Chess forum - Should Steve Rosenberg be kicked out of the USCF?

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Should Steve Rosenberg be kicked out of the USCF?

Sam Sloan

2006-08-03, 2:51 am

Should Steve Rosenberg be kicked out of the USCF?

Turns out that the Steve Rosenberg problem is much bigger than anybody
realized at first.

Steve Rosenberg was caught cheating at the World Open Under-2000
Section held in Philadelphia, June 28 to July 4, 2006. It was
discovered as the tournament was concluding that he was wearing
headphones and underneath he was wearing a supposed hearing aid.
However, the hearing aid had an antenna and when a tournament director
seized it, it was discovered not to be a hearing aid at all, but an
audio reception device.

Up until this point, Steve Rosenberg was leading the tournament with a
score of 7.5 in 8 rounds. Had he been declared the winner of the final
game, he could have received a $25,000 first prize.

Instead, his results were stricken entirely from the tournament
scores. All seven of the opponents he defeated were given half-point
byes. The one player he drew plus his last round opponent was given a
forfeit win. Those two players ended up tied for first place and each
won $13,258.50.

Here are the final standings. Please do not confuse Mark Rosenberg,
who is from New York, with Steve Rosenberg, who is from Michigan.

http://www.worldopen.com/2006Results/20.html

Note that the top two players each have a forfeit win WF in their
cross-table. These are forfeit wins against Steve Rosenberg.

Now, to see who Steve Rosenberg played, go here:

http://www.worldopen.com/2006Results/20-7.html

As you can see, Steve Rosenberg is listed as number four. In round 3
he defeated 27 Michael Kats. In round 4 he defeated 26 Corbin Yu.

Now, go back to
http://www.worldopen.com/2006Results/20.html

Look for Michael Kats and Corbin Yu in those rounds and you will see
that they finished 17 and 20 and each was given a half-point bye for
those rounds.

By following this method, you can determine all the games played by
Steve Rosenberg, even though his results were stricken from the final
cross-table.

However, that is only the beginning of the Steve Rosenberg Problem.
The problem is much bigger than that.

Steve Rosenberg is a USCF Certified tournament director. He has
directed 200 USCF Rated tournaments. The results of many of these
tournaments are suspicious.

More than that, prior to the World Open, Steve Rosenberg played in
three tournaments in Michigan and won all his games, scoring 19-0 in
those three tournaments combined. Prior to this fantastic winning
streak, Steve Rosenberg was only rated 1731.

Now, get this. Here is the final kicker. Just prior to the World Open
Steve Rosenberg played in 31 USCF rated online tournaments and he was
also the director of all those tournaments and HE WON ALL 31
TOURNAMENTS !!!!!

Take a look at
http://www.uschess.org/msa/MbrDtlTnmtHst.php?12480813

You will see 31 10 5 Quick Rated Tournaments (PA). Count them.

Now, click on any one of those 31 tournaments. Look to see who the
director was. You will see that the director was Steve Rosenberg.

Now, look to see who won the tournament. You will see that in every
case the tournament was won by Steve Rosenberg.

Now look at the tournament directing record for Steve Rosenberg, which
is at:
http://www.uschess.org/msa/MbrDtlTnmtDir.php?12480813.1

You will see that Steve Rosenberg has directed 200 USCF rated
tournaments, almost all of which were won by Steve Rosenberg.

This is really unbelievable. I think the result is obvious.

Steve Rosenberg must be expelled from the United States Chess
Federation.

Sam Sloan

Blind Frank

2006-08-03, 2:51 am

"Sam Sloan" <> Should Steve Rosenberg be kicked out of the USCF?

quote:

>

He should be arrested and charged with fraud and theft by deception as he
was attempting to dishonestly win $25,000. He should also be permanently
banned from the USCF and blacklisted to all the other chess organizations.
His cheating should be widely documented in order to discourage others.

