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Ron Luther

Ron Luther is a chess player from Kansas City. He is a USCF Original Life Master and his USCF rating is currently 2200. His most notable chess achievements is winning the Missouri Championship eight times. He has also won or tied for 1st in over 150 USCF rated events.

Mr. Luther is well known for his chess playing prowess and wicked since of humor. Ron is a greatly respected figure in the Missouri chess community and often helps weaker players improve their chess playing.

Ron has been playing chess for over 30 years and is known around the Kansas City area as the KC Reaper.

2007 State Championship
After winning the 2006 Mo Invitational, 2007 KC Open, 2007 StLouis Open, 2007 Mo Class, Mr. Luther was seeded to play in the Missouri State Invitational chess tournament. Mr. Luther played strongly and won all his games against fellow chess players James R. Voelker, Nathanael David Swinger, Frank H. Smith, Bob Holliman, and Francis Crow, thus becoming the 2007 Missouri State Champion.


Cheating accusations
Ron Luther's chess career has been under scrutiny lately.

2007 St. Louis Open
At the 2007 St. Louis Open, Accusations of cheating have been made by the president of the Missouri Chess Association Ken Fee on the popular chess forum . The accusation involves giving a player an easy five-move draw in order to win the tournament. Although this is considered unethical by some chess players, prearranged draws aren't against USCF rules.




Comments (7)
1. 18-07-2008 17:22
 
With regard to the claim that "prearranged draws aren't against USCF rules," from USCF's Official Rules of Chess: 
 
[B]14B6. Premature or Prearranged draws.[/B] It is unethical and unsporting to agree to a draw before a serious contest has begun. The same is true of all arrangements to prearrange game results. In case of clear violations of the moral principles of the game, penalties should be imposed at the director's discretion. 
 
[B]20L Manipulating Results.[/B] Collusion to fix or throw games, whether before or during the game, in order to manipulate prize money, title norms, ratings, or for any other purpose is illegal and may result in severe sanctions, including revocation of USCF membership. Such agreements include arrangements to split prize money no matter  
what the result of the game.
Guest
 
2. 18-10-2010 02:04
 
Ron Luther is also a fraud. He falsely recorded the result of our game to win a larger sum of money. Unethical is the softest thing you can say about him. He's simply shameless.
Guest
 
3. 08-12-2011 00:28
 
Orgil Basaikhan should tell the truth! 
He purposely knocked over his king, (a resignation according to the rules) said nothing,and then stormed out of the tournament hall. This was done in front of several witnesses, including the chief TD of the event. Upon distrubution of prizes, and because he made such a fool of himself, USCF National TD Berry was called, and over the phone he upheld the decision. Had Mr Batsaikham known the rules, and not made such a scene (which included cussing me out in front of my 4yr old grandson) things could have been different. However he takes no responsibility for his actions.
Guest
 
4. 08-12-2011 00:28
 
Orgil Basaikhan should tell the truth! 
He purposely knocked over his king, (a resignation according to the rules) said nothing,and then stormed out of the tournament hall. This was done in front of several witnesses, including the chief TD of the event. Upon distrubution of prizes, and because he made such a fool of himself, USCF National TD Berry was called, and over the phone he upheld the decision. Had Mr Batsaikham known the rules, and not made such a scene (which included cussing me out in front of my 4yr old grandson) things could have been different. However he takes no responsibility for his actions.
Guest
 
