South African Nightmare

South African Nightmare

It all started with a surprising invitation from a man called Jackie Ngubeni to take part in a close tournament in South-Africa, I received this email on 29th of August...it seemed to be an interesting 'exotic event' in a new place I never visit before and with more or less normal tournament prizes, I quote below what was offered;

'I offer attractive prizes totalling $8500 ( US Dollars) for the top Six places (#1=$3000)'.

'Furthermore, for the player of your stature we will provide free Accommodation and Meals at 4 Star ( English & Continental). A Safari Game drive will be included for pleasure. Plus a chance to gain elo rating points'

Since I still didn't have any fixed plans to take part in this tournament I decided to get more information and ask about my travel expenses, to which I got the following reply:

'I am looking hard for sponsorship. Yes I will try and cover the costs using this formula; The average rating is intended to be 2381. Thus a player of your rating = 2567 will be 2567-2381=186 This figure Multiply by $10 is what will be due to you. But a compulsory fee of $705 ia payable; So 1860-750= 1110'

'will consider an amount of $1110 as your appearance fee!'

I must say that this formula looked quite bizarre, however I got a rough idea of what I was going to be paid, after this I decided to partake in some research on the tournament, I do this for every new country or tournament I visit, as its important for me to have everything planned so I do not have to worry when I arrive and can concentrate 100% on the chess to be played or taught. I decided to confirm the existence of the event in South Africa(and found it on FIDE tournament page) and I tried to contact my chess friend IM Kobese from South-Africa who was the guy who gave my contact to Jackie and also a participant in the event himself. It was important for me to have the word of a fellow Chess professional as Jackie's emails although appealing , were not 100% convincing.

After few days I got this answer from Kobese (9.9.2006):

'The hotel venue is very good and the event promise to be a memorable one. I don't think you should worry about the cots,all that Jackie promises he will meet. There will be a lot of fun on the side. Believe you me this side event will make you never to forget Africa, it will be fun '

After another search on the net and finding an impressive looking article by Jackie about Nigel Short's trip to Africa on the chessbase website, I decided that , given Kobese's convincing words, that I wanted to take part in this tournament. I am a family man with a young daughter and wife, So I felt the main cost would be leaving them for 2 weeks, after many discussions , my wife kindly agreed to let me participate in the event. I was safe in the knowledge that I would discover a new country and also bring home some money for my family while doing so.

In the meantime I had a family visit to Israel and I would also play in an open tournament whilst there, during this period I was still waiting to receive the final participants list from Jackie...

The time until the tournament was nearing and the messages from Jackie were coming very frequently telling me about problems he had to complete the players list...I even offered my help with finding players ,but he continued with other excuses telling me that the event will happen even if it has to be a double round tournament etc... (travel expenses will surely be paid, even though they were a bit higher because of the holiday time, this was repeated many times during our communication)

I already had booked my travel (refused some invitations for other tournaments/coaching as they clashed with the dates of this tournament), the cost of my travel in total was close to $1300(this is US dollars for reference)

But Jackie's emails made me very worried indeed, about one week before I travelled , having already brought my ticket, I got this message from Jackie: (15.9.2006)

'In line with making your African virgin trip great, please trust that I am working flat out to make it a dream come true! And not let it be a nightmare.

I want to make this assurance to you and hope it certifies my intent to build chess in Africa; Your cost for the Ticket is for my expense, whether it can be postponed, or any decision. this is a guarantee!'

This email was rather disturbing and I should have seen that this would lead to the nightmares that followed.

And then later in the same day:

'I was shocked and upset with the powers that be when this was proposed.

Compensating for the cost will be done for sure! if all else fail.'

I was very disappointed by this email of course , I wrote him back to tell him that expenses would not suffice for me as travelling to South Africa lost me working hours with my students and that I should be financially compensated for any extra events I partook in, such as Simuls and Lectures.

