Mamedyarov cheating accusation,

[AdminX]

It would be interesting to let the game be analyzed by weaker engines, I believe they could very well find the same moves.

Wel, I let lambChop 10.99 (in our list this engine is approximately 700 Elo weaker than Rybka) analyze the game and it came out with exactly the same moves Kurnosov made. The only exception was that it preferred Nxb2 instead of Qd6 after some time.

I think it is quite easy for a 2600 Elo player to find these moves.

I agree, I think it is quite easy for a 2600 to find these moves also. So the question I have is: Do we really have to go to the toilet to think up this "sh!t"?

[bnemias]

I looked at this game with several engines.

1) Zappa Mexico wanted 16. ... Qd6, the rest wanted 16. ... Nxb2.

2) All the engines I tried wanted the same moves from black from move 17 on.

[Stephen Ham]

There is already some good analysis of the game posted on the Rybka Forum. The poster is suggesting that rather than indicating cheating using Rybka, it may reflect more the fact that Mamedyarov did not play the best moves and his opponent took advantage well:

http://rybkaforum.net/cgi-bin/rybkaforu ... l?tid=9883

Hi Mark,

I agree, since that's my perception after playing through the game.

As further corroboration, I received the latest issue of Chess Today this morning, a wonderful e-zine to which I recommend subscribing. There, GM Golubev annotated the game and saw nothing special about Black's play. Instead, he questioned Mamedyarov's moves for their lack of precision.

So, is Mamedyarov serious with his accusation? Perhaps, so it's a terrible shame that he withdrew based upon what seems to be a seriously flawed perception. As a result, he may have tarnished his reputation as well as cast a shadow over Kurnosov, an apparently innocent GM. And he probably tarnished the image of GM chess too with the unfounded accusation of PC cheating.

Regarding the claim that Kurnosov left for the toilet after every move, taking his coat with him, how would Shak know? Did Shak follow him after every move? If he did, then why? If he didn't, again I ask, how would he know? And if Kurnosov did use the toilet, was it really every move or did Shak use hyperbole? The entire claim seems bogus to me.

It seems that when people make such strong and sweeping accusations against others, they need something more concrete than mere "suspicion".

All the best,
Steve

[Cubeman]

Leaving the board so many times is very annoying to the other player.Especially when it is your move and you are not at the board thinking.There should be some set limits to how many times a player can dissapear from the playing room.It could all be innocent, but to do that is rude and can create suspicion which is hard to ignore if you are the paranoid type.

[Stephen Ham]

Leaving the board so many times is very annoying to the other player.Especially when it is your move and you are not at the board thinking.There should be some set limits to how many times a player can dissapear from the playing room.It could all be innocent, but to do that is rude and can create suspicion which is hard to ignore if you are the paranoid type.

Hi Alex,

I'd like you to clarify what you wrote.

Are you serious that leaving the board is rude? If so, then almost all of my OTB opponents were rude. But my perception is that they're not rude, and may even be trying to be polite.

Everybody has a different personality. Back when I played OTB chess, I usually stayed glued to my seat throughout the game. But my behavior was rare. I respect that others need a break to relax, or let off nervous energy, by walking around. Many perceive that it's good sportsmanship to leave the board after one's move, since their opponent now has no distraction from having someone sitting across from them.

You wrote, "Leaving the board so many times is very annoying to the other player. Especially when it is your move and you are not at the board thinking." Alex, your use of the pronouns "your" and "you" is confusing. Did you mean that it's annoying to have one's opponent away from the board when it's their move? I think the opposite. Their clock is ticking and they're away from the board, so it's their time being consumed, not mine. How is it annoying that they're consuming their own time away from the board, Alex?

However, you might instead have a valid point about leaving the tournament room. Nonetheless, I think that the vast majority of these trips are probably to use the toilet. The rest are probably just to release tension without distracting the players. Again, these are all innocent actions, so I question why you label this behavior as "rude". And the TDs have better things to do than to monitor each and every player leaving the playing room.

All the best,
Steve

[Lion]

When I play OTB I do also go often to the toilets.

Is it stress, pressure ? certainly both.

I understand that this can be anoing for some of us but also I wonder how I will handle the situation if I am not alowed to go to the toilets when I need to........

regards

[Cubeman]

Leaving the board so many times is very annoying to the other player.Especially when it is your move and you are not at the board thinking.There should be some set limits to how many times a player can dissapear from the playing room.It could all be innocent, but to do that is rude and can create suspicion which is hard to ignore if you are the paranoid type.

