Campaigning at tournaments

Running Chess Tournaments
1

Recently I’ve noticed some (very) limited campaigning at chess tournaments from the candidates for EB.

For example, Randy Hough had some flyers set out at the World Open and made a brief announcement before the start of one of the rounds. This was a very low-key sort of campaigning and I certainly didn’t find it objectionable. I understand that Sam Sloan also did some campaigning there, though I didn’t notice him at all.

I think that campaigning at this level would normally be acceptable, but of course it’s up to the individual organizer. Would anyone object to this sort of activity? Do most organizers allow it? Do any players ever object?

Has anyone ever encountered a level of campaigning that IS objectionable? I had one candidate for a state affiliate that just couldn’t take “I’m leaving now” as an answer, but he was more amusing than really objectionable.

2

What brought this question to mind were some statements by Sam Sloan. He said he had attended the WO to campaign, but I didn’t think the organizer would have let him into the tournament rooms unless he played in the tournament. Then I noticed that Sam HAD played (one game!).

Did the organizer feel compelled to let Sam campaign just because he played one game? Do other organizers feel that way?

Or do most organizers welcome political discussion (even from “opposing candidates”) as long as it doesn’t interfere with the tournament?

Sam’s campaigning fit the “non-interference” requirement AFAIK, since I didn’t even know he was there.

3

First, this is entirely at the discretion of the organizer. With few exceptions, tournament sites are not “public spaces” – they are rented private spaces from which the renter can expel people for any reason or no reason.

We should distinguish several different kinds of behavior.

  1. Campaigning in the playing room while games are in progress. Not allowed, period.

  2. Campaigning in the playing or skittles room when games are not in progress. I consider this equivalent to “being an annoying jerk,” and, sadly, barring everyone of this description from tournaments and chess clubs is not practical. (If you don’t like him, ignore him or insult him until he goes away.)

  3. Putting out flyers or other literature. I see no real difference here between political candidates and tournaments/camps/clubs etc. I don’t think I’ve ever barred anyone from putting out literature at my tournaments (just told them to put the stuff where it doesn’t get in my way), but it could happen.