Next day I got this message (16.9.2006):

Guess what? The whole continent is a Gold field to be mined! Just like Don King did bringing Ali to fight in Africa 'Rumble in the Jungle', can you imagine the millions that can be raised with events around this continent? Of course then sometimes you find Administrators who will then screw-up deals at the last hour.

Jackie

Somehow, with such big words and promises (comparing me to the very famous Mohamed Ali) I got convinced to still travel, at this time I was still playing the critical last rounds of the tournament In Israel I was taking part in. This was all in the understanding that on top of my travel expenses, and I would recieve at least $3000 even if the tournament was cancelled as this was the top prize.

So after a long trip (total time with connections was almost 24 hours!) I arrived to Johannesburg where Jackie met me as promised together with IM Watu Kobese and IM Alex Wohl ,we arrived to a nice looking 4 star hotel ,but then suddenly the nightmare began!

Jackie 'suddenly' asked me if I didn't mind to start coaching sessions very soon, which was a change of plan on the first day of my travels to South Africa!, I found this a shock as it did not show the greatest professionalism...

I suddenly discovered that Jackie had his own chess academy (!) and he already planned that we will give them lectures, and 'by coincidence' The Topalov-Kramnik match started on the same day of my arrival!

After that moment I got more and more surprises each day, Jackie was telling so many stories that sounded more like fantasies.

Firstly he declared that suddenly he had less money than he thought, but that 'we' will raise the needed money with lectures and meeting with big sponsors, as you can see this was disturbing news for me , as I now began to lose all confidence in Jackie and his amount of professionalism.

Jackie's declarations began to get worst and even more extreme...He promised me 40% of the income received from coaching the children, Each of the children paid around 465 South African Rad each day!, however when I spoke to Watu and Alex later in my trip, it became clear that Jackie hadn't talked to them about this idea at all!

After mentioning subtly that in European chess events we usually get the travel expenses back on the first day, he always tried to change the subject quickly just saying there is nothing to worry about and that we would get our payments guaranteed.

Everyday he came to us to speak about the ever growing list of problem ,that he had so many expenses ,and that as a consequence he might be forced to pay us less than originally agreed... (after two days he told me: I think you will get at least 2000$ and of course your travel expenses...after only one more day it become at least 1000$+expenses!, as you can see , this filled me with great worry that I would have no money to take home and further more, might even lose nearly $1300 from paying for my travel!, these were nightmares for a chess professional to go through.

Jackie didn't care much for the opinions of the titled players (Watu and Alex) and all he seemed to care about was talking about himself and his future plans for chess in Africa, whilst wanting to sound like an ambassador for the game, Jackie sounded very self motivated when he spoke and did not let us have any opinion on his ideas and didn't really care much to what we had to say! He told us that this was all a promotional tour and that soon we would meet with very important people (such as Mandela!) and that he had many business's and investments (even one in the hotel we were staying in!)

The most incredible feature of Jackie's imagination was his ability to make up stories and lie to the faces of people who spoke to , such as children from the academies parents, He told them wild stories, for example; 'Arthur worked with Shirov'(something I never have done) and that I usually charge 300 (!) euros per hour for private coaching!?!?!, another lie, not only did he lie , but he dramatised to unbelievable levels!! He also lied lots about Alex Wohl, and many other chess GM's, these stories and lies got us very worried about reliability of Jackie and the honour of the man.

Jackie also tried to create conflicts between me and Alex , by telling me that Alex had said things about me behind my back, something which when I told Alex what Jackie had told me, shocked Alex as much as Jackie's Behaviour shocked me. We came to the conclusion that Jackie was putting up Mirrors, meaning that he was trying to distract me and Alex to forget about the payment issue, by having us arguing. This was indeed a very shallow tactic and one that shouldn't happen anywhere in the world , especially in a game such as Chess.

