How Players Cheat in Chess: Insights from World Chess CEO Ilya Merenzon

by Eva Roberts · 14/09/2024

Ilya Merenzon, CEO of World Chess, reveals the most common ways players cheat in chess and explains the anti-cheating measures used at major tournaments.

BollywoodFever: Cheating in chess has become a hot topic, especially after high-profile accusations involving top players. In an interview with Dexerto, Ilya Merenzon, the CEO of World Chess, shared the most common methods players use to cheat and how his organization prevents it during tournaments.

While cheating in over-the-board chess isn’t as rampant or sophisticated as some may think, it still happens. Following Magnus Carlsen’s accusations against Hans Niemann in 2022, rumors swirled about how Niemann could have cheated without detection.

One theory suggested that Niemann used a vibrating device inside his body to receive signals on which moves to play, though this claim was never proven.

Merenzon clarified that cheating at the highest level is usually much simpler and often involves players sneaking glances at a smartphone. “A device such as a smartphone has more computing power than humans, so getting the phone into a tournament can give a player a huge advantage,” Merenzon said. To counter this, World Chess employs strict measures such as monitoring for radio signals, audience interference, and ensuring no phones are brought into the venue.

The most recent case of confirmed cheating occurred at the 2024 Chicago Open, where a player was caught using a phone hidden in their lap to assist with their moves. Other notable incidents, like the 2023 Romanian Championship and the 2019 Igors Rausis scandal, involved players using phones in the bathroom during games.

Although online chess has seen a surge in cheating accusations, in-person cheating remains relatively rare. Merenzon emphasized that no players have been caught cheating at World Chess events.

However, Merenzon pointed out that anti-cheating measures aim to do more than just catch rule-breakers. The main goal is to make sure that players feel safe to play, because if the player is concerned about it, their play will be different, and their focus can be impacted,” he explained.

World Chess continues to enforce these measures to ensure fair play and maintain a trusted environment for all competitors.

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