Cheating at the World Open – more details
17.08.2006 Last week we reported that two players were accused of using computer assistance during their games at the World Open in Philadelphia in July. The story was in the New York Times, but contained some inaccuracies. The tournament director who found the secret communication device sets the record straight. And one of the victims sent us analysis of his game. You'll probably guess who played it.
The event had a total prize fund of $358,000, and the two players were accused of surreptitiously receiving assistance from computers. One, who was one of the lowest-ranked players in the main tournament, was confronted after he had beaten a string of much stronger players. He fled to a bathroom stall, where he spent 45 minutes. After that no communications device was found, but the player was watched carefully during the rest of the tournament. He lost the rest of his games quickly. GM Larry Christiansen later ran the moves of one of the games, a black win against GM Ilia Smirin, rated 2659, through the program Shredder and found that the last 25 moves matched those played by the program.
The second case involved a player named Steve Rosenberg, who was playing in a lower section and was leading before the final round. A victory would have been worth about $18,000. He was confronted by a tournament director and found to be using a wireless transmitter and receiver called a "Phonito". He was disqualified from the event. In our report we drew information from an article that had appeared in the New York Times and the International Herald Tribune. It turns out that some of the details reported there were not completely accurate. The tournament director who detected the cheating, Michael Atkins of Virginia, sent us the following description of the events.
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3292
It can not be denyed that they have the talent to win playing by themselves.
It can not be denyed that 50 visits to the bathroom are suspicious.
It can not be denyed that it is very unlikely for one of these players to be cheating.
It can not be denyed that it is posible.
As Piorot says: Trust no one.(of course here nobody was killed)
I hope nobody cheats and that Kramnik's team would come with a reasonable WC explanation. Without any word from them the suspicions will remain and thus the world title will have little value if he wins it.
The stake here is the World Title and explanation is needed to prove why going to the bathroom every few min is really needed.
Shouldn`t the fact that they both blundered and Topalov completely missed it say something?? As mentioned before, if there was computer use would there have been such errors? Maybe Topo should admit that he just isn`t playing well enough to beat Kramnik. As or the bathroom...Don`t you think someone would have checked for something hidden. Maybe `deepthroat` is in the next stall whispering the latest analysis.... Topolov has absolutley nothing except conjecture based on `he goes to the bathroom a lot`. If he had anything concrete there would have been some action by now. If all he has are hints and allegations with no proof, then he has fallen pretty low. With no proof of anything all we have is useless conjecture.
If Kramnik takes the "fift amendment" that surely will damage his reputation. He needs to come clean out of this and needs to give ASAP explanation to the Chess World.
If I were to play for the world title I would like to know why my oponent is going back and forth between the bathroom and the relaxation room every few minutes in every game (4 up to now), wouldn't you do the same? I am not saying he is dishonest, I just want to know why?
Originally posted by Los AngelesDo you read other people's posts or just repeat yourself?
If Kramnik takes the "fift amendment" that surely will damage his reputation. He needs to come clean out of this and needs to give ASAP explanation to the Chess World.
If I were to play for the world title I would like to know why my oponent is going back and forth between the bathroom and the relaxation room every few minutes in every game (4 up to now), wouldn't you do the same? I am not saying he is dishonest, I just want to know why?
If I were Kramnik, I'd tell Topalov I'll stroll about how and where I like within the players part of the tournament hall - and if he wants to resign the Championship because of that, then thank you very much.
Originally posted by 7ate9Assuming this is 'just' a low psychological tactic from Topalov and not a catty excuse to leave his own beheading early, it will be interesting to see how the rest of the games play out. I don't think he had anything like real winning chances in the last two games - not compared to the first two, anyhow. Whilst his results have improved, the mood of the games has sort of turned in Kramnik's favour I think. Hence the timing? Who knows.
That would decrease your ability to win another draw.
Maybe Topalov will go close to getting a win tonight?
~ from the World Championship website ~
Decision of the Appeals Committee to the appeal of Mr. Danailov
The Appeals Committee has received today an appeal from the Head of the Bulgarian Delegation, Mr. Danailov, regarding the use of the rest rooms and toilets during the match Topalov - Kramnik.
We have received from the Organizers part of the video recording of the rest room from games 1, 2 and 4 and the whole recording of game 3. There were technical problems that did not allow a full recording of the rest rooms where a partial recording was made available.
In the appeal there is an exaggeration of the number of times that Mr. Kramnik visited the toilet. Despite there being an unusual number of visits, this is insufficient on its own to come to a conclusion.
In order that the World Championship can continue running smoothly, the Appeals Committee has decided: (a) To close both the toilets in the players’ rest rooms and to open another toilet that will be available only to the two players.
(b) Not to accept the request of Mr. Danailov, to stop the use of the rest rooms by the players.
(c) The Appeals Committee believes that the publication of the videotapes to the mass media is not within our authority and we consider such action to be against the privacy of the players.
(d) The Appeals Committee will return the fee of USD 5,000 for the appeal to Mr. Danailov.
The Appeals Committee would like to thank the Organizing Committee for their cooperation and emphasize that thorough inspections, including rest rooms and toilets, are made prior to each game involving the Arbiters and representatives of both players’ delegations. Complete satisfaction has been expressed on all occasions.
Georgios Makropoulos
Jorge Vega
Zurab Azmaiparashvili
Originally posted by Los AngelesWhat in the world does the U.S. Constitution have to do with this?
If Kramnik takes the "fift amendment" that surely will damage his reputation. He needs to come clean out of this and needs to give ASAP explanation to the Chess World.
If I were to play for the world title I would like to know why my oponent is going back and forth between the bathroom and the relaxation room every few minutes in every game (4 up to now), wouldn't you do the same? I am not saying he is dishonest, I just want to know why?