 "Vladimir Kramnik said presence of phones during India's chess match vs Uzbekistan was violation of FIDE rules. Image: Chess 24")
Former chess world champion Vladimir Kramnik has filed an official complaint against the presence of cell phones in the hall during India’s match against Uzbekistan in the open section of the 45th Chess Olympiad on Friday. The cell phones were used to record the Indian players in their match against Uzbekistan in the ninth round of the tournament. The match eventually ended 2-2 as Uzbekistan became the first team at the ongoing Chess Olympiad to take a point off India .
Kramnik is at the Chess Olympiad as Uzbekistan’s coach.
Complaint against ChessBase
Early on in the India vs Uzbekistan contest, Kramnik complained about the cellphones that were used to record Indian players’ matches by ChessBase India, a website that does news on chess with a focus on Indian players.
As per Chess24 who broke the news, one of the phones that was recording the D Gukesh vs Nodirbek Abdusattarov match was removed after the complaint but returned back to its position shortly. ChessBase told Chess24 that their phones were in airplane mode inside the playing hall.
Kramnik explains complaint on X
Nonetheless, Kramnik also took to X to complain about the incident.
“Summary of today’s story. It’s time for FIDE taking anti-cheating seriously and professionally, instead of just pretending. Anti-cheating regulations implementation must be WAY more strict. Allowing mobile phones, lots of random guests in the playing hall, should not be allowed. All checkings before games, causing participants troubles and time, make little sense if you let almost anyone into playing area after the start and give away permissions to bring devices and even film in the middle of a round using mobile phone, I have seen it many times here (sic),” Kramnik wrote on X.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsKramnik added that he is not targeting the Indian team or ChessBase but phones “must not be allowed” in the playing area.
“ChessBase India are nice people and it’s not aimed against them but simply rules are rules and FIDE must reassure by implementing them for EVERYONE equally. Players must feel secured especially having on their own lots of restrictions and getting forfeited even for a credit card and watching various quests and media using mobiles in the playing area is just not correct, let along not according to the regulations. It’s been a long ago time taking anti-cheating seriously and have very strict and clear rules without making exceptions for some and punishing others. It is absurd when you forbid pens and disqualify for a sim card WITHOUT a phone and allow phones without a sim card, and often with, as I noticed many times during the event, for spectators or media. Phones MUST NOT BE ALLOWED for ANYONE at the playing area, period (sic),” he added.