The promises to visit South Africa each day where done, until suddenly one day Jackie said that he couldn't take us on a trip for a few days and that we must work extra hard in lectures in order to raise more money as he did not have enough, yet again, Jackie failed to live up to his promises from the invitational email. So one night we ( Watu and Alex and Myself) decided to discuss Jackie's stories and bizarre movie-like changes of events that he had inflicted on us, we all agreed that the man was a liar and it was clear from the group , I was not only worried about our fee/expenses but now our safety on the trip as this man was clearly not only a poor organizer but also a slightly disturbed individual. It was about 4-5 days of being mainly in the hotel, giving lectures or analysing the world championship games live everyday, also Me and Alex got sent to the Sowetu club and were told to play amateurs at the club for hours, which was very stressful and not what was promised before the invitation. It is important to mention that Watu offered to help me , by giving me his fee if/when he received it to compensate me as he did indeed promise me the reliability of Jackie. We decided to now change this situation as it was becoming clear I was not getting anything near the conditions promised and treated like a 'chess slave'. So Watu , as the man who knew Jackie and indeed the man who promised us the trip would be a success, went to talk to Jackie about the problems I and the others were facing.

Jackie simply replied with more imaginative excuses. He then decided the next morning to wake myself and Alex up early to reply to the letter we had sent him(which asked when we would receive our ticket payment and also how much we would receive for each lecture). He told us that he cannot promises us anything except money for our plan ticket, he even told us many times that he got this money especially from Bessel Kok to give to us (and that Bessel called him many times etc...) . He also mentioned (in front of Watu and Alex as well...) of that he would give me at least 1000$ in any case, even if he had to give me it from his own money and have to convince his wife to let him do so!

Alex was also promised many things, such as a plane ticket and a mobile phone to use in South Africa and also as much as $4000 on top of all this, Jackie also quoted $4000 ( no 3000$ he told me about !) as the first prize of a closed tournament to Alex. However Alex only asked for his plane ticket amount (around $600) because he felt he would not get anything more from a man such as Jackie. We even decided on an ultimatum date( a very sad thing to have to do) for getting back our travel expenses ,and I asked Jackie to pay me at least part of the money for the lectures as soon as possible, since is hard to make any kind of chess work in such unclear conditions and a period of ongoing worry.

One day during a discussion he was telling us (as usually) how good a businessman he was, mentioning that he had endless contacts at both FIDE and within the South African government, however it was hard to believe him when later on in another conversation he then claimed to be and feel like 'the president of the world', a quite bizarre and disturbing comment showing his real toughts...

It is very important for me to make this next point very clear , as I would not like to see this report as a insult to any of the other people of South Africa. All the other people we met were lovely people and helped us greatly. The amount of passion for chess and learning in this country is amazing and the children and parents were very keen and helpful. Sadly Jackie proved to be an exception from the others and acting very improper throughout my stay.

Me and Alex got many offers to visit various places, one parent offered to take us to a lion park , which when we asked Jackie in front of a few people he agreed was fine. However sadly later on when we returned Jackie claimed we had clearly shown we did not respect or listen to him because of our visit to this attraction,and was mad at the perent as well! (Mr. Bornheim)

This negative personality feature in the organizer was again present when some parents asked us to coach there children in private sessions, however Jackie always wanted to know what was going on and like a bee around honey or shall I say 'money' insisted that all private lessons should be dealt through him. When we quoted the parents with a fee , Jackie would tell them a different fee. This led to one parent complaining against me for charging less to another parent, this was clearly not the case and it was obvious that Jackie had charged one more of a 'middle man premium' than the other parent. Please note that whilst Jackie was taking this money from the parents for no real reason, he was yet to fulfil his promise to pay any of My expenses or fee.

Another incredible case of Jackie's Lies came when I gave a private lesson to a young boy (the son of Mr. Bornheim), Jackie told me the parent had paid for two hours and that i was to coach him for this period, after the two hours were finished, Jackie insisted that he had only told me one hour and that I had given the final hour as a bonus!? and that I was wrong to give the extra hour and did so under my own choice. He did this despite telling me I should do 2 hours in front of numerous parents!

