Headphone Questions at the World Open

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Date: 18 Jul 2007 02:10:36
From: samsloan
Subject: Headphone Questions at the World Open

There were two minor incidents involving headphones at the World Open.

In the Under-2000 Section a player who happened to be the son of one
of the Tournament Directors was wearing headphones and his opponent
objected. The player went to the chief director Bill Goichberg (not to
his parent). Goichberg said that since he only had scored 3 1/2 - 1
1/2 at that time, which is 70%, and the rules said that only players
who had scored 80% or better were prohibited from wearing headphones,
therefore he could wear his headphones. He won the game.

I disagree with this ruling. In a big money tournament like the World
Open 70% is enough to win a big prize. In fact, first prize in the
open section was won by players with 6 1/2 - 2 1/2, which is 72.2%. I
feel that the rule should be that if the opponent objects the player
may not wear headphones regardless of his score.

In the other incident, a player had a performance of 2700. This
attracted the attention of the directors. A special referee was put on
to watch his games. They were never able to catch him doing anything
however. He was wearing red earplugs. Finally one of the directors
made his take out the earplugs. They were examined and found to be
simple empty earplugs. However, he did not wear the earplugs after
that and also he did not do so well after that.

Sam Sloan

Date: 18 Jul 2007 16:12:31
From: SAT W-7
Subject: Re: Headphone Questions at the World Open

They should not be allowed to have anything ..period ...

Date: 21 Jul 2007 21:27:03
From: JohnnyT
Subject: Re: Headphone Questions at the World Open

SAT W-7 wrote:
> They should not be allowed to have anything ..period ...
>

Maybe, but they are paying customers, and many many of them like to
listen to their ipods while playing chess. And most, like probably all
of them, are not cheating.

Date: 19 Jul 2007 16:21:21
From:
Subject: Re: Headphone Questions at the World Open

SAT W-7 wrote:

>They should not be allowed to have anything ..period ...

No chair, chess set, clock, or air to breathe?

Man, you ARE rough!

Date: 18 Jul 2007 12:46:14
From: JohnnyT
Subject: Re: Headphone Questions at the World Open

samsloan wrote:
> There were two minor incidents involving headphones at the World Open.
>
> In the Under-2000 Section a player who happened to be the son of one
> of the Tournament Directors was wearing headphones and his opponent
> objected. The player went to the chief director Bill Goichberg (not to
> his parent). Goichberg said that since he only had scored 3 1/2 - 1
> 1/2 at that time, which is 70%, and the rules said that only players
> who had scored 80% or better were prohibited from wearing headphones,
> therefore he could wear his headphones. He won the game.
>
> I disagree with this ruling. In a big money tournament like the World
> Open 70% is enough to win a big prize. In fact, first prize in the
> open section was won by players with 6 1/2 - 2 1/2, which is 72.2%. I
> feel that the rule should be that if the opponent objects the player
> may not wear headphones regardless of his score.

There was absolutely nothing incorrect with the ruling, and it would
have been a travesty the other way. You have said nothing at all about
what was wrong with the ruling.

You may believe the RULE was wrong, but there is nothing wrong with the
ruling. If you want the RULE changed lobby the CCA, it is THEIR rule.
Though I suspect that you personally may have a really difficult time to
get a decent review of your request. In fact in your case you should
probably try reverse psychology.

> In the other incident, a player had a performance of 2700. This
> attracted the attention of the directors. A special referee was put on
> to watch his games. They were never able to catch him doing anything
> however. He was wearing red earplugs. Finally one of the directors
> made his take out the earplugs. They were examined and found to be
> simple empty earplugs. However, he did not wear the earplugs after
> that and also he did not do so well after that.

And what does this have to do with anything. That if you get hassled
by the cheat police, you may not perform as well?

This is the kind of whacked thinking and mouth spewing, that will
irrefutably get you in trouble. This isn't freedom of expression, or
having an "interesting" life. It is mindless muckraking. Stop it. It
doesn't make you, or the board you represent look smart.