Jerzy

2006-08-03, 2:51 am

U¿ytkownik "Blind Frank" <blindfrank@yahoo.com> napisa³ w wiadomo¶ci
news:DEhsg.5322$PE1.1914@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...

quote:

> "Sam Sloan" <> Should Steve Rosenberg be kicked out of the USCF?
>
> He should be arrested and charged with fraud and theft by deception as he
> was attempting to dishonestly win $25,000. He should also be permanently
> banned from the USCF and blacklisted to all the other chess organizations.
> His cheating should be widely documented in order to discourage others.

Of course it should be this way. I wonder why in such cases the police and
prosecutors are, as a rule, not involved ?

Wlodzimierz Holsztynski (Wlod)

2006-08-03, 2:51 am

Blind Frank wrote:

quote:

> "Sam Sloan" <> Should Steve Rosenberg be kicked out of the USCF?
>
> He should be arrested and charged with fraud and theft by deception as he
> was attempting to dishonestly win $25,000.

True. Very true!

BTW, Zinedine Zidane should have been arrested on the spot
too after head butting Marco Materazzi. Anytime anybody hits
another person intentionally (except in the ring and similar), e.g.
hockey players, basketball players... they should be instantly
arrested. As it is now, the law is not applied equally to
everybody. Etc.

quote:

> He should also be permanently banned from the USCF
> and blacklisted to all the other chess organizations.
> His cheating should be widely documented in order
> to discourage others.

Why?! He fits the top layer of USCF. He should
run for a position like USCF president. He'd
have a good common understanding with Kirsan,
he'd continue the Campo's FIDE tradition.

---------
Wlod

Taylor Kingston

2006-08-03, 2:51 am

Sam Sloan wrote:

quote:

> Now, get this. Here is the final kicker. Just prior to the World Open
> Steve Rosenberg played in 31 USCF rated online tournaments and he was
> also the director of all those tournaments and HE WON ALL 31
> TOURNAMENTS !!!!!
>
> Take a look at
> http://www.uschess.org/msa/MbrDtlTnmtHst.php?12480813
>
> You will see 31 10 5 Quick Rated Tournaments (PA). Count them.
>
> Now, click on any one of those 31 tournaments. Look to see who the
> director was. You will see that the director was Steve Rosenberg.
>
> Now, look to see who won the tournament. You will see that in every
> case the tournament was won by Steve Rosenberg.

Not quite. Skimming quickly through the 31, it looks to me like
Rosenberg finished 2nd four times, and 4th once. He shared 1st place on
several occasions. Also at least one of the tournaments was directed
not by Rosenberg, but by a James T. Riker.
Even so, though, this still makes for a rather strong circumstantial
case. Rosenberg's quick rating rose about 300 points in little over a
year. Is there money to be won in these online tournaments?

quote:

> Now look at the tournament directing record for Steve Rosenberg, which
> is at:
> http://www.uschess.org/msa/MbrDtlTnmtDir.php?12480813.1
>
> You will see that Steve Rosenberg has directed 200 USCF rated
> tournaments, almost all of which were won by Steve Rosenberg.
>
> This is really unbelievable. I think the result is obvious.
>
> Steve Rosenberg must be expelled from the United States Chess
> Federation.

The development of various computer-assisted ways to cheat at
blackjack and other games of chance prompted big casinos to invest
millions in surveillance devices and other anti-cheating technology.
Few chess promoters have any budget for that sort of effort. I wonder
where this all will lead.

Blind Frank

2006-08-03, 2:51 am

X-No-archive: yes

"Taylor Kingston" <I wonder where this all will lead.>

Eliminate the prize money for anything except the top category. Carefully
check those participants. Fees will be lowered, and then more people will
participate in the lower categories.

Chess One

2006-08-03, 2:51 am

"Blind Frank" <blindfrank@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:DEhsg.5322$PE1.1914@newsread2.news.pas.earthlink.net...

quote:

> "Sam Sloan" <> Should Steve Rosenberg be kicked out of the USCF?
>
> He should be arrested and charged with fraud and theft by deception as he
> was attempting to dishonestly win $25,000. He should also be permanently
> banned from the USCF and blacklisted to all the other chess organizations.
> His cheating should be widely documented in order to discourage others.

