In a letter still in my possession the Federation explained their decision by saying that during one of my appearances for the team I’d emptied a pack of nuts and refused to pick them up, and that I went to eat a pizza instead of going to eat along with the team; and that in the evenings I’d play table football. Later it was claimed on a chess forum, without any further details being given, that I’d committed very serious offences. Last year, as French University Champion, I qualified to take part in the World University Championship. The full board cost of participating was 700 euros, which was to be split equally between the French University Sports Federation and the French Chess Federation. The FCF refused to pay that sum giving the pretext that they didn’t have enough money … At about the same time I made an oral request to take part in the U20 World Championship. I received the same response, once more depriving me of significant chances of taking one of the top places in that tournament, despite the fact that I’d have been one of the favourites at both those events. At the time one of my relatives advised me to supplement my oral request to take part in the World Championship with one in writing, so there was a record of it. He thought that if someone subsequently asked why a French chess player with good chances of winning these prestigious events hadn’t even taken part the FCF would respond that he hadn’t even asked… Their dishonesty actually did reach that point, but fortunately I was able to point to the written document. During my career the FCF has never helped me without being forced to do so, while other grandmasters favoured by the Federation have enjoyed its support. 3. Can you respond to the testimonies of certain grandmasters who’ve claimed that you made long series of computer moves? It’s hard to respond to those “testimonies” given the fact that they change from one moment to the next: I was accused of playing 90% of the moves suggested by the computer but when we refuted that “argument” I was accused of playing a majority of moves using external assistance, and then, finally, a few moves… How can you respond? My accusers don’t even know themselves what they’re accusing me of. Despite what some people say and, by the way, that’s contested by others, my games at the Olympiad weren’t all that good, and you might even say they were very mediocre. I lost to a player with a 2350 rating and in other games I alternated good moves with bad ones, which for a grandmaster at my level is very mediocre. My performance at the European Championship, in contrast, was excellent, even though my slightest movement was being observed, including if I went to the toilet, and I was under maximum pressure in a hostile environment (accusations, petitions, cameras present during the games…). 4. Have you considered changing federation? Yes, but I want to play for France for as long as possible. The people behind these false accusations have sullied both the image of chess and of my country. I’ve got nothing to reproach myself with, and therefore I don’t want to leave. I want to keep fighting for France and preserve its dignity by forcing these people to quit (he has in mind some of the members of the FCF – WhyChess). In my possession I’ve got extensive information on financial irregularities, much of it yet to be disclosed, which should help me in that regard. And that’s not to mention the overly inflated salaries of some of those running the FCF. As you know, my Federation is taking on a lot of initiatives on a global scale: to “oust”, in their words, the FIDE President, to establish a new international federation which it’s claimed will be the best in the world… Unfortunately it’s already a dozen years since we’ve seen a world-class tournament in France. 6. When will you be able to give us all the details of this affair? I think that for now it’s necessary to let justice run its course. I’ve got a clear conscience and we (my counsel Charles Morel and myself) are confident of my chances. Now that the case is in court (we’ve been waiting impatiently for this moment) we finally have the right to a just hearing and impartial judges. The decision of the Versailles Court of Appeal was also a move in that direction. 7. How did those close to you react? They’ve given me great support. Like many other observers of this situation, chess fans and even those far removed from the world of chess, they can’t understand the hatred and fury from the FCF leadership. 8. Has the FCF offered you a peaceful settlement? Given the fact that I’m innocent no settlement is possible until the Federation withdraws its false accusations.
The opinions expressed by the author(s) do not necessarily represent the views of WhyChess. WhyChess remains neutral in this matter and is prepared to offer a platform for the opposing side to present its case. Photo: http://europe-echecs.com |
Comments
Who sent the sms?
Some people here seem to have forgotten that the sms'es in question were not sent by "anyone", but they are rather from somebody with strong connections to the French team and Feller himself. Therefore, there cannot be any doubt concerning the intentions with them, provided that the sms'es indeed contain moves that are relevant to the ongoing game.
