Fair Play is the Most Important

KOMPAS/ADRIAN FAJRIANSYAH

Dewa_Kipas game graphics on Chess.com are consistent at the top with high accuracy in the Feb. 11-Feb. 21 period. The Dewa_Kipas game graphics were reviewed in a press conference regarding Online Chess Education and its problems in connection to the Dewa_Kipas case, Friday (12/3/2021) (These captions were translated by Hyginus Hardoyo)

In the last two weeks, the online chess world has been rocked by a case related to an Indonesian chess player using the account name "Dewa_Kipas". The controversy emerged when Dewa_Kipas defeated American chess player, International Master (IM) Levy Rozman, who goes by the name GothamChess in a 10-minute quick chess match on the Chess.com app on March 2, 2021.

The controversy has dragged on. Chess.com then blocked the Dewa_Kipas account because it said Dewa_Kipas violated fair play rules. The online chess application manager called Dewa_Kipas game movements unnatural, as generally done by emotional chess players.

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A study from the Fair Play team shows that the movement accuracy rate of dozens of Dewa_Kipas matches often reached 98 percent. This is almost impossible for a chess player to achieve without competing experience and a track record of achievement without the help of a chess engine. When defeating GothamChess, the accuracy reached 93.5 percent.

On the other hand, Dadang Subur, the chess player from Bandung who owns the Dewa_Kipas account, through his son, insisted that he had not cheated. This case then grew boisterous on social media, with groups supporting and opposing arguing and lambasting one another.

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Both sides have strong arguments. Chess.com relied on match data and the support of a statistical team that checked algorithms to read cheating in matches before deciding to close the account. Dewa_Kipas also insisted that he did not cheat, precisely because the account owner did not really understand technology and recorded steps manually.

KOMPAS/ADRIAN FAJRIANSYAH

Chess.com\'s statement regarding the blocking of the Dewa_Kipas account, as circulated on Twitter, Thursday (4/3/2021). The manager of Chess.com reiterated the reason for closing the account owned by a chess player from Bandung, Dadang Subur, last weekend. (These captions were translated by Hyginus Hardoyo)

Online matches that take place without meeting face-to-face allow players to consult a companion or get help with their moves. Therefore, honesty and sportsmanship are needed to ensure the matches continue to run fairly, like when the two chess players face off directly.

As for the basic values of fair play in sports, such as sportsmanship, honesty, mutual respect, integrity and fair competition, to name a few, remain the same.

Because in reality, online matches are simply moving the platform of sports matches, from physical encounters to taking place in cyberspace, with the adaptation of the rules to allow these matches to take place. As for the basic values of fair play in sports, such as sportsmanship, honesty, mutual respect, integrity and fair competition, to name a few, remain the same.

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These values also need to be of concern to online game players in the country, which according to the Indonesia Esports Premier League, there were 62.1 million people (2019). Online games open up many possibilities, but the values of sportsmanship must still be upheld. It is much better if these values are also understood by all social media users to remain polite and not add fuel to the fire.

(This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo)