Cheating scandal rocks French National Team
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
Only one of dozens of news sources that have covered the scandal.
Earlier this week the news broke , catching everyone by surprise. The French Chess Federation (FFE) had began late last year an internal investigation into actions by a member of the French national team–GM Sebastian Feller (5th ranked player in France)– as well as team aides/trainers GM Arnauld Hauchard and IM Cyril Marzolo.
The FFE has accused these individuals of “organized fraud, serious breach of sport ethics, damage caused to the image of the French Team, during the World Chess Olympiad which took place in Khanty-Mansiysk (Russia), from September 21st to October 3rd 2010”.
However, no more details have been made public. The FFE has appointed Leo Battesti, a Sorbonne-educated lawyer, as the spokesperson for the Federation. In an interview given to chessbase , Mr. Battesti would only indicate that the cheating had to do with ‘advances of technology’ and their ability to interfere with the normal course of a game.
By this I understand the use of portable, miniature devices that allow a player to have access to chess information DURING the game–contrary to the FIDE rules of the game–as well as to chess engines that might influence a player’s moves and give him a decided advantage over his opponent.
In recent months this writer has heard of a number of cases in Spain where such devices have been suspected to have been employed. One such case created a scandal in the Benidorm chess festival. And several of my colleagues were telling me of their own experiences of playing against 2100 rated players who are capable of playing 20 or 30 ”computer” moves in their games. I also have my own experiences during the past 4 or 5 years of cases where I suspect of cheating.
The remarkable thing about this recent scandal involving the French National Team is that it is the FFE that is bringing it to light, rather than bury it. This is ground breaking! Should the result of the investigation be that the players/trainers involved be found guilty, then not only could there be suspensions for all involved but legal charges as well.
The other members of the 2010 French National Team have made public a joint declaration expressing their shock at this news , but have put their faith in the ability of the FFE to get to the bottom of the matter.
My personal opinion of the matter of cheating using technology is that things have come to a head in recent times. Technology has made such strides in the past few years that anyone can aquire the technology to cheat at your local shopping mall! I feel that FIDE must assure all participants of its important tournaments that they can play in a ”cheating-free” environment. That is, that FIDE should routinely employ high-technology at the tournament site to find hidden or hard to find portable devices. Up to now FIDE has not done much more than pay lip service to this matter.
My North American readers no doubt have their own personal experiences of cheating in their tournaments. Especially the big money SWISS tournaments (World Open, etc) routinely have scandals that often make the news wire. The FFE is making the first step that will hopefully make it very difficult for cheaters to operate in the chess community.
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS
By this I understand the use of portable, miniature devices that allow a player to have access to chess information DURING the game–contrary to the FIDE rules of the game–as well as to chess engines that might influence a player’s moves and give him a decided advantage over his opponent.
In recent months this writer has heard of a number of cases in Spain where such devices have been suspected to have been employed. One such case created a scandal in the Benidorm chess festival. And several of my colleagues were telling me of their own experiences of playing against 2100 rated players who are capable of playing 20 or 30 ”computer” moves in their games. I also have my own experiences during the past 4 or 5 years of cases where I suspect of cheating.
The remarkable thing about this recent scandal involving the French National Team is that it is the FFE that is bringing it to light, rather than bury it. This is ground breaking! Should the result of the investigation be that the players/trainers involved be found guilty, then not only could there be suspensions for all involved but legal charges as well.
My personal opinion of the matter of cheating using technology is that things have come to a head in recent times. Technology has made such strides in the past few years that anyone can aquire the technology to cheat at your local shopping mall! I feel that FIDE must assure all participants of its important tournaments that they can play in a ”cheating-free” environment. That is, that FIDE should routinely employ high-technology at the tournament site to find hidden or hard to find portable devices. Up to now FIDE has not done much more than pay lip service to this matter.
My North American readers no doubt have their own personal experiences of cheating in their tournaments. Especially the big money SWISS tournaments (World Open, etc) routinely have scandals that often make the news wire. The FFE is making the first step that will hopefully make it very difficult for cheaters to operate in the chess community.
SPRAGGETT ON CHESS