Thoughts about this OTB decision?

Interesting : As long as you feel right and good ;-)

I am sure I would have done the same thing -- ( it was an accident clearly)

Well, it's good to see someone that feels a little similiar.

If you wanted to play the game badly enough, then I guess it was a good decision. (I might have done the same, idk.) Did you at least get a post mortem out of it?

only for 15 minutes or so. The third round started pretty soon after the game finished.

I think you took a mature route in asking the TD to let this person continue with the game and imagine that in the future he will probably remember to shut his phone off.

I would've continued playing also, probably even if it was a high stakes tournament. Unless I really loathed my opponent. But that's improbable, I don't know any chessplayers I really dislike. But if I did................well...............you know........

TBH I dont really think it's the players call on this one. The rule is there primarily to avoid everyone having their phones going off all the time. A participants phone ringing affects more than just the person they're playing, and if rules aren't enforced then they're pointless.

Im pretty sure that is the rule, the phone ringing is just indicative proof that the person has a phone with them.

I would agree.  The phone shouldn't have been brought in the room to begin with.  Not only does the ringing interfere with the other players' concentration, but how do you know that other people are not using their smart phones to come up with that killer combination?  It is best to check your phone with the directors.

The tournament director gave a fair warning beforehand to make sure to turn off your phones (before the first round started). 

So, yeah, i had every reason to claim a win.

Well, I don't exactly think you're a saint just for doing that, but it's a good thing of course. I would probably let him play, not so much for moral reasons but because the extra rating points wouldn't really reflect my strength anyway, and it's not really satisfying to win when it had nothing to do with the work you put into it.

I mean if we took this to the extreme, and I played a 4 round tournament, and all 4 of my opponents forfeited, then despite getting 1st place, it wouldn't make me feel like I did something special or impressive. Although, if it's a huge amount of money that I win then sure, that's cool. It's not my fault they didn't show up. And it's not my fault when other people break rules.

How did you do in the tournament?

I would have done the same thing.  I enjoy the game more than my rating.

If I was in the running for winning money, I would've taken the win. 

If money wasn't on the line, I would've just kept playing. Winning rating points for free like that would just inflate your rating, and pretty soon it would probably go back down to your actual rating anyway.

Rules are rules, I think. I  suppose it's ok to ask to play on, but the td shouldn't have allowed it. Thin end of the wedge, and all that.

What if a cellphone later rang in another game too? And the opponent wasn't as generous as you? How could the TD in good conscience then forfeit another player?

I agree with rooperi. It was a violation on the arbiters behalf to have allowed the game to continue, as it was completely against the rules.

P.S.-- Note- before you post, realize this is the same guy who made the "Should Carlsens Title be Revoked" thread.

GodIike wrote:

TBH I dont really think it's the players call on this one. The rule is there primarily to avoid everyone having their phones going off all the time. A participants phone ringing affects more than just the person they're playing, and if rules aren't enforced then they're pointless.

Agreed. The phone going off affects more than just one person. Whether you felt comfortable benefitting from your opponent's inconsiderate action is irrelevant. The arbiter has an obligation to the tournament to treat everyone fairly. Your opponent should have forfeit the game. If you benefitted directly, so be it.

erm....... Dont tell me you took that seriously

SmyslovFan, rooperi and others make good points. I'm not inherently opposed to the idea of the player being able to decide whether they can "exploit" the opponent's breaking of the rules, but on the other hand, the cell phone does indeed affect a multitude of people, not just the one player. It may be that many other people playing are disgusted by the person with the cell phone, for example, even if you personally are not.

its good sportsmanship. But they shouldn't let phones go ring ring anyway. They should make a rule. Dont bring a phone or give it (turned off of course) to the organiser. I think fide should actually enfornce that. Then you have no excuse if you hear a ring ring after move 10.

It also hurts others too.