Date: 18 Jul 2007 23:28:55
From: EZoto
Subject: Re: Headphone Questions at the World Open

Coming from Sam Sloan obviously won't be taken seriously but I have to
say If I am playing someone and they are using headphones I feel they
should be taken off. Times have changed there are more cheaters out
there than ever before. In my opinion the rules need to be changed.
No one should be wearing headphones.

EZoto

Date: 18 Jul 2007 19:14:32
From: JohnnyT
Subject: Re: Headphone Questions at the World Open

EZoto wrote:
> Coming from Sam Sloan obviously won't be taken seriously but I have to
> say If I am playing someone and they are using headphones I feel they
> should be taken off. Times have changed there are more cheaters out
> there than ever before. In my opinion the rules need to be changed.
> No one should be wearing headphones.
>
> EZoto

Maybe, but then again, ALOT of players LIKE having headphones. And they
are generally the losers that paying the non-losers. The question is,
do you lose income or gain income changing the rules. And really, how
many cheaters with modified IPOD's do you think are out there, compared
to people with you know, just IPODS?

But then again maybe not.

But it is a CCA rule, and personally I think it is a reasonable balance.

Date: 19 Jul 2007 22:16:33
From: EZoto
Subject: Re: Headphone Questions at the World Open

On Wed, 18 Jul 2007 19:14:32 -0700, JohnnyT <noone@home.com > wrote:

>EZoto wrote:
>> Coming from Sam Sloan obviously won't be taken seriously but I have to
>> say If I am playing someone and they are using headphones I feel they
>> should be taken off. Times have changed there are more cheaters out
>> there than ever before. In my opinion the rules need to be changed.
>> No one should be wearing headphones.
>>
>> EZoto
>
>
>Maybe, but then again, ALOT of players LIKE having headphones. And they
>are generally the losers that paying the non-losers. The question is,
>do you lose income or gain income changing the rules. And really, how
>many cheaters with modified IPOD's do you think are out there, compared
>to people with you know, just IPODS?
>
>But then again maybe not.
>
>But it is a CCA rule, and personally I think it is a reasonable balance.

I see the points of it too that your putting out. Maybe it is for the
big tournaments and not the Sunday quads a town may be having once a
month.

EZoto

Date: 18 Jul 2007 20:06:52
From: Ray Gordon, creator of the \pivot\
Subject: Re: Headphone Questions at the World Open

> Coming from Sam Sloan obviously won't be taken seriously but I have to
> say If I am playing someone and they are using headphones I feel they
> should be taken off. Times have changed there are more cheaters out
> there than ever before. In my opinion the rules need to be changed.
> No one should be wearing headphones.

I wouldn't play until chess tournaments have the same level of security as
the SAT or the Bar examionation.

Faster time controls are also a good solution here.

--
Ray Gordon
Foxhunting: The ORIGINAL Lifestyle Seduction Guru
http://www.cybersheet.com/library.html

FREE e-books on how to get laid!

Date: 18 Jul 2007 22:39:59
From: Kenneth Sloan
Subject: Re: Headphone Questions at the World Open

Ray Gordon, creator of the "pivot" wrote:
>> Coming from Sam Sloan obviously won't be taken seriously but I have to
>> say If I am playing someone and they are using headphones I feel they
>> should be taken off. Times have changed there are more cheaters out
>> there than ever before. In my opinion the rules need to be changed.
>> No one should be wearing headphones.
>
> I wouldn't play until chess tournaments have the same level of security as
> the SAT or the Bar examionation.
>

Is that your excuse for not playing *this* year?

> Faster time controls are also a good solution here.

Game in 1 (minute), say? I understand that's your speciality.

>
>

--
Kenneth Sloan KennethRSloan@gmail.com
Computer and Information Sciences +1-205-932-2213
University of Alabama at Birmingham FAX +1-205-934-5473
Birmingham, AL 35294-1170 http://www.cis.uab.edu/sloan/

Date: 18 Jul 2007 20:30:54
From: JohnnyT
Subject: Re: Headphone Questions at the World Open

Ray Gordon, creator of the "pivot" wrote:

>
> I wouldn't play until chess tournaments have the same level of security as
> the SAT or the Bar examionation.

Who the F* cares. You don't play anyways. And more importantly, what
did the people that went care? Apparently they dealt with it just fine.