I would have removed them from the tournament and told them to come back when they learn how to play a legal game.
Is it ever okay for a spectator to interfere in a tournament game?

hello mother i'm going to play in a chess tournament because i'm good at chess. i know how pawn moves (sometimes.)
why are they participating in a chess tournament?
on a serious note if someone makes an illegal they lose the game.

I've seen all kinds of stuff directing Scholastic events. Triple checks; queens captured en passant; both kings in check, etc.

I would just go speak to the arbiter or tournament director and apprise him or her of the situation.

It is imperative to inform the kids they must learn legal moves. At the end of an instruction course it is typical to hold a tournament. Before the start, the arbiter makes very clear he/she will use their best judgement and might declare games void if both players are making illegal moves. An illegal move technically is a loss. If one player repeatedly makes such, they forfeit the game.
It simply is not "In the interest of Fairness" to the other participants to award a player a win who can not make legal moves. If the class is not ready to play legal chess, a tournament is not in anyone's best interest. Clear parameters before the start to avoid any misunderstandings is essential.


I've seen all kinds of stuff directing Scholastic events. Triple checks; queens captured en passant; both kings in check, etc.
I am 100% Opposed to this. It sets a very bad precedent. It is the directors responsibility to ensure a fair tournament for all participants. It is not a "rated" tournament. If "all kinds of stuff" is observed, then it is the directors obligation to get with the parents and the kid and explain they are not quite yet ready for a tournament.


You are very wrong young man. I have conducted over 1000 classes of chess instruction to kids of all ages. If the class is ready, a tournament is held at the end. It is not life and death. It is not rated. It is for fun but at the same time kids want to test their knowledge and compete much the same as adults.
Typically only 3 or 4 games can be played. With a class of 50, sorting out 1st, 2nd 3rd gets problematic. I will tell you, if one player gets awarded a prize because he won his games with repeatedly making illegal moves - IT IS a very big deal to the other players who lost out and abides by the rules.
A local club hosts Scholastic rated tournaments for kids. I was watching a game in the U300 section where the kids clearly had forgotten how the pieces moved. They were moving bishops like pawns, rooks like knights, etc. Should I have stopped the game and remind the kids how the pieces move? I opted not to. I figured that since its a rated game, Id treat it like every other rated game, where spectators can never interfere. But they were making a joke of the tournament...