I agree with your later points. I think that an independent assessor should
look at whatever he did and make a decision if he cheated, and he should be
thought innocent until proved guilty - but if guilty, no more rated chess in
this country! In the interim, a suspension from rated or monied chess
activity while the matter is investigated. Should he not comply with the
investigation the suspension should last as long as his non-compliance.

I don't know the legalitiy of this type of prosecution, but since the amount
of money is relatively small, the cost to prosecute it would be relatively
high if he contests it, and so will unlikely take place.

Are their contingencies at CCA or USCF for the treatment of cheaters, or
cheaters for money, or is there a case-by-case determination? Do you know if
players have to sign <--stress an agreement to ethical play, or make advance
agreement to penalties for knowingly breaking the rules?

Phil Innes

Mike Murray

2006-08-03, 2:51 am

On 10 Jul 2006 05:52:04 -0700, "Taylor Kingston"
<tkingston@chittenden.com> wrote:

quote:

> The development of various computer-assisted ways to cheat at
>blackjack and other games of chance prompted big casinos to invest
>millions in surveillance devices and other anti-cheating technology.
>Few chess promoters have any budget for that sort of effort.

One major difference: For the most part, the casino cheats are
robbing the *house*. The chess cheats are robbing the other
*players*.

quote:

> I wonder
>where this all will lead.

Taylor Kingston

2006-08-03, 2:51 am

Mike Murray wrote:

quote:

> On 10 Jul 2006 05:52:04 -0700, "Taylor Kingston"
> <tkingston@chittenden.com> wrote:
>
>
> One major difference: For the most part, the casino cheats are
> robbing the *house*. The chess cheats are robbing the other
> *players*.

Well, since casinos' income derives largely from unsuccessful
gamblers, it seems to amount pretty much to the same thing.
BTW, is Sloan's high dudgeon about Rosenberg a tad hypocritical? My
apologies if I'm wrong, but I seem to recall a claim here within the
last few years that Sloan consulted an opening book in the midst of
playing a game at some big open tournament. Not as egregious in degree,
but the same in kind as the Rosenberg allegations. Does anyone recall
such a thread?

samsloan

2006-08-03, 2:51 am

Taylor Kingston wrote:

quote:

> Mike Murray wrote:
>
> Well, since casinos' income derives largely from unsuccessful
> gamblers, it seems to amount pretty much to the same thing.
> BTW, is Sloan's high dudgeon about Rosenberg a tad hypocritical? My
> apologies if I'm wrong, but I seem to recall a claim here within the
> last few years that Sloan consulted an opening book in the midst of
> playing a game at some big open tournament. Not as egregious in degree,
> but the same in kind as the Rosenberg allegations. Does anyone recall
> such a thread?

This was a Neil Brennen fantasy which Taylor Kingston uses in one of
his regular efforts to attack me.

I was playing against a kid about 12 years old and I noticed a woman
following me about while the kid was in long thinks over his moves.

I asked who she was and she revealed that she was the kids mother.

She obviously knew nothing about chess because if she has known
anything about chess she would have known that the position in our game
which was some wild position starting with 1. g4 was completely unknown
to opening theory and did not resemble any known opening position.

Sam Sloan

Ange1o DePa1ma

2006-08-03, 2:51 am

"samsloan" <samhsloan@gmail.com> wrote

quote:

>
> This was a Neil Brennen fantasy which Taylor Kingston uses in one of
> his regular efforts to attack me.
>
> I was playing against a kid about 12 years old and I noticed a woman
> following me about while the kid was in long thinks over his moves.
>
> I asked who she was and she revealed that she was the kids mother.
>
> She obviously knew nothing about chess because if she has known
> anything about chess she would have known that the position in our game
> which was some wild position starting with 1. g4 was completely unknown
> to opening theory and did not resemble any known opening position.
>
> Sam Sloan

Years ago at a NY High School event run by Bill G. I was playing a kid named
Lewis Cohen, a Collins Kid who was supposed to be a chess genius. Cohen,
playing white, put all his pieces on dark squares and traded his
white-squared bishop. I won a few pawns, then a few pieces. I traded down to
an ending about 5 pawns and 4 pieces ahead. Back in those days I got very
annoyed when opponents didnt resign. I was bored of the game so I began
leafing through a chess book I found on the seat next to me. After I won the
game Cohen's mother heckled me about reading "that Horowitz book" while I
was pummeling her poor bubbela.

