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No Phones during a Match

Posted By: Michael Petch
Date: Sunday, 24 April 2011, at 4:46 a.m.

In Response To: No Phones during a Match (Stick)

First I will point out that I am not against people listening to music during a match or using headphones. I would only say that a director should have the right to ask to take a look at the device or listen to it if there were potential issues/complaints etc.

With that being said I'd like to point out the grey area in your post. Stick wrote: "I'm ok banning cell phone use during matches but am not ok with banning ipods etc..". A lot of media players are now wifi connected including the "Ipod Touch". In fact the iPod touch is effectively the iPhone without the normal cell coverage, but it does have Wifi. The ipod Touch can easily have the Skype client or the Fring client installed on it allowing SIP over TCPIP... which turns the device into a internet phone. Wifi connectivity is pretty prevalent these days especially in convention centres and hotels (at least here they are)

So the question is - if you can turn a device into something that can make a phone call of any sort (the physical transport should not be relevant) then shouldn't it be banned to? A "Cell Phone" is a phone that uses cell coverage to make a call. I think if you believe that should be banned any device that has WiFi connectivity and the ability to have SIP software installed on it should also be banned for the same reason.

It seems to me that technology should probably be allowed at the tables, and if someone believes and can prove to a director that someone is actually cheating that action be taken. If people have cellphones tell them to put it into "Airport" mode etc. If a director has suspicions that there may be an issue they can reserve the right to ask any player to take their headphones off, or put away the phone etc.

I do not believe the rules need to be amended. I think that ultimately the tournament director in many cases has the discretion to control potential "electronic" cheating within their existing rules.

Messages In This Thread

• No Phones during a Match
  Phil Simborg -- Saturday, 23 April 2011, at 4:53 p.m.
  • No Phones during a Match
    DanielP -- Saturday, 23 April 2011, at 5:40 p.m.
  • No Phones during a Match
    Timothy Chow -- Saturday, 23 April 2011, at 7:55 p.m.
    • No Phones during a Match
      Casper van der Tak -- Saturday, 23 April 2011, at 10:09 p.m.
      • Bridge, also
        Chuck Bower -- Saturday, 23 April 2011, at 11:46 p.m.
        • Bridge, also
          BenF -- Monday, 25 April 2011, at 9:28 p.m.
          • 21st Century Compromise?
            Chuck Bower -- Wednesday, 27 April 2011, at 5:18 p.m.
  • No Phones during a Match
    Bill Riles -- Sunday, 24 April 2011, at 12:33 a.m.
    • The Chess solution
      David Rockwell -- Sunday, 24 April 2011, at 2:17 a.m.
      • Grandsted and Ray
        svilo -- Sunday, 24 April 2011, at 5:45 a.m.
    • +1
      Casper van der Tak -- Sunday, 24 April 2011, at 8:23 a.m.
    • No Phones during a Match
      Sam Pottle -- Thursday, 28 April 2011, at 2:04 a.m.
  • No Phones during a Match
    Jason Lee -- Sunday, 24 April 2011, at 12:40 a.m.
    • No Phones during a Match
      Stein Kulseth -- Sunday, 24 April 2011, at 7:15 a.m.
      • No Phones during a Match
        Michael Petch -- Sunday, 24 April 2011, at 7:37 a.m.
      • No Phones during a Match
        Seth -- Sunday, 24 April 2011, at 1:49 p.m.
      • No Phones during a Match
        ah_clem -- Monday, 25 April 2011, at 7:20 p.m.
  • No Phones during a Match
    Stick -- Sunday, 24 April 2011, at 2:53 a.m.
    • +10000000000 *NM*
      neilkaz -- Sunday, 24 April 2011, at 3:39 a.m.
    • No Phones during a Match
      Michael Petch -- Sunday, 24 April 2011, at 4:46 a.m.
    • Rumour has it...
      Michael Petch -- Sunday, 24 April 2011, at 4:59 a.m.
    • No Phones during a Match
      Tom Keith -- Sunday, 24 April 2011, at 3:01 p.m.