In Focus by The Hindu In Focus-Weekend | Something Strange on the Chessboard? Call the Chess Detective.
Nov 9, 2025
Kenneth Regan, a computer scientist and international chess master, shares his expertise as an anti-cheating expert for FIDE. He delves into how the infamous Toiletgate scandal shaped his statistical approach to detecting cheating in chess. Regan discusses the range of contemporary cheating methods, from hidden devices to online assistance. He also tackles the fine line between human genius and engine assistance, revealing how his analytics can differentiate the two. Furthermore, he provides insights into the repercussions of high-profile cheating allegations, including the recent Carlsen-Niemann controversy.
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Cheating Detection As Predictive Analytics
- Regan frames cheating detection as predictive analytics: assign probabilities to legal moves and judge deviations across many moves.
- He treats chess moves like standardized test answers to detect systematic anomalies over large samples.
The Feller Coach-Texting Scandal
- Regan described the 2010 Sebastian Feller case where moves were texted from Paris and signaled via chairs, and he had access to the incriminating messages.
- Statistical analysis showed transmitted moves were about 400 rating points above normal and had a Z score over three, making the odds against chance extremely small.
Hidden Phones And A Recent Bust
- Regan lists documented in-person cheating: phones hidden in toilets, wired players, and earpieces, citing Kirill Shevchenko as a recent caught case.
- Shevchenko was found with a hidden phone and a handwritten note and received a three-year ban after being caught.