Controlling spectators - how much?

Running Chess Tournaments
1

Anecdote from recent tournament I directed this weekend.

Just in case it matters - U1000 section at a fairly large tournament. 28 players. About 1/3 adults. The rest children. Trophy prizes in that section.

As games end, most people drift off to hotel hallways, lobbies, skittles rooms. A few hang about, watching games. I keep an eye on things, especially if I see a game that is heading into time trouble, so I’m often between tables, standing 6 feet away or so, watching clocks, and touch moves and that sort of thing. Occasionally, a few onlookers join in. No one ever does anything inappropriate. I keep an especially watchful eye on a couple of parents who are playing, if their games are over and their kid is playing. Everyone I see is stone faced, not giving away anything. I decide there’s no problem.

Finally, though, the last round. Awards ceremony will be immediately after the last game, in the tourney room. One game left playing. Not the top board, but there is a trophy at stake. I’m observing. First one, then another, then another spectator joins in. Before you know it, there’s 15 people around the game. No one crowds except a couple of little kids. When they do, I sweep them back by putting my arm out and waving them back. There’s plenty of clearance between the players and the crowd, but it could reasonably be called a crowd at this point. Definite fishbowl effect. Everyone is quiet and respectful until the game is over, but for the last few minutes, there is no doubt that these players are the center of attention. (Not that it matters a lot, but the ages of the players were probably 12 and…slightly graying with a teenaged daughter.)

I’ve had this issue before. People want to watch. They drift in silently. They aren’t causing any real trouble, and I have no reason to suspect monkey business with signaling. By the time there’s a crowd, it would cause more disruption to send them away than to allow them to stay, unless someone in the crowd creates some sort of disruption, or it appears that one of the players is getting irritated. These two were clearly focused on the board, not the spectators. Besides, I like to think that Chess games are worth watching. You come to a tournament, you ought to be at least slightly flattered that someone would pay attention. At least, that’s the way I rationalized my inaction.

The closest thing to an issue with the crowd came as the black king was on d8, the white queen on d7, the white king on d6, no other pieces, and black, the adult, wanted a minute to make sure it was mate. That caused a few nervous chuckles.

I used to be more forceful in keeping spectators away, but in tournaments I’ve attended, most seem to allow that sort of rubbernecking, so I lightened up on it as well.

What say you? Big problem? Little problem? No problem?

And is your answer based on the type of tournament? Obviously Anand and Carlsen wouldn’t play under those conditions, but would you allow it or disallow it based on the age of the players or the size of the prize fund?

2

I say no problem, at least in the case of the last anecdote you mention. If black wants a minute to convince himself he’s mated, it does no harm to give him that minute. On the other hand, it also does no harm if, during that minute, a spectator blurts out “checkmate”. The game is over the minute white releases the queen on its mating square. Spectator behavior after the game is over has no effect on the outcome.

Bill Smythe

3

Sounds like a good time was had by all. Congratulations!

4

What you have described is a regular chess event in which both kids and adults are allowed to play. In these events, usually, spectators are allowed. But, as you prescribe in your
events, they are not allowed to 'hover" over the players. I once had a dad who liked to
“stork” over his daughter. All players, even the TD should be a respectful pace away, allowing “breathing” room. If spectators cannot observe quiet rules, or are gesturing with
hand moves, or whatever, they are escorted out.

in regard to your last, contrary to some parent’s belief, local scholastics and regular events
simply are not the world open or world championships. Nevertheless, the players do
deserve proper decorum from spectators.

Rob Jones

5

Often at the beginning of my tournaments, I remind the players, particularly the younger ones, to keep a respectable distance. The rule of thumb that I provide is an arms length. If you can reach out your arm and touch a player, you are too close.

Mike Schauer

6

Have used the following informal rules with regard to spectators:

  1. In scholastic events, all parents and coaches are to outside the playing room. This avoids having disputes over a parent or coach claiming another adult is helping a player. Also takes pressure off the kids, who are glad that the adults are out of the room.
  2. On spectating, the players and other spectators must be at least 8 feet away from the board being watched. Why 8 feet? That is the distance that a body will generally fall when a spectator falls off the chair he is standing on when it collapses. Any closer and he may fall, hit the table, and upend the board. Have seen this happen in a major tournament during the 5 minute playoff.
  3. Spectators may not talk, use a telephone in the playing room, or in any way disrupt the proceedings. He has no rights unless he has provided the entirety of the prize fund as the sponsor of the event. Even then, he should maintain the decorum that other spectators have to follow out of respect for the players.
7

I can assure you that no one would be allowed to stand on a chair in my tournament room. No good can come of it. I kept everyone at least four feet away. That pretty much assured non-interference, but it did still create the fishbowl effect.

8

In some scholastic tournaments, when players are in time trouble, the TD’s will hover over the game. Heck, I’ve done it myself. But then I realized that I can’t do anything anyway. These are not FIDE tournaments, and I cannot call a flag-fall. I will check occasionally to see whether BOTH flags are down, but I do not want to give anything away by inadvertent body language or release of bated breath when a flag falls, so I just keep my distance.

9

I don’t like hovering but I do want to be able to immediately answer draw claims, witness illegal moves, and see whether the flag was called before or after the checkmate/stalemate occurred.

10

That’s funny. I feel that it is my job, as a TD, to be a witness when one or both players are in time trouble, and not just in scholastic events. This is for much the same reasons Mr. Wiewel outlined.

Alex Relyea