08.26.08 There have been a number of comments generated on ChessMaine.net regarding the issue of withdrawing from a tournament that represent valid albeit different opinions. We bring you these comments, some pertinent rules from the USCF's Official Rules of Chess 5th Edition and a link to a new chess blog in Maine that takes on this issue. We encourage you to weigh in with your opinion.

Rules Related to Withdrawals

13G. Players must give notice if withdrawing or skipping a round.
A player who does not notify the tournament director well in advance of the inability to play in any round and then defaults the game under 13D, Late arrival for the game, may be ejected from the tournament, and may be fined a sum up to the amout of the entry fee, payable to the organizer. The player may be barred from any of the organizer's tournaments until the fine is payed. On request, the player may be retained in or readmitted to the tournament at the director's discretion.

30D. Penalties for Withdrawals.
Players who withdraw without sufficient reason or who repeatedly withdraw from round robins may be denied entry in future such events, or may be charged a special deposit, which will be refunded upon completion of all games. The latter is in addition to any deposit the organizer may choose to require of all players in an effort to minimize withdrawals.

32C1. Withdrawals.
Unless the director decides otherwise, players who fail to complete the tournament are not entitled to prizes.

Reader Comments:

I'd like to use this forum for this time to address players who loose and then drop out, especially higher rated ones. It's most uncourteous and disrespectful to the t.d. and to other players who would like to play you. I suggest a 20 dollar fee to anyone doing this. Of course there are legitament reasons for leaving that would nullify this ruling. I do hope this trend stops. Roger Morin
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I have to take exception to former state champion and always a gentleman Roger Morin's comment about withdrawing before the tournament is completed. Once you pay your entry fee you are not under any obligations to finish the tournament. The only discourteous and unsportsmanlike way to withdraw is to not notify the TD that you are withdrawing because that leaves a player paired with an invisible opponent. Players withdraw for a myriad of reasons i.e., "I want to play golf tomorrow", "I have a bad case of the flu", "I just fell in love with the girl who made my Italian sandwitch" etc. The TD has a lot of authority in a tournament but requiring a player to sit down at the board and play when he or she doesn't desire to is not one of them. Phil Lowell
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This site is such a great place to exchange chess ideas. I thank Phil for his insight and of course I agree with the points he makes. I admit that when I was in my 20s I also withdrew from tournaments after a disheartning loss. Oh the pain of it all. I gave up chess for 6 months once because I lost. I found out that quiting gets easier and easier the more you do it and can become a bad habit to carry on later in life. Maine players are the most courteous players I ever met and I hope I get to play all of you many times. Roger Morin
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This from Andy Bryan the web editor of Maine's newest chess blog EasternMaineChess.blogspot.com

Are Players Obligated to Play All Rounds?
On chessmaine.net the discussion has arisen that addresses whether or not high rated players in particular are obligated to play all rounds especially if they happen to be upset early in the tournament. I understand that it would be nice if all players stayed throughout the duration of a tournament. If a TD believes that it could cause some difficulties, then the tournament flier should include penalties for those who withdraw that follow USCF rules.

I believe that players who pay an entry fee have the right to withdraw at anytime. As a TD I want to encourage high rated players to play. It is difficult for them to have to play in Opens that include all shapes and sizes of ratings; there is not much to gain by playing lower rated opposition all the time.

In Maine we need to encourage those with high ratings to play. We also need them to play our young guns who have lower ratings. The best way to encourage participation will be better purses, and this will only happen if we can find sponsors. It takes effort and will be difficult. I hope that we can find a way to tap into the increasing interest that is happening in Maine to find sponsors. It can happen.

Chessmaine.net has rekindled interest in the game with the constant publicity on the web. The next step is to tap into more mainstream media outlets. Newspaper contacts are important. The weekly posting of the chess club results in the Ellsworth American has drawn more people; more publicity in the Bangor Daily couldn't hurt.

In the end players should try to be respectful and make decisions that don't harm future tournaments, while tournament organizers should encourage players to participate by trying to raise purses, hold tournaments in player-friendly venues, and using and applying computers correctly in carrying out pairings. Andy Bryan
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So what do you think? We'd like to hear from you.