Have you ever been accused of cheating in a real-life tournament?

It happened this June while I was playing in a nine-round Swiss open, on the 8th round when I was matched with an opponent just a bit above my elo rating. At one point I got up from the board (right after she made her move) to look at the other games. I chatted with a friend a bit (he is by very far a superior player) and when I did not return to my board immediately, my opponent got up and asked me to return to my board immediately or she would call the arbiter. I was angered but since it is a violation of the rules (even though I had no bad intentions), I sat down again with a fiery determination to crush my opponent for such a statement. I had just gambited a pawn but in the end I managed to obtain compensation; she resigned at a rook endgame in which I was a pawn up with two passed pawns.

Sadly, the incident was not over as when I confronted my opponent to talk about the issueafter the game was over  and ensure her it was nothing but a misunderstanding, she was angry and did not believe the things that I said to her. Besides saddening me (and ruining my mood for the day), this also confused me since during the game she apologized to me for her extreme behavior earlier.

Any similar experiences for any of you? How did it turn out?

no, but I'm sorry for your bad experience :(

RigasUT , what is your real life chess rating?

Right now it is 1313.

USCF or FIDE?

She was probably just bitter because she lost. You shouldn't be affected by it, you have to be prepared to put up with these kinds of people, because wherever people compete there will be emotions. Need I remind everyone about the chess head slap?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waM5p6NNq9c&list=PL6A4BFAA559CECC28&index=6

@Sazer

FIDE, I don't have a USCF rating.

@Applefield

That was a pretty hilarious video.

The closest I got was when I intentionally sacrificed all my pieces down to KBN vs K so I could practise my technique. Unfortunately I was playing a young kid who started crying and put his hand up to summon the arbiter.

The arbiter came, who by the way has never touched an official chess rule book in his life and asked me if I knew how to checkmate with the material on the board, which is irrelevant anyway since I had 50 moves to try and do so.

I told him I did know since I'd been practising it over the weekend and wanted to try it over the board. The arbiter gave me a leery look and let the game continue while he watched.

It is cheating to talk to a friend during a game.Your opponent was right.

Cant you see the logic?

Love

She was angry because she could have called the arbiter and had you resigned. She didn't, you were lucky. Don't push your luck. I am with her, though I don't know her.

Uhm, it depends on what you are talking about as to whether or not it's cheating.  There is also no obligation to stay glued to your seat the minute your clock is running.  Does that mean you should sh*t in your pants simply because it's your move?

There is an abandonment rule where if you remain away from your board for an elongated period of time, you can forfeit.  Not sure about FIDE, but in USCF, it's 15 minutes from when it's reported, so often ends up being 30 minutes as you wait 15 minutes before reporting it, then the director has to record 15 minutes from there.

If my friend and I are at a tournament, and both of us just made the first time control, we'll often go out in the hallway, talk about where we want to eat afterwards, etc.  Have a plan for if one of us going all the way to the end, which usually ends up being fast food, and a plan for if we have extra time.  There is absolutely nothing wrong with that, and in FIDE Rated events in the United States (like the top 2 sections of the Chicago Open, which I was in), you won't get flack for that at all.

What you can't do is use electronics of any sort...then suspicion looms.  Texting is a huge no-no, even if you are sexting your girlfriend and not getting chess advice.  Also, don't leave the floor.  Going up to your hotel room is a no-no.  Remain on the same floor that the tournament is going on at.

I see. USCF is only an American rating right? My rating is also FIDE. That video was funny Applefield.

You cant really talk to anyone during the game but I have hardly ever heard anyone complaining about it.

Maybe the pressure made him finally crack.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wNFMPhKIZXg

I would like to add, in case it makes any difference, that my opponent did not offer me a handshake after she stopped the clock and went straight to writing down the result. I did not offer her a handshake myself as I assumed she must have had rather intense emotions at that time (probably anger) to not offer one herself.

No, but I'm accused of cheating in my imaginary tournaments.

Nope. It doesn't make any difference.

As thrillerfan pointed out this is inaccurate. I have had grandmasters talk to me while their games on the top boards at major tournaments (chicago open, us open, etc.) are still in progress, and I am pretty sure they know the rules better than anyone on this forum.

Damn' cheatin' GMs.  Gettin' help from shepi'.

"(d) A player may not speak about his game while it is in progress."

FIDE does not, anywhere I can find, say a player is not allowed to talk to people.  The player cannot discuss the current game they are playing.

But! She did break the rules by complaining directly to you:

"(e) All complaints concerning the behaviour of players or captains must be made to the arbiter. A player is not permitted to complain directly to his opponent."

I was accused of cheating during a real life tournament once. My girlfriend accused me of having sex with Betty from my hometown. She threw a chessboard at me and told me I was disgusting pig, all this during a rated game against some geeky child from Estonia. Note, that I was a pawn up and on my way to win the game. Nice going, Rebecca, we didn't even kiss, I hope you're happy now.