From the Wonderful World of Statistics:
Soviet Chess Players Colluded Among Themselves
Two Washington University economics professors say they have strong evidence, with the help of statistics, that the game indeed has not always been pure.
Their study suggests that chess players in the former Soviet Union colluded by taking early draws against each other to increase the chances of Soviet success in international competitions.
John Nye says the study he authored, along with Charles Moul, is the first to give mathematical proof of the collusion. They have presented their findings at academic conferences.
In the study, which is still being peer reviewed and considered for publication, Nye and Moul analyzed the results of 4,366 games from 1940 to 1964. They compared the matches of qualifying tournaments for the world championship to those in all-Soviet tournaments.
Nye said his study leaves little doubt in his mind that the Soviets were colluding. But what has not been resolved – and perhaps never will be since most of the players of that era are now dead – is whether it was government-sponsored or a more informal arrangement between compatriots.
Yeah, right, the widespread collusion was maybe just individual combatants making an informal agreement. Uh huh. Right.
Statistical differences in player performance between international and internal tournament play don’t necessarily prove collusion. Then again, if the corner store clerk who can’t count change always errs in the store’s favor…
From 1940 through 1964 did ANYTHING of note happen in the USSR that wasn’t overseen by government apparatchiks?
Who cares, really?
“Who cares, really?”
To chess players, the story will be either interesting or amusing. You have to know the history to understand the study.
improbus cares enough to ask who cares. That’s a pretty high level of caring. 47 times out of 78, that means the subject cares more about the issue at hand than about toilet paper patterns ….
The result is not surprising, for many reasons. Take just this one reason. You come to a tournament in an entourage with other Soviet players. The large group includes muscular gentlemen whose exact roles aren’t clear to you. As a collectivist society, you share information such as opening preparation with each other. If there is an adjourned game, some or all of the other Soviet players will help analyze it over night while you get your sleep. This working together is totally above board, in accordance with the rules.
So, who ya’ gonna’ try harder to defeat?
Just last weekend I played in a tournament where draws were rewarded with only 40% of the total points which go to a victory. In usual tournaments a draw is “splitting the point”, in other words 100% payback. The event was called a GM Slugfest. Here
http://www.slugfest7.com/public/department2.cfm
is the link. The home page looks strangely, as though all involved are obsessed with money. There’s more content in the pages that branch out from there. Oh yeah, if you want, you can vote for some of my games as your favorite.
You sports fanatics. Tch,Tch.
no more than americans cheat at card games
And, I’ll bet they used performance enhancing drugs, too ! …
“And, I’ll bet they used performance enhancing drugs, too ! …”–Bob
Don’t get me started. That’s another hot topic in the world of chess. First they tell us that illicit drugs adversely affect our mental faculties, then we are told that chess players should be drug-tested to make sure they are not taking drugs that improve their play. I love the logic of the war on drugs. I want to know which drug will make me play a better game of chess.
Way to be a conspirasist! Legendary chess players (or, anything players) tend to either stick togather or be enemies. And, yes, if the players stuck together, then it could’ve been a friendly deal to help each other out. But, more importantly, There is no proof of such a deal taking place, as obviously, on a international stage, there is more patriatism at play, as well as more pressure to win, and thus better performance.
This is what happens when you recruit people who excell in a sport over those with Academic abilities.
Next, you’ll be telling me that Amatures where being given phoney jobs in the off season, so they would have an income while they secretly trained.
I’m with the who cares crowd. What happened happened. Get over it. If it is that important to you, learn the lesson and watch for cheating next match. Then go home and kiss your wife and play with your kid.
serperate from the who cares crowd…
so?
is it wrong for a nation to send its best players to competitions? is this any different?