Later on I sp e to the parent involed about the confusion that Jackie caused, regarding hours of coaching, he informed me Jackie had told him to pay for one hour and if artur overuns, it is not a problem, yet again sadly this shows Jackie abusing my trust.

Many other trainers that visited us to ask us questions and see if we would be able to do future simuls and training sessions. When they asked about this, Jackie insisted that if this was done through him , so that he would take a small fee for doing this, yet again showing his unquenchable greed for money. After these disturbing incidents , I received the following email;

'I CLEARLY STATED THAT IT CAN NOT BE ACCEPTABLE that you engage in separate, personal & private chess business activities as long as we are responsible for your stay in RSA. '

Not only did the man decide to cheat me for the whole trip, he had the sheer arrogance to tell me off for something he had not clearly stated.

I have to mention that I could not help but answer allot of the questions and give advice to people who were so passionate and clearly loved to play chess, even though personally I was very demoralised and worried about my safety and also all the money I could lose not only from plane ticket but from 2 weeks of coaching I sacrificed in order to be at the even. Again when Private lessons came up Jackie insisted I named a price for a lesson. I told him my usual cost for a lesson. Then Later I received another disturbing complaint that my lessons were ludicrously expensive (from Mr. Michael Bornheim ) and again another mother cancelled her lesson discovering that she paid more than another person. Jackie was not only frauding people, he couldn't even do that sensibly!!!

After this, things started to turn more confrontational , as I began to see that Jackie was not going to and had never intended to keep his word about paying all to me or Alex. He had simply lured us to South Africa with Pipe dreams in order to use us to talk and teach at the club. Whilst doing this making a very handsome profit for himself. He calls himself an ambassador for chess. He is far from this, he very much abused not only our good will, but damaged the reputation of South African Chess.

I felt like just going home, however my plan ticket cost would be even greater as I had a pre-booked ticket. I therefore felt like a prisoner in South Africa. So I stayed on, hoping that Jackie would at least give me my plane ticket. I know for a fact he had this money. As I saw him taking in 600-700 US Dollars per day for all the coaching we did. Anyway on the next day, he paid Alex his Travel costs and informed me that even he got the money on him ,(but because I didn't keep our agreement! totaly incredible!) I would receive my travel costs on the last day(and that I should believe this fact!). For yet more confusion, Jackie decided near the end to change our hotel. I do not know the reasons for this, however we were informed earlier in the trip that this would happen, the reasoning I don't know and to be honest the way Jackie acted throughout this nightmare, I really cant say I would wish to know why we had such a weird change.

I called my Embassy for advice and help and informed them that I had been used and frauded against. I also informed then that I was not guaranteed my safety and that I felt like prisoner and that Jackie who had showed bizarre and Psychotic behaviour throughout the trip, scared me to a point where I felt I might be punished somehow if I left.

They promised that they would try to help and that they would contact the foreign ministry in Israel for advice, in the meantime I decided to 'escape' from the hotel, calling one of the fathers of the children I had coached throughout the trip to help me, he kindly did so immediately (Kevin Jurrius).

Kevin even offered his help to Jackie few days before ,by offering a bigger place to hold the lectures (This meant more people could attend , so of course more money!) but it was more and more clear with the time that Jackie's interest was to keep all affairs within the walls of his chess academy, weather this was through pride or the more likely ideal that he did not want his lies and deceit to take place in an unfamiliar place. Jackie then continued with his new inventive lies and even resulted to threaten me in an email (5.10.2006):

'Upon arrival, you refused to follow the itinerary planned thereby reneging on our tacit agreement. You conflicted and had embarassing verbal altercations with other masters in full view of trainees. You refused to go to plannned meetings. You refused to play 'friendly games' at a club. At the hotel decided to come out of your room as and when you pleased with learners only catching a glimpse of you. In the few times when you chose to train in the allotted room, you showed very good acumen and it clearly confirmed the belief we placed on you. Sadly, you would withdraw this just at the critical moments'

'I have since been adviced by stakeholders to turn a blind eye and pay you the monies regardless and not take legal action based on our original understanding.'

