PH disqualified from FIDE Online Olympiad Division A

FIDE disqualified the Philippines from the Online Olympiad Division A after the world governing body for chess discovered that one of its players violated fair play rules.

The player, whose identity was not revealed, allegedly cheated through engine use.

“Yes, it is true. But we will appeal the decision,” national coach Jayson Gonzales told Rappler.

In a letter to FIDE president Arkady Dvorkovich, the National Chess Federation of the Philippines (NCFP) appealed the decision to disqualify the team.

Gonzales, the NCFP chief executive officer, said the federation concurs about the violation of fair play rules, stripping the player of the master title and the ability to play in any national events. 

The NCFP based its appeal on Article 6.6 of the FIDE Laws of Chess which states, “the disqualified player may be declared lost in one or several games played in the current and previous pool(s) or duel(s). Then, his/her teams’ results in the respective pool(s) or duel(s) are changed accordingly.”

Gonzales said the points of the player who committed the violation will then be given to the opponent.

“It is fair and prudent that the team should not be penalized by expulsion from the tournament as the particular suspected player does actions in her volition and not by the entire Philippine team,” Gonzales said.

Australia will replace the Philippines in Division A play, which will run from September 8 to 11.

The Philippines advanced to Division A after placing second in the eliminations on a tiebreak with Indonesia as both countries finished with 16 points.

Shenzhen, China placed third with 13 points followed by Australia with 10 points. – Rappler.com