Hi Alex,

I'd like you to clarify what you wrote.

Are you serious that leaving the board is rude? If so, then almost all of my OTB opponents were rude. But my perception is that they're not rude, and may even be trying to be polite.

Everybody has a different personality. Back when I played OTB chess, I usually stayed glued to my seat throughout the game. But my behavior was rare. I respect that others need a break to relax, or let off nervous energy, by walking around. Many perceive that it's good sportsmanship to leave the board after one's move, since their opponent now has no distraction from having someone sitting across from them.

You wrote, "Leaving the board so many times is very annoying to the other player. Especially when it is your move and you are not at the board thinking." Alex, your use of the pronouns "your" and "you" is confusing. Did you mean that it's annoying to have one's opponent away from the board when it's their move? I think the opposite. Their clock is ticking and they're away from the board, so it's their time being consumed, not mine. How is it annoying that they're consuming their own time away from the board, Alex?

However, you might instead have a valid point about leaving the tournament room. Nonetheless, I think that the vast majority of these trips are probably to use the toilet. The rest are probably just to release tension without distracting the players. Again, these are all innocent actions, so I question why you label this behavior as "rude". And the TDs have better things to do than to monitor each and every player leaving the playing room.

All the best,
Steve

I mainly mean to say, that when a player constantly dissapears from view and hides in the toilet or any-where else for that matter then it is easy to become suspicius.I am cool with an opponent leaving the board to look at other games in the playing room, when it is their turn to move or mine.But if a player goes to the toilet after every move of mine and comes back and plays a move quite quickly and waits for my reply and goes to the toilet again etc you know what I mean.Is it just me that thinks this, or am I being too paranoid?

[james uselton]

This will be the new chess rule---If you want to use the restroom then you must raise your hand and the TD will approach and examine your trousers. If you are beginning to create a stain in your crotch area---you will be permitted to go to the restroom.

[Dr.Wael Deeb]

Leaving the board so many times is very annoying to the other player.Especially when it is your move and you are not at the board thinking.There should be some set limits to how many times a player can dissapear from the playing room.It could all be innocent, but to do that is rude and can create suspicion which is hard to ignore if you are the paranoid type.

Hi Alex,

I'd like you to clarify what you wrote.

Are you serious that leaving the board is rude? If so, then almost all of my OTB opponents were rude. But my perception is that they're not rude, and may even be trying to be polite.

Everybody has a different personality. Back when I played OTB chess, I usually stayed glued to my seat throughout the game. But my behavior was rare. I respect that others need a break to relax, or let off nervous energy, by walking around. Many perceive that it's good sportsmanship to leave the board after one's move, since their opponent now has no distraction from having someone sitting across from them.

You wrote, "Leaving the board so many times is very annoying to the other player. Especially when it is your move and you are not at the board thinking." Alex, your use of the pronouns "your" and "you" is confusing. Did you mean that it's annoying to have one's opponent away from the board when it's their move? I think the opposite. Their clock is ticking and they're away from the board, so it's their time being consumed, not mine. How is it annoying that they're consuming their own time away from the board, Alex?

However, you might instead have a valid point about leaving the tournament room. Nonetheless, I think that the vast majority of these trips are probably to use the toilet. The rest are probably just to release tension without distracting the players. Again, these are all innocent actions, so I question why you label this behavior as "rude". And the TDs have better things to do than to monitor each and every player leaving the playing room.

All the best,
Steve

I mainly mean to say, that when a player constantly dissapears from view and hides in the toilet or any-where else for that matter then it is easy to become suspicius.I am cool with an opponent leaving the board to look at other games in the playing room, when it is their turn to move or mine.But if a player goes to the toilet after every move of mine and comes back and plays a move quite quickly and waits for my reply and goes to the toilet again etc you know what I mean.Is it just me that thinks this, or am I being too paranoid?

No,in this case I agree all the way long with you....

[Dr.Wael Deeb]

This will be the new chess rule---If you want to use the restroom then you must raise your hand and the TD will approach and examine your trousers. If you are beginning to create a stain in your crotch area---you will be permitted to go to the restroom.

No,too radical approach in my opinion....the best solution is and I mean the best is:
Pampers
Now this approach will remove all this headache and problems rising around the so calledd toilet chess....this is the future my friends and you all got to live with it....