More Cheating in Sport!

By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw

Sport is all about fair play in competitions – at least, it should be! However, with so much money at stake in competitive sport, claims of cheating, which has been practised since ancient times, seem to be on the increase.

Following the recent cheating claims in chess, some more cases have been reported, namely in top-level US poker and fishing competitions.

In a high stakes game at the Hustler Casino in Los Angeles, USA, Robbi Jane Lew called an all-in bet by her opponent, Garrett Adelstein, risking her chips with an underwhelming hand, apparently convinced that her opponent was bluffing, and scooping a pot of US$269,000.

Adelstein speculated that Lew was wearing a vibrating device to communicate information to her.

The match organisers are investigating the matter, but have stressed that there is no evidence, so far, of any cheating!

A pair of competitive fishermen, Chase Cominsky and Jake Runyon, competing in the final event of the 2022 Lake Erie Walleye Trail competition in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, have been accused of stuffing their catches with lead weights to make them appear heavier in order to win a cash prize of US$30,000.

Again, the matter is being investigated by the organisers of this event!

Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.’