Investigation into Cheating in Titled Tuesday Events: Chess.com’s Fair Play Team Findings

Chess.com’s Fair Play team has released a report stating that large-scale cheating is unlikely to be happening in their popular Titled Tuesday events. The team, consisting of over 30 individuals including 10 titled players, conducted an in-depth analysis comparing the frequency of upsets in Titled Tuesday to over-the-board (OTB) blitz events.

The report found that while upset rates were similar between the two types of events, underdogs in Titled Tuesday scored 32 percent against higher-rated opponents, compared to a 37 percent “surprise rate” in OTB blitz. This discrepancy could be attributed to differences in gameplay dynamics between online and in-person matches, such as the prevalence of pre-moves and the importance of mouse speed.

Despite some instances of cheating in Titled Tuesday, the report concluded that it is limited and does not significantly impact the overall fairness of the events. Independent expert IM Kenneth Regan supported the findings, emphasizing the importance of using FIDE ratings to determine underdogs to avoid potential rating inflation due to cheating.

Overall, the report provides valuable insights into the fairness of Titled Tuesday events and offers reassurance to players and fans that large-scale cheating is not a prevalent issue in the online chess community.