No need to mention for example that after about 4 days of lectures,Jackie mentioned that I worked enough and I shouldn't give too many lectures any more since he is not sure about the money he will have...

Yet more viscous emails on the same day

'I have reason to believe you are behind the sudden surge of some unfortunate bad vibe around me in the RSA chess fraternity. Please kindly consider my RIGHTS in all this. Those who host you conviniently at our great expenditure MUST stop and think of their inolvement in all this. This is a WARNING to you and all! I reserve the right to act!

Lastly, you have a few hours to strike an amicable deal to receive your travel expenses refund as promised. By end of today, if an acceptable arrangement is absent, I will be away from Johannesburg to deal with you and the money will be forfeited rightfully. I will also consider sueing for the damages suffered!'

As with most liars and frauds, he tried to blame me for all his troubles and was blind to his actions. He is indeed a gentlemen with no pride.

He was sending emails to contact him for the money, but he didn't answer telephones and even said he'd leave the money near a police station near the airport, I know what your thinking, this is unreal, imagine how I feel? This was like an horror movie, he spoke like this was a Hollywood gangster movie, he clearly is a nasty man.

Here is an email he sent to show his strange personality: 4.10.2006

'Dear GM.Kogan

If I do not here from you by end of business Friday the 5th of October 2006, you will forfeit the claim for the refund, and I will use this to pay other debts we are facing due for your accommodation & meals.'

He probably meant Thursday (my travel back was on Friday the 6th of October) but anyway after not answering any calls, he also wrote another email on:

05 October 2006 16:45

'This mail is written without prejudice:

This is to notify you that the dead-line for you to take advantage of my offer to you to claim the refund for your travel expenses has past. I BELIEVE I AM NO LONGER LIABLE FOR THOSE EXPENSES.'

He even wrote this;

'I reserve the right to claim from the money you made our expenses towards you. This I will seek to establish what training you went on to provide to who.'

I think that again no need for comments except just a confirmation the Jackie didn't plan to pay my ticket, and as the police officer confirmed that day ,this cheater did it very cleverly ,trying to avoid me to get to the police earlier, since in most cases, if you make a complaint and you travel the next day, the police will usually close the case very quickly, and in most cases will not even open it again!

Luckily that police officer was really interested to try and punish Jackie for his crimes, and a case was open!

I call for the South African Chess federation to work with the Police to punish this man and honour his promises, as I'm afraid he has damaged the reputation of South African chess and it would be good to see the Chess federation try and mend this damage by helping the police in this case.

I will send this document to the PCA and FIDE, So hopefully action will be taken.

If I have one message from my troubles, it is to serve as a serious warning to any player wanting to visit this country to play chess, beware of Jackie Ngubeni!

I believe the South African Chess Federation should make sure Jackie pays the players and perents involved in this fraud, myself included, what Jackie owes us and also assist the police in order to make sure this professional criminal named Jackie Ngubeni cannot operate like this again.

I would like to again express to the parents and children of the academy my deepest regrets that the leader of there centre is a fraud and I feel they have been cheated also.

I think this matter should be an urgent one for the South African Chess federation, to clear chess's name and to stop anything like this from happening again!

Waiting news,

Best regards,

GM Kogan Arthur

Tarragona, Spain

Dear GM Kogan Your complaint has been handed over to CHESSA's Ethics Committee for investigation. Jackie Ngubeni will be asked to respond to the allegations made in your email. Once the Ethics Committee has finalised its investigation a report will be sent to the CHESSA Executive for a decision concerning on any action that is to be taken. I would be grateful if you would forward this response to all of the persons/publications that the original complaint was sent to.

Regards
Laurence Ball
President
Chess South Africa (CHESSA)

Photo by Chessbase