and am clearly losing. Now that he's unable to play, I've turned my auto-win on time off so I'd be able to make a decision: whether to win on time or not.

Apparently, his account has been closed for cheating; however, I personally am not able to verify the validity of this. Even if he stopped cheating, he would quite likely be able to beat me (I'm down a rook, probably a pawn, and he has powerful initiative against my king). Had we continued playing, it would've been inevitable checkmate, quite likely without his cheating.

However, he is now unable to play and I am simply able to win on time. Of course, this won't affect him. But, I don't want to resign this game for the same reason - it won't affect him. However, I feel that it would be unfair for me to gain 60+ rating points for a clear loss. I'm really not sure if I should win on time.

So, my auto-win on time is off for now. He's considered a cheater. I'm losing the game badly. What do you people think - should I resign or let him time-out and get some rating points?

Get the rating points, the rating don't matter much in the long run, it will all even out.

time out and gain rating points severs him right.

Take the points, then brag publicly about how you absolutely demolished this guy even though he was using Rybka 3 at infinate strength =)

take the points, as they will go back into the 'aggregate points pool' of active players, over time - as your rating equalizes to where it 'should' be - based on your skill.

   I don't think bragging about beating him would be in order, it is simply an unfortunate circumstance - that he is unable to finish the game with you.  that he was found cheating, is significant, and there may be suspicion that he wouldn't have sustained that level of play without cheating, and additionally, you have no idea if he was cheating on your game or not.

I've been carefully playing as to maintain maximum rating points (not cheating, etc.) - just stretching games a little (not too much! Maybe a week total for certain games), winning before losing. It's not my real rating, but it's the only rating I have. Hmmm... in any case, I'll eventually have a real rating. I guess it's OK if I take this win. =D

its okay to take this win,

this nerd cheated, and he was gonna take ur rating, but they caught him before he could take it from u, now pay back the favour and take his rating

Don't take the win - it's a trap.

1. Top rated player found to be cheating ...

2. beaten by lowly Doc_MD

how's that going to look?

nice touch, artfizz,  a truly refined sense of humor.....  

The thing that bugs me most is that some guys know how to control thier clock,

like while my time is running down he is able to stop his clock at maybe 2.oo and while the game goes on his stops till I lose on time!

Clearly the right thing to do in this situation is to continue to improve your game until your rating is identical to his.  Only then should you accept the timeout as it will have no impact on your rating in either direction.  This is particularly important if the game is within the context of a tournament as it best balances the need for equity within a tournament group (so that you don't get a loss where everyone else got a win) with the desire to maintain the integrity of the rating system.

Until then you will simply have to sit on the game as an unclaimed win on time.

You do realise that winning before losing will probably make your rating worse than if you did it the other way around. It isn't always the case, but usually it is.