It is another question whether it is useful to receive computer assistance of this form. Feller and his partners in crime presumably thought so (and I tend to agree with them), but the actual usefulness is besides the point. The only important thing is that they have tried to use illegal assistance - in other words, they have cheated.
The only way Feller could prove his innocence would be to disclose the sms'es that he got, as proposed by some people here and also the online chess magazine 'Chessbase'. I have no doubt, however, that he will never do that since I am fully convinced by the behaviour of the people involved that cheating actually took place, and that the sms'es contain important evidence against Feller. Even in this interview, he does not say it straight that he had not used any computer assistance during his games at the Olympiad.
Feller should rather learn from this case, serve his sentence of 5 years, and re-start his carreer with a clear conscience. We will welcome him back then, since he is undoubtedly a strong player even without computers. By that time, he will hopefully have morals that match his playing strength.
A.B.
What does all those "problems
What does all those "problems with the French Fed" have to do with those damning SMS's that alarmed the Federation enough to make those charges?
If the player is clean, and wants the world not to doubt his innocence, it would be a natural and honourable thing for him to authorise the release of those SMS's.
After that, he can defy the French Fed to show that there has been no vendetta against him.
Release the SMSs?
Feller is as guilty as hell.... make no doubt about it.
And the proof is...
Anyone took the Olympic games and made the comparison among Feller's moves and a couple of engine's moves?
If there was cheating, X% of the moves wil be the same. If X% of the moves was not the same, thus there was not cheating.
It is simple like that.
People like to accuse. But what about to work hard to prove the acusation?
French Federation has this duty on its hands.
Otherwise, its accusation is cheating...
Álvaro Frota
Feller
A strong player (like Feller) can be helped only occasionnally, during the game (time pressure / Tactical position) and can win a game only with few moves given from outside of the board. So you can forget about the percentage to proove if someone was helped or not.
Just watch / read / listen to the reactions of Feller's team-members.
Like Fressinet or Maxime Vachier-Lagrave.
It's clear he was cheating.
Normally, Feller is gonna be banned for five years.
Now, he wonders about changing Federation.
Dream little boy, dream...
He was caught on cheating during the Chess Olympics where he won some 4-5000EUR prize for the best performance on the last board and the solution for him is to change federation....
I hope that the FIDE approoves the decision of the french court, and in this case he can search a fedaration on Mars cause not one on this planet will let him play!
Cheaters should be banned for ever!
Feller
World Chess Federation has also publicly stated that no matter what actions French or FIDE federations may or may not take he will be welcome to play in WCF events
His lawyer thinks he might GET AWAY WITH IT!
Fellers lawyer striving to have the sms text messages dismissed as circumstantial evidence and aslso argues that the French courts do not have juristiction outside of France... No wonder Feller is hopeful that HE MIGHT GET AWAY WITH IT!
Feller offered WCF title match opportunity if French Federation
Otura nouvelles: WCF 5,5 millions, "Championnat du parti titre mondial d'échecs (www.wcfchess.com) se tiendra au Casino Hôtel Mitspa à Tonopah, Nevada date de début Septembre provisoire des désirs 30.2011 General Motors Feller WCF pour savoir que si la fédération française prend des mesures contre lui WCF accueille Feller General Motors pour envisager de contester le gagnant de cet événement pour un match pour le titre en 2012 WCF possibles
WFC WCF or KFC?
Never mind Feller, I'll challenge for the KFC (Kentucky Fried Chicken) chess championship of the world!
gold medal
If he is found guilty by the appeals court can we assume that he will not seek refudge with another federation and that FIDE will strip him of the Olympic medal.
Feller and Playchess
Feller got caught there multiple times. Of course one can doubt online chess, but it's in my opinion rather significant: Feller means trouble and cheating. Why he may play the French Championship and the FIDE World Cup? Because he is not guilty? Wrong, he found be guilty by the FFE but the court in Versailles nullified it through a formal defect (as far I as understand it).
Who can say why....
