MALTA OPEN 2016
Hotel Imperial, Maltese Chess Federation
Organizers Clarence Psaila, and Jurgen Swampe
Jiohnny Van der Velde
Serbian federation
Official complaint regarding the incident during 8th Round, on November 18th
Sender--->>>
Johhny VDV, FIDE Id 0000000 Serbian federation, and this is my third consecutive competiton in Malta Open.
Summary:::
An unknown woman's smartphone rang twice in the middle of the games! She reluctantly left the chess hall, and went into a corridor where he had a long conversation. I could hear her voice from the corridor, since I was sitting close the door.
I was upset and discovered later that I resigned the draw position!
Complaint::::
I hereby file the complaint regarding an incident that occurred last evening, during 8th round of Malta Open, near the end of the session, in the zeitnøds when the games are decided, get won or lost.
An unknown woman's smartphone rang.
At first I thought it was a phone of some unfortunate player, but it was a phone of a woman who does not take part in the tournament. I think.
She reluctantly left the chess hall and while she was walking out, the phone rang again.
The old guy umpire, otherwise very simpatico man (he reminds me on my mathematics teacher from elementary school and he could be a character in a sitcom about an absent-minded professors) showed the woman out, all right, but he failed to take some action when the woman made the conversation from the corridor.
My otherwise fair opponent even asked the old umpire what it was about and I didn't hear the answer but it seemed that umpire gave some benevolent explanation why the woman had to make this phone call.
I was so upset - I was in time trouble - and I resigned the position, which I later found it was draw!!!
Who is to blame for it?
I may blame lack of peace in the world, Brexit, my bad chess skill etc, but I choose to blame this bloody NN woman and referees who did not act more determined and show phone ringing woman out of the corridor not only out of the hall.
I request official explanation::: who was this woman and why was she in the chess hall with smartphone?
If she had urgent matters, what did she do between chess players, he should have asked Red Cross or what do I know, an embassy or something?!
This complaint might sound silly to you, or may look as an at of sore looser.
But, keep in mind, that I came from Serbia. Flights and accomodation costed me nearly 1000 euros. It is not easy to come to Malta from Serbia. I was really looking forward to this tournament. And I think my game improved since my come-back in Malta 2014.
And last, but not least, I was No 2 for the prize in my rating group. Had I drawed, I would be now sharing I place for my first ever chess prize since 1979!
I can comfort myself that even Jan Timm<n resigned in won position last year, but tat is not the point.
The point is that some NN woman made me upset in crucial moments of very important game.
Thanks for your attention:::: ____________________
J. v.d.v. FIDE Id 00000000, Serbian federation