A recent article in UK newspaper The Guardian, discussed the increasingly common phenomenon of cheating in high-stakes chess games. Chess is one of the world’s most popular games with Chesshistory.com explaining that estimates of the number of global players vary from a few hundred thousand, to a billion!
As with any highly competitive activity, the stakes in chess are high. Professional chess tournaments attract prizes of tens of thousands of dollars, as well as bringing fame and prestige to victorious players.
These rewards can attract cheats.
With chess games increasingly being played online over platforms like the excellent Chess.com, the question arises of how best to ensure that players are not cheating or engaged in any nefarious activity in order to gain an advantage over an opponent.
In common with a high-stakes exam setting, the strictly controlled environments of professional chess tournaments require players to be monitored at all times by independent, qualified adjudicators. But with chess games occurring online, with players in different parts of the world – often playing from home, the question arises of how best to moderate high-stakes competitions under these conditions.
One answer is remote invigilation for chess.
Technology can now allow both players to access a secure gaming session within a remote invigilation platform like VICTVS V3; wherein an independent, professional invigilator will host the match and ensure that both players’ conduct is in keeping with the agreed rules.
Environmental checks allow the invigilator to make sure that no cheat sheets, prompts, or other forms of assistance are to hand to either player. ID checks, high-definition video and audio recording along with options for private audience viewings, can add to the integrity of the competition and to the quality of the remote gaming experience for the players and fans.
Remote invigilation for chess is a new, digital response to an age-old, analogue phenomenon that has found its way into online competition. Whilst online chess games might not replicate the atmosphere of an in-person match or tournament, they are a fantastic part of the evolution of a sport that brings together people from all over the world, and it is a great thing to be able to use our online technology to support the spirit of fair competition.
To speak to us about booking a VICTVS invigilator for your match or for more information on remote invigilation for chess, please contact us on victvs@victvs.co.uk or call +44 (0) 113 539 7056.
