HB Global Challenge

[ESchlich]

@nolan

Ernie, would you agree that once the game is over it should require much more conclusive evidence to overturn the result based a claim of cheating?

Further, if the party making the ex post facto cheating claim does so on the basis of analysis by higher rated chess players, isn’t that somewhat contrary to the philosophy that chess should be a game between two players and ONLY those two players?

Hi Mike:
I think that the only effect of a late claim would deal with prize distributions and pairings. If a player did cheat, then it was no longer a game between two players. However, regardless of when the claim is made, either before or after the game ended, I think the evidence requirements should be the same. The penalty would have to depend upon how strong the evidence was.

regards, Ernie

[WildTommy]

@nolan

The only cheating report I’ve heard was that one player was caught consulting with someone via cell phone between moves. He had 2 losses at the time, it doesn’t appear that he was getting very good advice.

There is a message on Rec.Games.Chess.Misc that describes how the winner of the U2000 section, Ochoa, has an unusual rating history at MSA. For example, in his first tournament, he had draws against expert players, yet in the next tournament Karl Ochoa is seen losing to players rated far below 1000. See:

uschess.org/msa/MbrDtlTnmtHst.php?12934141

In addition, Karl Ochoa also played in last year’s World Open U2200 section, and in the North American open in December. In the NA Open, he played in the U1800 section and WON the event. There are no other events between the NA Open and the HB tournament.

It could be that some TDs have made errors on tournament reports, or that the USCF has made some errors. None-the-less, it seems that Ochoa should have contacted the USCF to correct these errors. It looks very much like Ochoa played in sections that he would not otherwise have been eligible for.

What can or should be done with a player that knowingly does not correct errors by the USCF regarding his rating and then plays in these tournaments? Should he forfeit his games? Should he make restitution to the tournament organizers? Should he be banned from playing USCF tournaments? Should he be prosecuted by the legal system for fraud?

The player who finished second in the U2000 section also has an interesting MSA history regarding his playing in “Regular” rated tournaments last year and up to the HB tournament. Oh sure, he “played by the rules”, but it’s still a bit fishy.

[Localtdforsythe]

@WildTommy

For example, in his first tournament, he had draws against expert players, yet in the next tournament … is seen losing to players rated far below 1000.

The performance rating is not the best judgement of any player. Its’ strange seeing draws with experts then lose a game to an under 400 player. There are always msa historys that look strange.