Players shall take no action that will bring the game of chess into disrepute (Art. 11.1); The arbiter's duties expressly include ensuring fair play (Art. 12.2.1); Agreeing a result in advance, or deliberately losing, is contrary to Art. 11.1
Why people argue about this
People often assume that deliberately losing a game in chess is just about strategy, when in fact it's explicitly forbidden under Art. 11.1 of FIDE rules because agreeing to lose or manipulate outcomes undermines fair play, which is paramount according to Article 12.2.1. The rule doesn't just prohibit weak moves; it targets actions that compromise the integrity and fairness of the game itself.