Blind Frank

2006-08-03, 2:51 am

X-No-archive: yes

"Ange1o DePa1ma" <> Years ago at a NY High School event run by Bill G. I was
playing a kid named Lewis Cohen, >>

And you remember this 50 years later? Was this event before or after World
War II? Korean War???

Sam Sloan

2006-08-03, 2:51 am

On Wed, 12 Jul 2006 00:04:28 GMT, matkins2@cox.net (michael atkins)
wrote:

quote:

>The device was called a "Phonito" made by a company called Phonak.
>It did not have an antenna. Most hearing aides are wrapped around the
>ear or are so large that they don't go into the ear. The device has a
>nylon feeler which allows one to insert it and then use the feeler to
>remove it. It did not have an antenna directly on the device.
>
>The device's antenna is described as follows:
>
>"The Inductive Loop attaches to the connector at the end of the
>earphone wire. It is Plug and Play, no modifications are needed. The
>loop is worn around the neck under the jacket or uniform, or can be
>worn like a sash. It is light weight and comfortable. The Inductive
>Loop sends the portable radio's audio to the Phonito in the ear. No
>Wires, or Tubes. Discrete Low Profile Audio! No Visible Wires!"
>
>The headphones were worn the entire tournament. No one complained
>about them nor asked him to take them off during play until the final
>round.
>

.....

quote:

>
>How about letting him keep the membership and banning him from
>tournaments for a decade. He has a life membership, let him watch from
>the sidelines. It would have more sting.
>
>The USCF Ethics Committee will have final say. The last time I made a
>complaint they ruled 8-0 against me. Hopefully it will be different
>this time.
>
>Michael Atkins

Thank you Michael Atkins, who was an Assistant TD at the World Open
and therefore directly involved in these events, for identifying the
device that Steve Rosenberg had in his ear. This makes it completely
obvious that Steve Rosenberg was cheating.

The device is called a "Phonito". The name itself reveals its purpose.

Here are some websites that reveal how this device works:

http://www.rahq.com/phonak.htm

"The Phonito goes in the ear providing clear discrete audio and NO
wires protrude above the user's neck."

http://www.rahq.com/phonito_instructions.htm

http://www.hightech-store.com/buginear.html

http://www.chuletaselectronicas.com/phonit.htm

http://www.chuletaselectronicas.com/phonit.htm

Now that we know for sure that Steve Rosenberg was cheating, there are
still some unanswered questions.

1. Steve Rosenberg also needed to have a way to transmit the moves his
opponent had played. Either he had a transmitter concealed in his
clothing or he had an accomplice nearby who could see the moves as
they were played. Steve Rosenberg refused to be searched and therefore
he probably did have a transmitter or some other electronic devices on
him. However, I believe that he probably did have one or two
accomplices. Somebody perhaps in his hotel room to operate the
computer. It is not clear what is the range of the Phonito. I think
the range is short, meaning that there was probably someone else in
the tournament hall with a relay device to relay the messages from the
computer operator. The same questions must be asked about Eugene
Varshavsky "The Man with the Hat", who wore a big hat with flaps down
over his ears.

2. Steve Rosenberg did not win all his games. He drew his round five
game against Luan Elezi, a player rated 1937 with the remarkable
achievement of drawing against a grandmaster strength opponent. This
draw was later changed to a forfeit win. In addition, during his last
round game against Chris Sevilla, rated 1973, was when the complaint
was made. Luan Elezi and Chris Sevilla were both given forfeit wins
and they both were given $13,258.50 in prize money. Did anybody check
Luan Elezi and Chris Sevilla to see whether they were or were not
wearing similar devices?

3. Michael Atkins writes: "The USCF Ethics Committee will have final
say. The last time I made a complaint they ruled 8-0 against me.
Hopefully it will be different this time." Does this mean that Michael
Atkins is making a formal complaint this time? When were the previous
times when Michael Atkins has made complaints? Were any of them
against me (because Michael Atkins is always complaining about me).

Sam Sloan