Who won the FIDE Chess Clock Contract Bidding?

It seems to me that the DGT 3000, is just about perfect. I like that it show seconds remaining all the time. Also, that it works for other games like Scrabble and Go. My wife is a Scrabble player. I don’t own one yet, but I have four other digital chess clocks including the DGT NA. (The other three are all discontinued and out of business , Excalibur, Saitek, & Duel Timer. )

Now if DGT was to discontinue its NA and 2010 models and sell the 3000 in the $40-50 dollar range like the current NA prices are, and then offer them in a variety of colors like ZMF does , they would probably dominate the market and it would be the most common clock by far at all tournaments worldwide for the next two decades.

They currently come in two colors, maroon and wood grain and are available for about $60 on Amazon. It doesn’t seem too far of stretch to me, for DGT to make this 3000 model ubiquitous through out the chess world as well as other board game societies such as go, backgammon, checkers, and Scrabble.

It's down to the players to keep track of how many moves they've made. Having the clock displaying the number of moves made is tantamount to outside aid to the players, like asking the arbiter how many moves have been completed or whether you've made the time control (a question s/he would refuse to answer point blank). Furthermore, if you're not using an electronic board you can just hit the button a couple of times and, hey presto, you've come a couple of moves closer to the time control - there's no way of proving that both players haven't forgotten to note those missing moves down.

 

"It's down to the players to keep track of how many moves they've made. Having the clock displaying the number of moves made is tantamount to outside aid to the players, like asking the arbiter how many moves have been completed or whether you've made the time control (a question s/he would refuse to answer point blank)."

Almost all of the players should and will write down the moves in the scoresheet. So, they will be well aware of the number of moves. But, these chess clocks are used by casual players too. The number of moves will be helpful during casual play too. And also, remembering number of moves is not a part of chess skill that is required. When technology is available we can use it better. Showing number of moves in the clock won't give any unfair advantage to your opponent. So, stop making irrelevant claims like this.


"if you're not using an electronic board you can just hit the button a couple of times and, hey presto, you've come a couple of moves closer to the time control - there's no way of proving that both players haven't forgotten to note those missing moves down."

If you are not using a camera, you can touch a piece, hey presto, i haven't touched the piece - there is no way of proving that you have touched the pieces. 

If this is the case then why did DGT have option to show the number of moves? There is already an option to see number of moves. But we just need to click the button. All I said is to make it visible along with time.

Don't try to act smart.

Move counters have been available in digital clocks since they started being used with a delay or bonus in 1996.  This is when analog clocks began their use decline in tournaments. 
Tournament rules of US Chess and FIDE only recognize the scoresheet as a legal record of move count for the tournament game. Yes, the move counter on the clock can and still is used, but not for the official game record that would affect a time loss.

You will see players, even the elite ones, still writing their game score down on a sheet even though they are using a DGT board where the score is electronically recorded and transmitted to the TD.  It is still a rule that they have to write the move on the score sheet as the official game record.  And so it is with the move count.

In a lot of games, players will not write the moves down because they forget or are in a time scramble.  This happens a lot, actually.  The rules exist to actually address this as well.

Just so. I forgot to point out that I don't think there are any digital clock models that don't have the option to display the number of moves made.

 

 

I wasn't aware the DGT clocks have poor build quality.   Do they break regularly or something?  Is why FIDE  was bidding for a new clock?

DGT is plastic unlike the Chronos which is Metal. But that is not the reason for bidding. FIDE introduces a new 3 year cycle for which the winners in the above said categories are used in those tournaments. Then after 3 years new bidding takes place. 

With the new FIDE president, I expect the bidding for equipment and accessories to be a real bidding process and not a business transaction.

@chessroboto
It was indeed a business transaction.
https://www.chess.com/forum/view/chess-equipment/fide-chess-clock-contract-bidding