Quote:
Originally Posted by lastcardcharlie
In the club blitz tourney one time my opponent accidently knocked the clock (not digital) on the floor and when it was picked up my flag had fallen. He instantly claimed a win (lol) but in the end we settled on a draw. The situation before that was that I was way ahead on material but sick short of time and probably would have lost had the game continued. What should the ruling have been?
FIDE Laws of Chess say:
6.7 c.
The players must handle the chess clock properly. It is forbidden to punch it forcibly, to pick it up or to knock it over. Improper clock handling shall be penalised in accordance with Article 13.4.
13.4
The arbiter can apply one or more of the following penalties:
1. warning
2. increasing the remaining time of the opponent
3. reducing the remaining time of the offending player
4. declaring the game to be lost
5. reducing the points scored in the game by the offending party
6. increasing the points scored in the game by the opponent to the maximum available for that game
7. expulsion from the event.
So going by the book, the arbiter should probably give you more time (or even award you a win). But in a club blitz tournament setting incidents like this usually are ruled as draws indeed.