Reader Reaction on Cheating Scandal

30.10.2012 – It will surprise nobody that there were a very large number of messages that poured in regarding our recent report on the disqualification of a Bundesliga player for carrying a cellphone to the bathroom during his games. Here's a small selection of letters, plus a thoughtful article by Assistant Professor Kung-Ming Tiong of Malaysia, comparing the problem in chess with academic cheating.

Read More here: http://chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=8594

@OP: All discussions of cheating should take place in the Cheating Forum, and not the general forums. The Cheating Forum can be accessed here.

OTB cheating has been an ok topic in the public forums.

Yes, also chess.com tried to cover up this last cheating scandal, modifying one of their staff articles. Up to the moment there are people covering up these cheaters, the problem is only going to grow and damage the sport.

In another article from chessvibes they mentioned that cycling has lost sponsors because of Armstrong and other cheaters, this will happen to chess too.

Now the problem of cells phones is quite easy to solve.

1. Not allowed to be brought in the playing area (some people complained that they need to be reachable if something happens to their families, but how did chess players play before cell phones?) and eventually for these huge events some lockable cabinets could be provided by the hotel. Or like the Professor says in the article battery removed, and phone sealed in a clear envelope, eventually it can be placed near the chessboard in front of both players. After all this is done also in school and universities, so it is not an invasion of privacy.Because Bindrich was right in claiming to have some data he didn't want to share, but obviously the referee with the team captain would have just checked if the phone was on, and eventually the chess program he was using in the restroom!

2. In order to restore valor to chess, it is needed a strong zero tolerance, with stripping of the title (we have more than enough GMs and IMs to substitute the cheaters) and banning for life.

3. Then one problem nobody wants to speak about is the "cheated," if I lost against one of these cheaters, who is going to give me the money back I could have won? The rating? If I wanted to play against a computer, did I really need to drive for one hour, pay an entrance fee and all the rest?

skullskullskull, online chess cheating discussion is not allowed around here. OTB cheating has been discussed for a long time without issue, as you pointed out with Danny's post. :)

I wish this post is not been misused as attack on someone. This is rather share info and taughts. Hope OP don't mind.

@goldendog: I think kohai has preferred that this matter not be discussed in the general forums, though.

A user was connecting the news to a member here. That was the issue. If we steer clear of that we should have no problems.

@goldendog: True. Good point. Nevertheless, I still think this should possibly not be discussed here, since we have a forum created expressly for this subject--(although I will grant that the Cheating Forum is mainly for discussions on cheating on Chess.com, rather than OTB).

The problem is the person suspected of cheating OTB is a chess.com member, and inevitably there will be accusations of him cheating here too

The rule should be that players must not bring mobile phones with them when they play.  I suppose for those who are joined to their mobile phone at the hip this will require major surgery and will inflict permanent psychological damage. Nevertheless it is the only rule to make sense.