Chess ’N Math Association Canada and the Max Chess Academy sued over cheating claim

[Heidi Gay]

Frank, fair play and anti-cheating measures are now covered in the FIDE Arbiter seminar (Hal and Omar taught one in Toronto last year).

There was a recent case at the Chicago Open where someone was caught using their phone at the table between their legs. Looks like that person went unnoticed for 2 years as their USCF rating went from 1100 to 2000. Post on Reddit has since been deleted, but either way, the potential for cheating doesn't exist solely in online spaces.

[John Coleman]

This supposedly brilliant kid doesn't seem to have a CFC rating. Does he play OTB chess?

[John Brown]

I guess you need to see what the kid says. It sounds like he used a computer as he feels the rules were not clear. But if he did not then either he got moves from something else or he is just a brilliant player. This could be a very complicated case to solve.

[Frank Dixon]

It's too bad, but cheating at chess is a topic of great concern for all who love chess, and especially for organizers.

I have been a chess organizer since 1969, when I was eleven years old, and directing my first tournament, an eight-player round robin, which I also played in (and won). There were NO complaints from anyone, and indeed all the other players thanked me for running it!

I have seen quite a variety of chess cheating schemes, over those years, in events I was organizing, and was able to foil MOST of them, in one way or another (!?). Examples included:
1) player receiving assistance from another person during the game (1996 Ontario HS Championship, Kingston); 2) player consulting a chess book during the game, while away from the board (2004 Canadian Open, Kapuskasing); 3) player changing board position while opponent was away from the board, thereby obtaining two moves on one turn (2004 Canadian Open, Kapuskasing); 4) player claiming faux three-fold repetition which did not occur, to try to obtain a draw from a losing position (2013 Canadian Open, Ottawa); 5) player receiving assistance by cellphone while in washroom stall, from a confederate operating a computer from a nearby hotel (2005 HB Global Challenge, U2200 section, Minneapolis; there was a $20k first prize at stake); 6) player inventing phony tournaments, using phony players, for whom he had paid their CFC membership fees, to create phony achievements to boost his rating (Ontario, early 2000s); 7) player selectively using a magical clock (Kingston, mid-1990s to mid-2000s), etc.

I was the victim of my opponent receiving GM assistance, during our game, in one American national event. (At some point, I will publish this story.)

One possible instance, with the case currently under discussion on this thread, and not yet raised by any of the posters, is that the accused player (if the case has any merit) may have received advice from another person, stronger at chess, at selected points in games. Since the case evidently involved online competition, the only way to catch this is to have someone physically supervising each player at their respective posting locations.

It is notable that during the 2010 FIDE Arbiter course syllabus offered in Toronto for the first time ever in Canada, taught by IA's Hal Bond and Stephen Boyd, which I took and passed the exam, that the topic of cheating was not even discussed during the week-long program. The course was outstanding. Since that time, it seems that there are ever more sophisticated examples possibly occurring, around the chess world.

Respectfully submitted,
Frank Dixon
NTD, Kingston

[Vlad Drkulec]

It is interesting that the article seems to weigh the words of a relatively inactive NM with greater significance than the recognized world authority on chess cheating, distinguished professor and International Master Ken Regan. If someone has the games I would like to take a look at them. I had the pleasure of seeing Ken and his lovely wife at the recent Candidates tournament in Toronto.

[Kerry Liles]

Gee Kerry,

I only found the court documents in my in-box when I went into the office this morning...I haven't even had a chance to advise my executive yet!

Ahh Chesstalk is where one finds the breaking news LOL.

Anyway, let's see how this all plays out :).

Larry

Sorry Larry... I saw it online and I had no idea you (and all parties) were not up to speed with it. I had no inkling.
These sort of things are very problematic - hope it all gets sorted out. The only winners in lawsuits are the suits (lawyers).
These days, it can be impossible to win - even though one is right - because legal proceedings are SO costly and time consuming.

[Bob Gillanders]

Shouldn't be a very complicated case. The kid has a CFC rating of around 1000. From examining the games it should be obvious, he either played like a novice player or he didn't. A stronger player might be able to cheat in a sophisticated way and hide it well, such as only getting prompts from the engine in difficult positions, but not a 1000-rated 14-year-old.

Patrick, I do NOT see him in the CFC database. He is in the CMA database rated 751.
I would be interested in reviewing those games. I have reviewed a lot of games regarding CFC online rated games with fair play violations.
But I am no expert. I find it extremely difficult to form an opinion on any particular game.

[Hans Jung]

Interesting it took until now for this to happen. Good thing as Patrick said it shouldnt be a very complicated case.

[Patrick Kirby]

Shouldn't be a very complicated case. The kid has a CFC rating of around 1000. From examining the games it should be obvious, he either played like a novice player or he didn't. A stronger player might be able to cheat in a sophisticated way and hide it well, such as only getting prompts from the engine in difficult positions, but not a 1000-rated 14-year-old.

[Neil Frarey]

Gee Kerry,

I only found the court documents in my in-box when I went into the office this morning...I haven't even had a chance to advise my executive yet!

Ahh Chesstalk is where one finds the breaking news LOL.

Anyway, let's see how this all plays out :).

Larry

I suggest you reach out to NM Luc Poitras, ha!

[Olga Mushtaler]

Larry, hope you get it solved.

[Larry Bevand]

Gee Kerry,

I only found the court documents in my in-box when I went into the office this morning...I haven't even had a chance to advise my executive yet!

Ahh Chesstalk is where one finds the breaking news LOL.

Anyway, let's see how this all plays out :).

Larry

[Olga Mushtaler]

What a mess. Online there is always a potential for cheating. Simply don't do CFC rated online tournaments to avoid this kind of mess.
Also, this point by Luc Poitras that 'computer cheaters are never in time trouble' is not accurate.

[Kerry Liles]

My vary first question was is this online or OTB chess.
As I suspected, online.

I should have mentioned that because that is also my first question before reading the article...
Online has some very special considerations that make me wonder whether it should even be a serious thing...
playing for $$ or for rating etc online is a real challenge.

[Bob Gillanders]

My vary first question was is this online or OTB chess.
As I suspected, online.