FIDE Arbiters´Magazine – February 2016
Case C: Arbiter-Player and mobile on the table
This case occurred during a high-level weekly team
competition in Prague, Czech Republic.
This case covers 2 mistakes. However, it is very important to note that the 2nd mistake would
probably have been caught if the 1st mistake had never occurred.
1st mistake: An Arbiter cannot be a player in the same tournament.
The Qualification Commission specifies this in their FIDE Title Regulations:
1.17 No arbiter may play in a title tournament even just as a filler.
Even if the event is not a title tournament, it is inappropriate for an arbiter to also be a player. The
arbiter-player risks missing occurrences that should be dealt with by that arbiter. In the Laws of Chess,
Article 12, “The Role of the Arbiter”, clearly documents the attention that the arbiter provides to the
games under his jurisdiction. Anything less by the arbiter does a disservice to the game.
2nd mistake: mobile on the table beside the player
Of course, it is forbidden to have a mobile phone, so how did this even happen?
At this event, and according to the Article 11.3.b (see Anti cheating Guidelines for Arbiters), as
most players arrive directly from work, players are allowed to turn their phone off, and then leave it
in a bag, such that it cannot be accessed.
However, one player did not bring any such bag for his phone, and was worried about leaving his
phone in his jacket on a coat hanger without any supervision. So this player turned his phone off and
put it into a pocket in his pants. This is forbidden, and when discovered, should result in loss of game
by this player.
To make matters worse, after a few moves into the game, this player found his phone uncomfortable, and so took it out and placed it on the table beside him. But the arbiter did not notice this (remember, he was also being a player!)
In addition, even by move 44, after the first time control at move 40 had been passed, the arbiterplayer had also not noticed that the opponent had not been writing his moves since after move 28.
At this point, this opponent approached the player-arbiter to claim a win because of the phone on
the table. This claim should have been accepted. However, the arbiter-player reviewed the game position, and determined the opponent was clearly losing. The arbiter-player also checked the phone
was off, and decided that no cheating had occurred.
The arbiter-player rejected the claim by the opponent. This was incorrect.
According to article 11.3.b. of the Laws of Chess, the player who had his mobile on the table (even
if it was switched off) should lose the game immediately and his opponent should win.
An Arbiter must not be player in the same tournament, whether it is a titled tournament,
or any FIDE-rated event.
Before the start of every round of a tournament, the Arbiter must always make an announcement, reminding the players to avoid having mobiles with them during the game.
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