03-05-2015, 06:17 PM
Hi Craig,
There is what is written in the Laws of Chess (that which you correctly state) and there is what should have been written in the Laws of Chess!!!
It was intended in Tromso to amend the Laws to state that phones were allowed provided they were switched off and kept in a bag which should not be carried by the player. The General Assembly was inquorate so this could not be passed and only a GA can change the Laws.
The proposed change in the Law was accepted by the Rules Commission, the Arbiters Commission and the Anti Cheating Commission. As a compromise it was agreed that a strong recommendation should be sent out to all federations that the 'new' law should be implemented in all but the most high profile events. The next GA should adopt this new Law for all events though tournaments may decide to ban them.
To have a separate room to store phones might be costly. Such a room might have to be hired. It would need to be staffed constantly for both convenience and security. It is the ideal situation but not always practical unless volunteers can be found and players are willing to pay more for the service.
At current prices the hire of even a small room could be £100 for the weekend or perhaps £2 per phone.
Another question. What would the organiser do with all the phones that people failed to collect before leaving?
There is what is written in the Laws of Chess (that which you correctly state) and there is what should have been written in the Laws of Chess!!!
It was intended in Tromso to amend the Laws to state that phones were allowed provided they were switched off and kept in a bag which should not be carried by the player. The General Assembly was inquorate so this could not be passed and only a GA can change the Laws.
The proposed change in the Law was accepted by the Rules Commission, the Arbiters Commission and the Anti Cheating Commission. As a compromise it was agreed that a strong recommendation should be sent out to all federations that the 'new' law should be implemented in all but the most high profile events. The next GA should adopt this new Law for all events though tournaments may decide to ban them.
To have a separate room to store phones might be costly. Such a room might have to be hired. It would need to be staffed constantly for both convenience and security. It is the ideal situation but not always practical unless volunteers can be found and players are willing to pay more for the service.
At current prices the hire of even a small room could be £100 for the weekend or perhaps £2 per phone.
Another question. What would the organiser do with all the phones that people failed to collect before leaving?