The Fifth Ranked Player

The only person's rating I care about is my own.  If there are people using computers to assist their play then, as my mum would say , "they're only cheating themselves".

The main point to stress is that these forums are not a kangaroo court for people to throw accusations at other players, whether those accusations are justified or not.

The appropriate response is to report any suspicions to the admin at chess.com and they will keep an eye on the member concerned.  Anyone accusing another member of cheating in the forum is doing as much harm as the (alleged) cheater.

All 3 games were lost by timeout, more likely something kept him from getting to the internet today. If he was going to cover his butt, why wouldn't he change after the last time there was a thread accusing him of cheating?

 Claiming that you can tell that he does not use a computer program seems crazy to me. I absolutely agree with everything else though. Let's stop accusing people of things and get to chess. There are plenty of chess related things we could be discussing: Analysis, principles, tactics, planning, etc. We could all be making each other better. Let's not waste our time with accusations.

Credit needs to given were it's due. I see alot of valid comments. The rating is in fact very commendable...if it's real. To me, the issue that Reservesmonkey presented isn't so much that this player is using underhanded methods to win. I believe that he's concerned with detecting those kinds of players. It's true, if many players inflate their rating by cheating, truely stronger players lose interest and faith in the site. We all want them to remain active within the site because that's part of how we improve, by playing stronger players. So I'd like to add to Reservesmonkey...can there really be a near-fool proof method to judge a player's ability? I like the idea of having stronger players analyze the game, or maybe more appropriately, the site staff if they can manage it.

For Lomis, you're right, the way this issue was presented may not have been the best way. This player probably very well is that good. If not, then it'll be apparent eventually enough right? The last thing we want to do is discourage a strong player from remaining with us. With as many open and current games going on, it's an increadible feat to be able to hop from one game to the next. I'm sure that many people can even say that he's helped them improve.

I'd really like to see how this turns out in the end...

I would like to know how you can "confirm" that anyone is not cheating? Did you see any blunders in izo's games? Wit over 100 games even a GM would blunder a few times, but fritz won't. Of the top 20 players on this site only a couple of them are titled, how likely do you think that is? I think there are some very naieve people here.

I did find mistakes in Izo's games. Of course, I did this with the help of a computer. I mentioned this earlier in this thread.

For all we know, Izo is a titled player who just didn't mention it on his profile, either because he didn't realize he should or preferred not to. Maybe nobody pays attention to National titles in Macedonia (I honestly haven't a clue) and just pay attention to FIDE titles. Maybe he is FM strength but hasn't yet received the title from FIDE.

I noticed in my 2 games with you, Reb, that you moved very quickly. I think an expert can outperform an NM if he takes twice as long to move.

So how likely do I think it is that players in the top 20 are not titled or haven't listed their title? I guess I see how that can happen without causing me too much surprise.  Could some of them be cheating? sure, any of them could be cheating. But despite the fact that no on has present any evidence of actual cheating, plenty of people are willing to spout out accusations.

It doesn't matter much anymore since he/she quit playing.

All of his games are timing out. Believe me, I have my doubts about certain players everywhere I play on the internet. The fact is that you will just have to deal with it, play your best and if you get beat down, learn from it.

The best solution is to find sanity in over the board play. That's the only way you can limit the use of outside forces. Although not entirely. I play over the board regularly because it adds the element of reality. It brings me back down to earth. My online ratings are always much better than my OTB play.

Somehow I doubt we ran him off. Whether he was cheating or an extremely talented player, I don't think this thread should be enough to chase him off.

However, It bears repeating, public accusations in the forums are a very bad idea.  It's not naivety, we all know cheating happens. Nobody has suggested that. What has been suggested, and I feel rightly so, is that nobody should just cast out public accusations without proof.

Someone's record is not proof of cheating. It may however be cause for an investigation. If people want to investigate Izo... or myself ... or anyone else, more power to them.

I had a friend that kept getting accused of cheating on his wife. He wasn't. He would be over at my house or talking to me on the phone and she would pick up the other line or happen to drive by my place to make sure my friend was actually there. He eventually did cheat on her. When I asked him why he said "I'm already being persecuted for cheating and treated like a cheater so I'm paying the price without the benefit. Now I get the benefit too." If you accuse people of cheating and they really aren't, they just might start.

It was off the bumpersticker of your grandmother's car. Your mother had the same thing tatooed on her bum, I should know. Just call me pappy son!