The Guyana Chess Federation should request an official decision from FIDE

BY Staff
Published: November 20, 2008 in Letters

Dear Editor,
I refer to your story ‘Controversy erupts at chess qualifiers’ published on October 19, 2008 and a subsequent letter published on November 1, 2008 in the SN captioned ‘Tournament Director made a wrong decision.’ As indicated in your October 19 story article 7.2 of the FIDE laws states “If a game has begun with colours reversed, then it shall continue, unless the arbiter rules otherwise.”

This rule is clear in respect of a game which is underway: unless the arbiter rules otherwise the game shall continue. In my opinion a game which was completed with the colours reversed had continued to its conclusion, thus the window of opportunity for which the arbiter to rule on the matter had closed. There would thus be no grounds to call for a replay of the game.

Others may have an alternative interpretation; this is why article 14.1 allows member federations to “ask FIDE to give an official decision about the Laws of Chess.” I would expect, if they have not already done so, for the Guyana Chess Federation to request an official decision from FIDE on this matter since the action taken in Guyana appears to be inconsistent with that taken at the Chicago Open.
Yours faithfully,
Patrick van Beek

Comments

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11 Comments

M. Xiu Quan-Balgobind-Hackett says:

November 20, 2008 at 6:25 am

I support your call, Patrick.

Reply
Tim Fitz says:

November 20, 2008 at 10:09 am

Patrick….
I don’t think something of this nature should reach Fide. As a former chess player there are a few points i would like to make.

1. The tournament was a swiss system 9 rounds, maybe the TD took into consideration the number of times Mr. Sharma would be playing the white pieces. eg.. There is a possibility that he could have been playing the white pieces more than any of the other players, which would be unfair!

2. No player can player either colour more that two times in a row.

3. All associations and federations have an appeal panel, Mr. Sharma should have continue playing and after the day’s play file an written appeal to the appeal panel. The appeal panel would then investigate and render a decision on the matter. (Mr Sharma as a past TD should have known this)

Reply
- rambler says:
  
  November 20, 2008 at 1:20 pm
  
  Chess Nazi
- Patrick van Beek says:
  
  November 20, 2008 at 4:36 pm
  
  Tim, you raise some interesting comments. What was not at all clear about the incident reported was:
  
  1) Whether indeed considerations were given to the number of times the white pieces would be played.
  
  2) Whether the TD made it clear that an appeals process was available.
  
  From what was reported it did not seem that this was the case, in which case I think a ruling should be requested from FIDE.
decanadianCarlVeecock says:

November 20, 2008 at 5:48 pm

It doubtful if the Guyana Chess Federation is a current member of FIDE.
Hence IMO no appeal is possible.
Even if it were to be a member, the local arbiter is the person to make a decision.

I have not read the matter in full but for a fledgling organisation, this tempest is
unnecessary.

The decisions of TD in local tornaments are generally final, unless the tournament is an international one, the appeal to FIDE is open.

The game result should stand.

Reply
- Patrick van Beek says:
  
  November 21, 2008 at 10:53 am
  
  I am not saying the Guyana Federation should overturn the result -or that the result should be appealed.
  
  I am saying that ruling should be obtained whether once a game is completed with the wrong colours, whether are any grounds for it to be replayed.
Margaret Eversley says:

November 21, 2008 at 7:45 pm

Would appreciate any info or on news articles of Dr. Joseph Alexander Bradford (Dentist ) of Georgetown British Guiana, deceased.
And Joseph “Chummy” Theodore Bradford, also of Georgetown, British Guiana, USA,, London & Ghana, also deceased. THANK YOU.

Reply
Caesar Agustus says:

November 23, 2008 at 9:11 pm

Ridiculous . The Guyana Chess Federation is chess without a federation.

Reply
Caesar Agustus says:

November 28, 2008 at 3:46 pm

Play draughts instead.

Reply
Tim Fitz says:

November 20, 2008 at 10:25 pm

Patrick…
Before a someone play in a tournamant of this magnitude, they should be familiar with atleast 80% of the rules.

With regards to you first question, I did some research on rules governing swiss tournament and this is it says under B2, b. No player will receive the same color three times in row.

According to the letter dated October 19th, 2008, it said Mr. Sharma was a past TD, he ought to know there is an appeal panel. Like i said, all chess associations and federations have one.

Reply
decanadianCarlVeecock says:

November 21, 2008 at 7:06 pm

The answere is NO.

Game over!

That is why there are TD at all tournaments.
No onsite appeal….no further appeal.

Case closed.

Pity that the fledgling organisation has to encounter such early turmoil.

Did I say typically guyanese?

You betcha! [ a la Palin ]

Reply