5. 08-12-2011 01:17
 
www.springfieldparkboardchessclub.com/chess-blog.html 
 
2010 Springfield Chess Open 5th Round Controversy? 
10/20/20100 Comments In the final round of the 2010 Springfield Park Board Open it appeared, as I was viewing the game, that Orgil Batsaikhan playing the white pieces clearly had a winning position against Ron Luther, playing the black pieces. While I am no where near an expert at chess, Orgil had two Queens and a rook against Ron's Queen and Bishop in the latter part of the game and it appeared if Orgil checked on the 7th with his rook, mate would soon follow (at this time I do not have the game score, but the photo below is part of that game). However, Orgil touched his second Queen near his King with the intent of checking on the 7th and then from what I observed Orgil saw that Ron's Queen guarded the checking square. Per the rules of chess Orgil was now obligated to move his Queen. Orgil's Queen was preventing a boxed in mate from Ron, and therefore, Orgil had but two squares to prevent mate, but either square, it appeared, then lead to perpetual check and Ron thus staved off losing. It became clear from Orgil's reaction when Ron kept putting his bishop en prise while checking the white King that if he took the Bishop perpetual followed and not taking the Bishop leads to perpetual check as well. Thus, as I observed personally, Orgil stood up and flip his hand across his King knocking it over without saying a word and then he left the room. Ron stood up and said not to me but towards me and I paraphrase, "Is he resigning?" I then said again paraphrasing, "No, I think he is just disgusted with himself for throwing away a win." Ron then said something to the effect, "I don't know. I think knocking over the King is resigning." 
 
Nothing more was made of this game until it was time to award the prize money. If Orgil had won, he would have shared first and second place money with a 4.5/5 score or a split of $800. If he draws then he shares 2nd-3rd with 2 other players and Ron wins nothing. If Ron draws then he shares 2nd-3rd with 2 other players. Once Orgil realized his game was recorded as a loss he protested and it lasted for over 30 minutes at which time I had to leave the playing hall for another obligation. I, of course, have nothing to do with the ruling or the outcome, nor was I needed for any consultation in what transpired. Later, I learned Orgil continued his protest and even took it out into the parking lot. He also made claim, while I was there, that how did the TD know whether or not he intentionally or accidently knocked over his King. From what I witnessed, it was not accidental. His intent may have been something other than resignation but he said nothing and it appears he did not record the score with the TD as is required. (see USCF rule: 15H "When a game is completed, the result must be immediately reported in the manner required by the director. Both players, not just the winner, are responsible for registering the result.") Since Orgil did not make a fuss until it was time to make the rewards, I must assume he did not record the result. Though he may have and the result was reversed based on his action of knocking over the King and that appeared to be very intentional. Thus, see USCF rule: 13B "The player whose opponent resigns wins the game. This immediately ends the game. Saying "I resign" or tipping over the King are relatively clear ways to resign." 
While I feel for Orgil and given the position on the board it clearly looks as if Ron would continue to check as he has no winning chances, knocking over the King and walking away can only be interpreted as a resignation. Ron, for instance, did not have to continue to check even though that appears to be his best course of action. Orgil made an assumption without making clear he was agreeing to a draw and he further complicated the matter by knocking over his King which is a sign of resignation, not one of agreeing to a draw. Note, Ron had not repeated the position 3 times at the time Orgil walked away and tipped over his King. So, while I viewed it as disgust on Orgil part, further reflection tells me all his actions are those of resignation. Ron may not have continued to perpetually check, we can only guess he would have just as I guessed Orgil would have checked with his Rook on the 7th which lead to mate as I saw it, but instead he touched his Queen and then saw he could not safely check with the Queen and thus moved it to a square allowing the possibility of perpetual check. He made a mistake and thus Ron, too, could have made a mistake. Initially I thought Ron should have agreed it was a draw, but Orgil's lack of understanding the rules, his bad sportsmanship (not for his protest after, but rather his tipping the King and walking away without agreeing to the draw) and for not completing the game in essence all support the TD's decision, not that my opinion matters here. Rather, I write this blog to remind us all that not only is chess competitive, it can be highly emotional and can get the best of us at times. It is best we understand the rules, remain civil and learn from our mistake lest we repeat them again and again.
Guest
 
6. 08-12-2011 01:37
 
nuff said
Guest
 
7. 21-12-2011 20:55
 
Ron Luther is perhaps the most hated character in the Missouri chess scene. Not only has he admitted to cheating (as in the infamous Batsalkhan scandal) but also his over-the-board behavior is notoriously childish and repulsive. Whether is be constant chatter, insulting draw offers, muttering expletives under his breath, or (most commonly) post-game arrogance. I think I speak for everyone when I say I pray for the day this washed-up has-been of a disgrace to chess finally hangs up his floored master rating and leaves us all to a brighter chess future.
Guest
 
Johnathan Stotch

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