An EBU Disciplinary Committee recently considered the following charges against Barry Jones (BBO name Nagog) at a meeting in September.
- That in a number of online tournaments organized by the Deva Bridge Club, since on or about August 2021, played on the Bridgebase Online “BBO” platform, he was aware of the layout of hands when playing. This was achieved by “self-kibitzing” or by illicit communication with a kibitzer.
- This gave him knowledge of the complete layout of all four hands, enabling him to take bridge actions, informed by such knowledge, which he might not have taken in the absence of such knowledge. He took such bridge actions when in possession of information to which he was not entitled under the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge.
The defendant admitted the charges, and a disciplinary meeting was held. The Disciplinary Committee found the charges proved to their comfortable satisfaction, and that the defendant's conduct constituted an offence under paragraph 3.2(iii) of the EBU Disciplinary Rules, being a breach of the Laws of Duplicate Contract Bridge as in force from time to time and paragraph, and paragraph 3.2(iv) of the EBU Disciplinary Rules, being unfair or dishonest play. They considered the mitigation offered.
The Committee imposed a sanction of suspension of EBU membership for a period of 24 months.
October 21, 2022