If I remember correctly one of your friends and co-accused has confessed (cough) "peculiar behaviour", no?
Please explain Sebastien!
Serious allegations against you have been made yet you do not address them directly instead you make unproven allegations against others. Meh!
Does Feller object to
Does Feller object to disclosing the sms-messages that were alledgedly send when he cheated?
no proof anyway
Anybody could send you (or any GM) sms with "moves", so these does not prove any cheating (as long as they aren't used to help your play), but many people (outside of chess, or even not) would make (wrong) direct conclusions of such smss.
Furthermore, although any external help must be prohibited, I'm not fully convinced that some simple external help (like "moves" generated by some engine, in very short time) will improve the play of a strong GM : he cannot fully rely on this help, and will lose in concentration maybe more than he will gain with potentially strong moves (which will not necessarly always prove to be "the best").
"short time"
If you use a good machine and a 3000+ elo engine, 10-15 minutes are a LOOOONG time.
There are these sms, which have a time reference, and there are the played moves, with time reference too: data are there to be seen, confronted and evaluated, but the involved player and federation are not diclosing them.
Once the actual records will be FULLY disclosed I think there will be very little possible doubt, if the cheating took place.
if I can
If I can get the phone number from Anand/Carlsen/or any other strong player, and I send them the moves générated by some strong engine in their ongoing game, and if they play quite often these moves (which would be the case if these engines are so strong), it would prove no cheat at all.... or would it ?
there is much less than 10-15 minutes
In games, the players have on average about 3 minutes per move, so if any help is intended, the computer must give the right move within a few seconds, than the move must be sent to the player, received by the player (and remember that SMSs do not arrive in real time : sometimes they take a few seconds to arrive, often minutes, sometimes they even take hours ! What you call "SMS time" is only the time it crosses some equipment called "SMS server", not the time it was received on the mobile device), understood and verified by the player, then played.
I'm not convinced that an engine can so easily play much better (with only a few seconds/move) than a strong grandmaster.
Average time? Sabotage with sms?
That "average time" is not the time players take for any move in a game. Infact I suspect 3 minutes is a time no player would spend for a move: they'll be much faster, like in the opening (10 to 25 moves in less than a minute: this has quite some weight on the final single move average, when a "normal" game usually lasts something around 60 to 80 moves) or in forced move situations and similar; or much slower, as at critical points of the game (where 20-30 minutes for a single move are a common thing: that's when the engine would be VERY useful!) or when complications arise (10-15 minutes are more than a common thinking time at the beginning of a tactically complex capaign: THE situation for the silicon friend to show his brute force).
About the telephone sabotaging scheme pictured in the previous comment: first of all it's incredible how often people who don't want to belive an occurrance is possible explain their un-belief with some alternative possibility which is FAR less beliveble itself, if objectively considered.
Anyway, here there's too much to lightheartly pass this as some kind of french federation's president going at a personal war against Feller. The people involved and sanctioned beside Feller himself, the borrowing of outside people's mobiles, the revelations already made for sure and allegedly by the suspected cheating team components, the time reference of the sms and of the moves (IF corresponding: that's why these data should be disclosed, as they're the key evidence of guilt or innocence),... all the elements known simply make the cheating as the most belivable explanation, at this moment.
The problem ramins the same: disclose all the solid material publicly, so that all questions will be answered!
Benefit of the doubt...
Given Feller's excellent performance (under paranoid scrutiny) at the recent European Championship, I'm prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt on this whole cheating "scandal".
Benefit of the doubt?
Oh, so you're saying that since he's proven himself to be a strong player, he didn't cheat during the Olympiad?
gold medal
so if he is found guilty again by the appeals court can we assume FIDE will then strip him of the olympic medal and impose a world wide ban?
No time to ban him...
(...) because they are phoning with gaddafi (http://www.businessinsider.com/kirsan-ilyumzhinov-libya-2011-8).
But anyway the easiest way for the accused players to recover their image should be to publish the sms, isn´t it?!