April 17, 2008
Chess Cheat Caught Using SMS to Get Tips During Match
Cellular News reports that an Iranian chess player competing in the Dubai Open Chess tournament has been wxpelled after he was found receiving text messages on his mobile phone - with tips for his next move.
"M. Sadatnajafi, with an Elo rating of 2301 (near the bottom of the rankings) was caught using his mobile phone while playing against Chinese Grandmaster Li Chao.
When confronted after just 10 moves, he dropped his phone and investigations showed that it had received messages from someone in Iran in Farsi with instructions of what moves to make. It is thought that the unknown advisor was watching the game as it was broadcast live over the internet and then sending the tips."
There has actually been a precedent last year when an Indian chess player was banned for 10 years for cheating after he was caught using his mobile phone's wireless device to win games.
Image above is from the gallery on the tournament's website - the two chess players are not the ones mentioned in the above article. The Sheikh on the right looks like he may be Sheikh Maktoum al Maktoum, the Prime Minister and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates, and the ruler of Dubai.
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