A Question of Class

The most frustrating experience I have ever had in chess is losing a clearly won game because of time. I have been swindled out of countless "Ws" by the cruel progress of the ticker. Today, however, I'm not here to ask for advice about using time better, but to ascertain from the broader community what its opinion is of those players who take advantage of the clock when they've clearly lost the game.

I'm talking about those guys who, seeing that you're up a piece with five seconds left, and they have thirty, will simply make random moves and checks as fast as they can and wait for you to miserably watch your clock hit zero. Would a Grandmaster ever do that? What would his colleagues think of him? Is this flag finish common in even the games of the elite?

Thanks for responding, and may your clock always tick slower than the other guy's,

threat_of_mate

Of course they would.  Time is part of the game.

Did you ever think that the reason you were in a clearly won position is because you took time you didn't really have to find moves, whereas he used his time appropriately?

Grandmasters do it all the time, just check ICC.  I know it can be annoying, but you need to learn to play faster.  Clock management is just as important as the position itself.   Premove makes this tactic even more effective online.

It happens, it's annoying, but, as has been mentioned, it's a part of timed chess.  That is why I try and play with an increment as often as possible.  Five-minute games at the chess club are one thing, but on the Internet, it really gets annoying. 

Premove is your friend.  Try and premove checkmates in those situations.  WildFireMayhem is correct, the GMs on the ICC use this tactic ALL the time.  Game after game.  It is because they do not take the blitz games very seriously.  A GM will rarely get into such trouble OTB.