Amateur Chess player kicked from tournament for hiding phone in sock

An inexperienced chess player was disqualified from a Dutch tournament for concealing a phone in his sock and defeating multiple opponents with higher ratings than him.

The unidentified player first gained attention at the Hogeschool Zeeland University Chess Tournament, where he achieved a series of victories against higher-rated opponents “with nearly flawless play.”This was first reported by Chess.com.

According to a press release by the tournament organizers, it was revealed during the seventh round that the player had been using his phone in the restroom to strategize and make the most optimal moves.

The player was caught with a phone in his sock, used to cheat

According to tournament director Hans Groffen, around 12-13 moves had been played when the player went to the restroom and the organizers wanted to scan him. Despite initially refusing, the player’s actions were seen as an admission of guilt and he was subsequently removed from the HZ Tournament in Vlissingen for cheating by hiding a mobile phone in his sock.

The player eventually consented to undergo the scan, which revealed the presence of a device. Although he initially insisted it was his watch, a phone was ultimately found.

In order to maintain fairness in Chess tournaments, players are strictly forbidden from carrying phones in their pockets. This is due to the increasing power of phone simulators, which have the ability to defeat opponents with great ease.

After the discovery, the competitor was disqualified from the tournament and reported to the Dutch Chess Federation. However, their tournament results remain unchanged.

“This is the first time we’ve encountered this issue during our tournament. While it is frustrating for the organization, we are also relieved that these problematic individuals have been removed.”

It is surprisingly simple to cheat in Chess by utilizing the abundance of perfect moves available, requiring tournament organizers to remain vigilant for any potential cheating tactics employed by competitors.

Despite facing serious cheating allegations, Hans Niemann was recently placed under strict anti-cheating measures due to his winning streak.