Chess player banned 10 years for cheating

by Ross Miller { Dec 29th 2006 at 5:05PM }

An Indian chess player caught using a bluetooth headset to receive tips in a chess match has been banned for 10 years. The earpieces were sewn into a cloth cap he always wore and pulled over his ears; on the other end were accomplices who used a computer to relay good moves. While the player, Umakant Sharma, can still play chess in a non-professional sense, this will stay with him as a black mark.

Now imagine that scenario in online gaming. In most cases, widespread cheating is caught and IP addresses or game keys are blocked / suspended. However, one is still able to play by altering his or her IP addresses, using a different email, or repurchasing the game. Certainly one's image is not tarnished outside of the realm of gaming, a fate we suspect Sharma might succumb to. You would never have to explain why you were caught with an Aimbot while applying for a job.

Then again, we could be wrong. Has there ever been a time you have experienced (or heard from a friend) where in-game cheating affected your out-of-game life?

Tags: chess

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

TSD @ Dec 29th 2006 5:59PM

Hackerz am cry =(

Sonojinshi @ Dec 29th 2006 7:24PM

Only ten years? Should be lifetime.

ima747 @ Dec 29th 2006 7:51PM

There was a story (with pictures and video I might add) I vaguely remember a few years back of someone who cheated at a Counter Strike lan competition. He was bodily thrown out the front door along with his CPU (viva la smashy). It's still nerdy but a smashed computer is a real life consequence...

Anyone know where to find that vid... or at least seen it themselves?

Rare Hare @ Dec 29th 2006 7:51PM

any word on how he got caught?

Psaakyrn @ Dec 29th 2006 7:59PM

People online can still cheat by having someone else proxy for them irregardless. zzz.

silent bob @ Dec 29th 2006 8:10PM

irregardless isn't a word

Khabaal @ Dec 29th 2006 9:42PM

@6

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/irregardless

thank you

Grant @ Dec 29th 2006 9:59PM

But the problem is that most people don't play games professionally. If a pro-gamer was caught cheating, things would certainly be worse for him or her.

ExplodingTurnip @ Dec 29th 2006 11:31PM

The last fiasco in the chess world before this was "Toiletgate":

http://sport.guardian.co.uk/chess/story/0,,1884352,00.html

Happened fairly recently, too.

Jack @ Dec 30th 2006 12:34AM

On the dorm's Counter Strike LAN, one of the guys was caught cheating. He was quickly sacked in his room by a couple of guys. I'd say, he's never gonna cheat again. That or he'll just be sacked again, and this time in a not-so pleasant place.

dotun.o @ Dec 30th 2006 1:35AM

@7,

"Irregardless" really isn't a standard word. You may notice this from the same link you posted. It's either "regardful" or "regardless". "Irregardless" is a double negative; maybe used in casual speech but still not correct - think Homer, "I'm not NOT licking toads" :)