Can online ratings translate to OTB Chess? FIDE's new move faces scrutiny

PUNE: Chess experts have reacted with a mix of hope and caution to FIDE’s experimental project that could allow players to earn their first official overthe-board rapid and blitz rating through online play, up to Elo 1800.

The move gives a platform to players who, for a variety of reasons, do not have access to over-the-board (OTB) tournaments and therefore cannot get aFIDE rating. But several questions remain unanswered.RB Ramesh, founder and coach of Chess Gurukul in Chennai and mentor to R Praggnanandhaa, said, “Ideally, leave online and OTB chess distinct — anti-cheating mechanisms are not perfect.”N Srinath, captain of India’s gold-winning open team at the 2024 Chess Olympiad, posted on X: “Very skeptical about the efficacy of fairplay checks.

Online play and OTB ratings shouldn’t be mixed.”FIDE has said the eligibility of online events for rating conversion will depend on strict fair-play checks. The players’ online results will be assessed through a coefficient set by specialists, recalibrated every six months against large player cohorts and approved by FIDE.The players will be able to convert their online rating to an OTB rapid or blitz rating once every calendar year.