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To shake or Not to shake? FIDE answers the Question.

There is discussion on the web, specifically at the Closet Grandmaster's site, about FIDE's new(?) rule about behavioural norms of players in competition. I don't know exactly when this rule was first created, but it seems that the FIDE Presidential Board was reacting to incidents that it felt were offensive to officials and players. Here is an excerpt:

" Any player who does not shake hands with the opponent (or greets the opponent in a normal social manner in accordance with the conventional rules of their society) before the game starts in a FIDE tournament or during a FIDE match (and does not do it after being asked to do so by the arbiter) or deliberately insults his/her opponent or the officials of the event, will immediately and finally lose the relevant game. "

There must have been noteworthy incidents of boorishness on the international circuit for FIDE to incorporate such a rule into their code. I remember watching a video of the first match-up between Kramnik and Topalov after their world championship match in Elista, and neither one of them extended a hand. Kramnik, tactfully, arrived at the table with a small cup of coffee in one hand and a bottle of water in the other. How could the fellow extend his hand? Now, I feel that was brilliantly planned and I don't mean that in a critical or sarcastic way. Kramnik, himself, stated in an interview that he does not want anything to do with Topalov and Danilov as much as possible. As for Topalov, he had nothing in his hands, and he did not extend any of them anyway. Inspite of this, I think that they were still very civil with each other because no OTB trash talk or tantrums took place. They just ignored each other.

The way I read the rule is that a player should extend his/her hand for a handshake OR greet the opponent in a courteous manner. People have commented that they have personal reasons why shaking hands is not a good idea for them. They have concerns about cleanliness, catching colds, arthritis pains, and so on. Well, then, if ever you are in a FIDE event, just give your opponent a warm " Hi and Hello " and you've conformed with the law of FIDE. Bear hugs are not required, by the way.
http://www.fide.com/news.asp?id=1391

Comments

  • 4 years ago

    Hootonium

    They don't seem to have a problem enforcing it upon the folk at Corus 2008 right now. In Group B, Nigel Short went to the arbiter for his Round 8 game against Ivan Cheparinov due to Cheparinov refusing to shake hands with him. The game was quickly forfeited, giving Short the point.

     

    Perhaps it is a bit draconian, but seriously...why on earth would you refuse to shake someone's hand before engaging in any sport or activity? More than a customary greeting, the handshake or even a bow is considered to be the way to honor your opponent. Refusing to do so is showing nothing but disrespect and childish behavior (Actually, scratch that. Do the very young children at tournaments play like this? No, they shake their opponent's hand and give them their best). Slapping someone on the wrist for disrespecting (and quite possibly landing a psychological blow against their opponent -- anyone remember Anna Rudolf's problems? The chapstick that supposedly contained Rybka?) won't work in this environment, so they really have no choice but to go "no holds barred" on the jerks that won't show even the most common of courtesies. 


  • 5 years ago

    KngbshopP

    I think more or less they just had to say it and put it into writing and however the players (GM's) interpret it is the norm.  We common folk have to keep a certain magnitude of mannerism considering the judges are proabably better than us.  But you would think that would be the norm?
  • 5 years ago

    Chessbuff

    Well, yes, sonofpearl...it's the loss of the game that's the crux of the matter here. It strikes me as draconian, and I wonder who's watching and who's going to enforce this rule. Sometimes, there's a lot of things said but strict enforcement of the rule is a far cry from its strong phraseology. Jaywalking is against the law in New York City, but the millions who violate it don't get ticketed. Imagine, it would be big news if one of FIDE's top 20 players lost a game because he/she refused to shake hands or greet the opponent. I don't think FIDE has the backbone to penalize, say, Kramnik or Topalov. 
  • 5 years ago

    SonofPearl

    Yet more bizarre laws from FIDE.  The rules already say (Clause 12.6), "It is forbidden to distract or annoy the opponent in any manner whatsoever."

     

    Greeting your opponent in a friendly manner and shaking hands before the game gets underway is a courtesy to your opponent.  Forcing players to do this takes the meaning away from this sporting act by making it compulsory! Yell

     

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Chessbuff
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