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2013-04-24 06:54:00 UTC
Player hauls 'cheating' chess teen out of toilet cubicle
By Barry Duggan, Nicola Anderson and Niall O'Connor – 24 April 2013
A chess player in th Republic of Ireland who hauled his schoolboy
opponent from a toilet cubicle after he allegedly caught him cheating
has no regrets over his actions.
Gardai were called to the Cork Congress Chess Open after the 16-year-
old -- who attends a private Dublin school -- was accused of cheating
by his rival.
Gabriel Mirza -- former secretary of the Irish Chess Union (ICU) --
said he caught the teen using an Android computer to establish his
next move in a toilet cubicle during their match over the weekend.
Mr Mirza (47) said he kicked in the cubicle door at the Metropole
Hotel and hauled his opponent out before organisers of the tournament
intervened. He said he was proud of what he did.
It is believed gardai have not yet received any complaint.
ICU chairman Jonathan O'Connor said they were waiting for a report
from the controller of the event. It is expected the issue will be
discussed at an ICU committee meeting tonight.
Mr Mirza, a father of two, said he wanted to win the tournament, where
€400 was on offer.
"My opponent, after each move, he went out (to the toilet). He went in
and out 20 times. We had made 24 moves.
"After the second or third move I knew he was checking (on the
computer)."
Mr Mirza said he followed and looked inside a toilet cubicle.
"He was on an Android tablet and was putting the moves into it. I
wanted to jump inside and get his Android, but I couldn't reach. I
couldn't go over the (top). I went straight to the controller, Gerry
Graham, and told him to follow me. I shouted and disturbed other
players from their games because I was mad.
"Of course I was mad, so I smashed in the door. The guy was sitting,
but not using the toilet. I pulled him out."
Mr Mirza, who runs St Michael's Chess Club in Limerick, admitted to
being held back by one of the organisers. "He said 'relax and calm
down'. His coaches called the guards. One of his coaches wanted to
fight with me," Mr Mirza said. "One of the guards interviewed me and
one interviewed that person.
"I was playing against the machine (the Android tablet). He was
expelled -- disqualified. I wasn't allowed to play the last game
either.
"I am proud for what I did. I don't regret anything," he said.
Mr Graham -- the Cork tournament arbiter -- informed Mr Mirza via
email that he had been expelled.
"As I witnessed you assaulting another player, a junior player, only
16, I would cite that you certainly took an action that will bring the
game of chess into disrepute," the email said.
As a result of Sunday's incident, Mr Mirza is no longer allowed to
teach chess as part of after-hours classes at two primary schools in
Limerick.
Mr Mirza led the Irish delegation to November's world youth chess
championships in Slovenia. He previously played professional soccer in
his native Romania for Dinamo Bucharest and Otelul Galati.
The principal of the boy's secondary school was said to be not talking
on the issue.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/republic-of-ireland/player-hauls-cheating-chess-teen-out-of-toilet-cubicle-29217433.html
By Barry Duggan, Nicola Anderson and Niall O'Connor – 24 April 2013
A chess player in th Republic of Ireland who hauled his schoolboy
opponent from a toilet cubicle after he allegedly caught him cheating
has no regrets over his actions.
Gardai were called to the Cork Congress Chess Open after the 16-year-
old -- who attends a private Dublin school -- was accused of cheating
by his rival.
Gabriel Mirza -- former secretary of the Irish Chess Union (ICU) --
said he caught the teen using an Android computer to establish his
next move in a toilet cubicle during their match over the weekend.
Mr Mirza (47) said he kicked in the cubicle door at the Metropole
Hotel and hauled his opponent out before organisers of the tournament
intervened. He said he was proud of what he did.
It is believed gardai have not yet received any complaint.
ICU chairman Jonathan O'Connor said they were waiting for a report
from the controller of the event. It is expected the issue will be
discussed at an ICU committee meeting tonight.
Mr Mirza, a father of two, said he wanted to win the tournament, where
€400 was on offer.
"My opponent, after each move, he went out (to the toilet). He went in
and out 20 times. We had made 24 moves.
"After the second or third move I knew he was checking (on the
computer)."
Mr Mirza said he followed and looked inside a toilet cubicle.
"He was on an Android tablet and was putting the moves into it. I
wanted to jump inside and get his Android, but I couldn't reach. I
couldn't go over the (top). I went straight to the controller, Gerry
Graham, and told him to follow me. I shouted and disturbed other
players from their games because I was mad.
"Of course I was mad, so I smashed in the door. The guy was sitting,
but not using the toilet. I pulled him out."
Mr Mirza, who runs St Michael's Chess Club in Limerick, admitted to
being held back by one of the organisers. "He said 'relax and calm
down'. His coaches called the guards. One of his coaches wanted to
fight with me," Mr Mirza said. "One of the guards interviewed me and
one interviewed that person.
"I was playing against the machine (the Android tablet). He was
expelled -- disqualified. I wasn't allowed to play the last game
either.
"I am proud for what I did. I don't regret anything," he said.
Mr Graham -- the Cork tournament arbiter -- informed Mr Mirza via
email that he had been expelled.
"As I witnessed you assaulting another player, a junior player, only
16, I would cite that you certainly took an action that will bring the
game of chess into disrepute," the email said.
As a result of Sunday's incident, Mr Mirza is no longer allowed to
teach chess as part of after-hours classes at two primary schools in
Limerick.
Mr Mirza led the Irish delegation to November's world youth chess
championships in Slovenia. He previously played professional soccer in
his native Romania for Dinamo Bucharest and Otelul Galati.
The principal of the boy's secondary school was said to be not talking
on the issue.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/local-national/republic-of-ireland/player-hauls-cheating-chess-teen-out-of-toilet-cubicle-29217433.html