Player Caught Cheating with Phone at Chicago Open 2024: A Detailed Account

A Player Caught Cheating at Chicago Open 2024 Using Phone at Chessboard

In a shocking turn of events at the Chicago Open 2024, a player was caught red-handed using a phone to cheat during chess games over the board. Unlike previous offline cheating cases, where players used devices outside the playing hall, this player took his cheating to a new level by using his phone right at the chessboard. The player managed to gain over 1,000 rating points in the last year before being caught.

The Suspicious Game: 10…b5! ‘Really Rang Alarm Bells’

The cheating player, who remains unidentified, faced FIDE National Arbiter Dane Zagar in round four of the u2100 section. Zagar became suspicious early in the game when the opponent played extremely fast and made a move that seemed to sacrifice a pawn for no apparent reason. Zagar’s suspicions grew when the opponent played 10…b5!, a move that “really rang alarm bells” for Zagar.

Despite hoping to ease his suspicions by talking to the opponent after the game, Zagar’s doubts only increased. Another player later contacted Zagar with their own suspicions, leading to a closer observation of the cheating player.

Round 6: Player Caught With Phone In His Lap

In round six, the cheating player was caught using his phone in his lap during the game. Zagar credits his opponent, Anuj Dahiya, for contacting him with suspicions and agreeing to watch the player closely during their games. The cheating player’s performance noticeably dropped as he struggled to maintain his cheating tactics under observation.

Ultimately, the player was caught when he had to pull out his phone to save himself from losing the game. Zagar described the cheating operation as slightly more sophisticated than simply looking at a phone under the table.

1 Year Of Cheating; How Could It Have Been Prevented?

The cheating player’s incredible rise in rating over the past year, coupled with his suspicious behavior during games, raises questions about the effectiveness of anti-cheating measures in chess tournaments. Zagar believes that tournament directors need to take fair play concerns more seriously and implement better procedures for handling cheating claims.

While the player’s cheating activities spanned over a year, it was only during the Chicago Open that he was caught in the act. Zagar emphasizes the need for designated individuals to handle fair play concerns and suggests a more thorough investigation process for suspected cheaters.

US Chess has provided guidelines on how to file rules and ethics complaints against suspected cheaters, but the organization has not commented on potential penalties for the cheating player at the Chicago Open 2024.

The incident has sparked discussions within the chess community about the need for improved anti-cheating measures and stricter enforcement of fair play rules in tournaments.