There is more than one fair outcome here. I think the 2023 US Open scenario reported by Chris Bird was handled fairly.
I am not sure I would have handled it the same way. With the white pieces comes the responsibility of properly starting the game (and knowing that you have them). Alan Hodge’s proposed solution seems to me supportable. And under the FIDE Laws of Chess, it seems compelled.
Under the FIDE Laws of Chess, with no specific change to the default time, the missing player would have forfeited the game as soon as the round started.
Under the FIDE Laws of Chess, with no specific change to the default time, the missing player would have forfeited the game as soon as the round started.
Which is OK for many professional-level events but would not work for most US Chess events.