@Ames.
The short answer is that I don’t see this progressing to an administrative or court proceeding with any significant resolution. That’s why I suggested an attorney’s letter be sent to this fellow.
I have some simple questions.
Why are posters assuming the OP is corrects in its facts? You are only going by what he said happened and that a “dust up” of some significance in Pittsburgh occurred.
Who is the player that he played that was involved in the original incident in Pittsburgh and went on to cause a problem in Chicago? That should be not too difficult to determine. There are only two players who played in Pittsburgh who also played in Chicago. I know one of them, a ten year old, and went over the game he played with the original poster. He never mentioned anything concerning a touch move problem, so we can eliminate him from causing any problem in Chicago. The other player, if my research is correct, must be from Illinois, a Life Member. If these incidents as noted in the original post occurred, then he should be contacted for his side of the story. Of course, that probably won’t happen unless a formal ethics complaint is filed.
Who were the TDs at the Pittsburgh Open? Were either one informed of any problem at any time? Each regularly posts to this and other forums. They have not indicated that they were aware of any incident in a game concerning the original poster at the tournament. The original poster informed players and spectators in Pittsburgh that he regularly goes to a number of tournaments, especially CCA events, and plays extra games. Therefore, did the TDs know of him from past experience?
Were those same TDs at the Chicago Open? The MSA records do not always show who are all of the TDs at an event, but I do not see the names of the TDs who did the Pittsburgh Open on the list. A little difficult for TDs to know or help with incidents when they were not at both places.
If we can determine who the player making the scurrilous accusations at the Chicago open is, and the TDs in Pgh and Chicago, why was a formal complaint file with the Ethics Committee not filed? Would this not be better than making accusations, based on unproved assumptions, in this forum?
I disagree that we are assuming the OP is correct in its facts. Even if the OP is incorrect, I would still agree that we should have a means due process, and that allegations of cheating should be handled through due process, as opposed to public attacks/smear campaigns.
It should be pointed out that no one knows whether the OP has been contacted - or, for that matter, whether the OP or anyone else in the story has initiated any sort of request for USCF action.
Just for a moment, though, let’s say that the OP was positing a hypothetical, instead of claiming these events as a matter of fact. I don’t think it actually changes what he is really trying to communicate.
My suspicion is that the thrust of the OP’s accounting of these events is really designed to focus on the question of what is done to discourage or penalize generally uncivil behavior at USCF tournaments. It’s a reasonable question, with a number of reasonable answers.
I find that the “colorful metaphors” tend to make things worse. Without commenting on the accuracy of the charges, poor behavior by the accuser does not justify poor behavior by the accused. Doing so only stoops to the level of the person that is supposedly making the false accusations. It would be better to treat the accuser with civility as overreacting tends to make it appear that the cheating charges are justified. The director in charge may not have noticed the original incident but will almost certainly see the reaction. That director is much more likely to discipline the act he saw than the one he didn’t.
As someone who wants more participants in my events, I do not want to see incidents like these escalate, as any effect they may have on the future participation of others is likely to be negative. For example, would a parent be more or less likely to bring their children to an event at which there are expected to be frequent “R” rated arguments and the director makes no attempt to stop them?
As I understand the rules of tournament bridge, when an infraction is suspected the players MUST call the director. There’s no arguing or wheeling/dealing because your opponents on the hand are not the pair sitting next to you but the others playing in your direction. Not calling the director may hurt the field.
In chess we tend to believe that we “own” our games. This results in all sorts of hanky-panky, some with good intentions. I’ve been guilty of this myself.
But a cheating accusation is much too serious NOT to call the director. The minute your opponent suggested you’d harmed him you should have told him you were stopping the clock to call the director, and done so. Had your opponent possessed a scintilla of integrity your stories would have been identical up to the point where he said you were “analyzing.” The director should have then explained the rule to both of you, and warned your opponent about making further accusations.
I wish I could say a happy ending would have thereby been guaranteed. It would not.
We had an incident about 10 years ago in our club. I was standing six feet from the game and saw/heard everything. The accusation was ludicrous – worse than this one, much worse. Everyone in the room contradicted it, but it took on a life of its own and its story got better with each retelling.