The Magic of Cheating

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Santoy

I am a professional magician of International standing, have performed in the Magic World Championships (Stockholme) and have also been on judging panels for top flight competitions. The ongoing Carlsen v Niemann is amusing in its Magic equivalence.

Yes, top flight competition is a ‘thing’; Yes, there is a very serious Magic World Championship (FISM) that takes place over a three year cycle (and has in fact recently finished in Quebec). Yes, cheating has been a thing and anti-cheat mechanisms are in place.

How can you cheat in Magic !?!

Performing magic, anything goes but in competition magic, there are stringent rules. In ‘mentalism’ for example, electronics are not permitted. In card magic, no fake or gimmicked cards are allowed, competitors are not allowed to use confederates/stooges in the audience etc.

The Evasons is a World Class act and offer $10000 to anyone that can PROVE that they use any communication equipment (watch the act on YouTube). They also work in venues with mobile phone/WiFi blockers.

Derren Brown (famous in the UK) was disqualified in a competition for using a stooge but was later able to prove that he wasn’t by disclosing his method to a select committee.

Lennart Green was disqualified for not using regular cards but was later acquitted when he proved that he could reproduce the act with a provided deck.

Could cutting edge magic be employed to cheat at chess? It could certainly vastly increase the chance of winning.

Not saying that Hans does of course.  

justbefair

You are not allowed to discuss cheating methodology in the regular forum. 

I know that chess.com has allowed discussions to continue relating to the Sinquefield tournament and Hans Niemann.

But that is different than allowing discussions of cheating methodology in online chess - whether or not they include technical details.

Those discussions are directed to the Cheating Forum club. 

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