Dispute in the German Chess Bundesliga

The German Chess Bundesliga, established as a single division in the 1980/81 season, has faced a notable dispute regarding match regulations. This incident occurred during a match between Heidelberg and Munich, where a late arrival by a player led to a default point being awarded to Heidelberg.

The match was originally scheduled for 2 p.m., but the arbiter started the clocks late, resulting in Yugoslav grandmaster Nikolac arriving after the scheduled time. Consequently, Heidelberg won the match 4½–3½, which placed them in a precarious position regarding relegation.

Munich appealed the decision, arguing that Nikolac arrived within the grace period based on when the clocks were started. The sports director of the German Chess Federation ruled in favor of Munich, leading to a replay that ended in a draw. However, Heidelberg's appeal to the Federal Tournament Court reversed this decision, allowing them to remain in the league after winning a subsequent play-off.