I have a quick question. I have run 100s of events and this is the first time I have come across this in one my events. I had a student come to me after their last round game and complain that they believe their opponent lost their game on purpose. After reviewing the score sheet, the suspected player to dump the game was playing white==== here is the game:
1.Na3 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.b4 d6 4.Bb2 Be7 5.Nxe5 dxe5 6.g4 Bxg4 7.Nb5 Bxb4 8.Nxc7+ Qxc7 9.e4 Bxd1 10.Bc4 Nd4 11.Bxf7+ Qxf7 12.c4 Nf3+ 13.Kf1 Nxd2+ the game went to mate but this is clerly enough.
The player in question is rated over 1000 with 17 events and has played at nationals. He also recently scored 5 out 6 at the NYS championships in the Under 1000 section.
I thought the game was suspicous just based on the score and the rating of the player. But the performance is simply not consistent with the players rating or consistent previous performances.
Before I could approach the player at the event, his team had already left.
How would other TDS handle this? I rated the event but intentionaly did not rate this game and have emailed the parents and coach of the player explaining why—is this correct or should I do something else.
I find this very suspicous given the player plays at national events and would likely go under 1000 for the nationals and this game would accomplish that.
I look forward to your responses. I am also curious what others have done when you a player uses your events in order to dump games.
Nice job - especially on contacting the parents and coach. I would also consider emailing a USCF ratings associate just to give them a heads-up that you took this action, and notifying the coach of the player who reported the game (so that questions are not raised later about the game that was not rated).
I agree with Mr. Hammond’s comments. I would only add that you may seriously consider filing a complaint with the Ethics Committee. I believe the moves of the game you give would be compelling evidence.
You would have thought this player could have been a little less obvious about intentionally losing a game! Everybody drops their queen once and a while, just leave in en prise!
These people have a lot to learn about sandbagging. Jeez!
How can that be? Has this player won an Under 1000 prize of at least $2000 (or at least a $2000 place prize in an Under 1000 section)?
Currently, the lowest floor (other than the universal floor of 100) based on peak post-event rating is 1200 (when a player’s post-event rating is at least 1400).
Or do you perhaps mean that the director has assigned the player a minimum rating of 1000 for that organizer’s events?
The office has in the past adjusted ratings and ratings floors when it was necessary. Perhaps that happened here after they reviewed the evidence in this case.
