| Ray Gordon 2006-02-26, 7:32 pm |
| USCF has GOT to take the lead on this. I don't care if it costs more to
enter a tournament; I would GLADLY pay it if we can ensure that no one
CHEATS.
The rules have to be simple:
1. NO leaving the board except for a bathroom break, which must be taken on
the opponent's move, and while the player's clock continues to tick (i.e.,
immediately after his move). Cut the time controls to g/30 or g/60 if you
have to (this would also help the game a lot).
2. NO cell phones in the tournament hall. Anywhere.
3. No chess computers OR chess books in the tournament hall. Anywhere.
Bags must be checked outside.
4. CAMERAS in the tournament hall to detect suspicious activity, plus a
roving TD or assistant TD.
5. NO SPECTATORS. Put the top boards on camera or computer relay (even
better, let them play over a computer interface with each one in a booth).
Used to be only a GM spectator could help someone cheat; now anyone with
Fritz can do it, and they can leave the hall and come back, so even a
no-baggage rule doesn't help.
Without these measures in place, tournament chess will continue to be a
joke. The best player should win, not the best cheater.
|