Indian Chessmaster caught using Bluetooth to cheat at Asian Games

Agencies

New Delhi, Dec 5: A day after chess Grandmaster Koneru Humpy's dazzling success at the Asian Games in Doha, it was a low for the sport when a player was caught for the first time using an electronic device during a FIDE tournament in the country.

Umakant Sharma was caught with a blue tooth device hidden in his cap when random checking was conducted during the seventh round of the Air Marshal Subroto Mukerjee Memorial All India Open FIDE Rating Chess Tournament.

Sharma, top seeded with ELO 2384, was playing with black pieces against International Master Rahul Shetty.

The arbiters were still to decide what action should be taken against Sharma as it was a maiden attempt by a player in the country to use some means of communication during a match.

FIDE rules for carrying electronic communication device say: "During play the players are forbidden to make use of any notes, sources of information, advice, or analyse on another chessboard.

"It is strictly forbidden to bring mobile phones or other electronic means of communication, not authorised by the arbiter, into the playing venue. If a player's mobile phone rings in the playing venue during play, that player shall lose the game. The score of the opponent shall be determined by the arbiter."