As the prestigious Ecobank National Schools' Team Chess Championship 2024 draws near J5mi had this interview with a school administrator and chess instructor.

It bothers on the integrity of chess arbiters at tournaments and values of organizers.

What will you like to talk about?
The Ecobank National Schools' Team Chess Championship 2024.


Can we meet you?

Greetings chess coaches/instructors, chess players, school administrators and finally a very special greetings to our highly esteemed up and doing administrators/organizers of The Ecobank National Schools' Team Chess Championship 2024.

I have a little write up, I have captured:

INTEGRITY OF ARBITERS.
I was prompted into writing this mainly because the organizers of this event "The Ecobank National Schools' Team Chess Championship" have proven to be really upright and credible so far in the way they have been discharging and managed every issue that has come up as regards this event till date.
Kudos to the organizers👍.

In our chess community, there have been several issues that have bothered one about arbiter's incompetence, lack of integrity coupled with terrible and questionable organizers that lack transparency.

Often, tournaments are created with them having their premeditated choice-candidates to win the tournaments.

The Ecobank National Schools' Team Chess Championship will involve several hundreds of innocent school children from different primary and secondary schools from all across the country.

I am quite sure that a handful of the arbiters that will be officiating at the event will also doubled as chess coaches with their schools being represented at the event.
I stand to be corrected though.

So, will/can they be really transparent?

Many of our children have been trained to respect teachers/elders, they may not be able to fight for their rights when/if being cheated. This bothers largely on the integrity of the arbiters and can only be "put to check" by the event organizers.

Sadly, within the last two months, I personally saw and witnessed few of these inadequacies at chess tournament. They are heart rending.

"Children coming out of the playing hall crying and complaining that when irregularities like "illegal moves" are reported arbiters will say games should continue. But, if it is the other way round, the same arbiter will uphold." without any explanation!

"I saw chess coaches in the name of being arbiters hovering around their players. One in particular, virtually stood behind his player's opponent almost all through the game." - where is FIDE rule?
- Chief Arbiter scolding a young player for losing a game within the playing hall. In his words: "you, that you are an experienced player, how would you do that?" despite the fact that the tournament was still on.

- Pairing being manipulated in favour of a choice player.

- Chess player was made to play a different opponent other than the one the pairing list, despite the availability of his opponent. Yes, he won, but at the end tie break position was affected

- At a very reputable children's tournament, scores were manipulated to favour a player.
A player that was not on the list, suddenly, appeared on the list after the first round was over, and was given a winning point against another player

Note: this "another player" was on the list and was said to be on bye.
Not just that, the chief arbiter (which I, personally hold with huge respect) clearly said to the player, you are on bye at the beginning of the tournament.
Yet, despite reporting the issue promptly, nothing was done.
The organizers only came to apologize and beg the parent of the child involved at the end of the tournament.

Pls, can you talk more on this, I found that really interesting.

Sadly, it was the boy's first ever chess tournament. The mother looked at me and asked, is this how you ppl do? That almost ended my relationship with the family. The poor boy vowed not to play at any chess tournament again.

What?
Sorry, I am not sure I will like to drag the people involved. By reading this alone, they already know who you interviewed. But, this should sound as a warning, good people with great reputations should try not soil their hands over matters that may cause them to be dragged in the mud. Little things done at times may cause a huge harm.

Fair enough

The primary goal of any chess arbiter is to understand and uphold chess rules in an equitable manner, and to manage conflicts fairly.


I read an article in 2021, written and published by Mr. Eugene Akhiwu Ehidiamen, an international arbiter, with years of experience and also well known in the chess community, where he clearly stated his concerns and dissatisfaction as regards a major chess event then, he emphasized various issues and what he feels should be corrected as regards the arbitration team of the chess events. 
Mr. Eugene Akhiwu's article spiked so much discussion amongst people in the chess community in 2021.

An excerpt from his article.

His Article…

“The Chess Arbiter is a professional in his chosen field and is expected to go through required training and acquire necessary experience to move up the ladder of his profession. Arbitration in Chess Tournaments is not an all comers affair as FIDE places a very high premium on the qualities expected of an Arbiter in a Chess tournament.

FIDE’s views about the Chess Arbiter are crystallised in the preface to the Laws of Chess – viz “……..the Laws assume that Arbiters have the necessary competence, sound judgement and absolute objectivity. ……..”

Talking about integrity. 
Finally, I ask,

Can a student enrolled to write an exam also be one of the invigilators in the exam hall? Is it possible for the Coach of a Football Team even if he is a FIFA graded referee to be part of officiating in a tournament where his team is participating?
Even if this was possible a serious minded Coach would be too involved in trying to strategise for his team’s success to accept such an offer[/i].

If the Coach is not a certified referee and yet offered the job of a referee in a tournament in which his team is participating, then it is either the organisers are trying to undermine his team’s performance by keeping him “busy” or trying to hoodwink other participating teams.


Everything about chess play and administration are guided by rules and regulations and this has been the bane of chess development in Nigeria because some people usually always want to have their way even if they have to lie and mislead other people to get there.[i][/i]

Considering that the effective actions of the Arbiters during the games play a very significant role in the success of any chess event, authorities concerned with the selection process for arbiters should be definite on the competence of the nominated persons.

The first step in this direction is to ensure that the selected person is a trained and certified arbiter before looking at the person’s history of performance and antecedence."

I am adding this: Also, with integrity.


I wish the organizers of The Ecobank National Schools' Team Chess Championship 2024 will borrow one or two clues from this.
Thank you.