Perpetual Chess Podcast

EP 428- IM Danny Rensch of Chess.com: Combating Cheats and Charting Chess's Future

8 snips
Apr 1, 2025
Guest
Danny Rensch
IM Danny Rensch, the Chief Chess Officer at Chess.com, shares insights from his journey as a former child prodigy. He dives into the platform's robust cheat detection measures, discussing how their new proprietary system, Proctor, helps maintain fair play. Danny reflects on the media's obsession with cheating in chess and the lessons learned from past missteps like the Chess24 closure. He also teases his forthcoming memoir and talks about the excitement around upcoming chess events and the challenges of managing a global chess community.
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INSIGHT

Early Signs Public Closures May Deter Cheating

  • Chess.com sees early positive signs that public closures and Proctor deter cheating, but it's too soon to attribute cause confidently.
  • Danny emphasizes multiple factors (visibility, Proctor, expectations) likely combine to reduce cheating.
ADVICE

Use A Dedicated Proctor For Prize Events

  • Require the Proctor browser and synced audio/video for prize events to enable real-time monitoring and reduce manual checks.
  • Expand Proctor after stabilizing it, and use it selectively while moving toward broader requirements.
ADVICE

Enforce Cooperation While Offering Education

  • Enforce Proctor use and refuse play to non-cooperative players after clear notice and education about security.
  • Offer explanations and a chance to comply, but revoke access if players persistently refuse.
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