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Gaioz Nigalidze

Gaioz in 2013
Country Georgia
Born 24 April 1989
Title Grandmaster (2014,) Revoked to International Master (Attained in 2009)
Peak rating 2566 (January 2015)

Gaioz Nigalidze (Georgian გაიოზ ნიგალიძე; born April 24, 1989) is a Georgian chess player and International Master who was Georgian Chess Champion in 2013 and 2014. He was previously awarded a Grandmaster Title in 2014. He drew attention to himself by cheating at the 2015 Dubai Open. Tigran Petrosian, his opponent in the 6th round, complained that Nigalidze had been routinely going to the bathroom during the game in a crucial position. Petrosian had also previously been suspicious of Nigalidze for similar practice when he won in Al Ain in December 2014. He complained to Chief Arbiter Mahdi Abdul Rahim that it was unusual as he was always going to the same stall. After checking the bathroom stall, a smart phone as well as a headset was found hidden behind a pan and beneath some toilet paper. While Nigalizde originally denied owning the devices, the smart phone was logged into one of his social networking account and his current position was displayed on a program. He was expelled from the tournament. The rules of FIDE players to use electronic devices capable of communication or analysis of the game strictly prohibited and similar scams punished by exclusion from the tournament for 3 years, when repeated for up to 15 years. He has been subsequently banned for 3 years (until September 2018) and his Grandmaster title was revoked. His previous tournaments were also investigated.

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Cheating in chess

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