Questionable dilemma

So I was competing at a chess tournament over the weekend. I am faced with an issue. My 3rd round opponent was a man rated 2219. For those of us who compete in actual sanctioned and rated tournaments, you are aware of the rules and zero electronics policy that is enforced at these events.

So naturally an activated cellphone is not permitted to enter or leave the playing hall correct? Preferably turned off when play starts. Then why in all the sense of the world, did my opponent feel like he was privileged enough to pull out, activate, and begin reading a Kindlefire in the middle of our game?

I repeat, he brought out a Kindlefire and was reading a book on it!!! In our game!!! I waited 10 minutes to see if he would put it away. He didn't. I reported him. All the TD's did was tell him to put it away???? HELLOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is a tournament. The last time someone was caught with a phone in the playing hall they both confiscated it until the end of the tournament and they also forfeited their game for that round!!!

I don't care what rating you are or how strong you are. You don't do that if you are my opponent or anyone else's. Well. Rather than argue with the TD, I just continued with my game. At the end of the game, which lasted almost 4 1/2 hours mind you and 43 minutes, I shook his hand in resignation and said good game. Instead of saying good game back to me, this guy just shrugged his shoulders and grimaced at me. So it was like pouring salt on an open wound :/. Oh well. This was just a venting post. Sorry for disturbing your time.

On the bright side, train on lichess.org and kick some engine booty in the next tournament.

Honestly, I know how that feels. That crappy feeling when your opponent thinks "I'm the king of the world" and does the crappiest stuff ever. Since I play in scholastic still (don't ask) people kick the chair, hum, spit, make random sounds, put their pencil in their mouth and all the TD says is "stop."

Your 2219 rated opponent is a freaking idiot-or a bastard, which ever one you like.

Believe me I understand. Thank you both though for your words. I appreciate them.

I don’t know if there was an individual rule set but in general you are not allowed to read a real book...

FIDE:
11.3
During play the players are forbidden to use any notes, sources of information or advice, or analyse any game on another chessboard.
During play, a player is forbidden to have a mobile phone and/or other electronic means of communication in the playing venue. If it is evident that a player brought such a device into the playing venue, he shall lose the game. The opponent shall win.
The rules of a competition may specify a different, less severe, penalty.
The arbiter may require the player to allow his clothes, bags or other items to be inspected, in private. The arbiter or a person authorised by the arbiter shall inspect the player and shall be of the same gender as the player. If a player refuses to cooperate with these obligations, the arbiter shall take measures in accordance with Article 12.9.

"The rules of a competition may specify a different, less severe, penalty. "
This may have been the case.
"in general you are not allowed to read a real book"
Why not, if I am bored two pieces ahead and my opponent is thinking long, why would not I be allowed to read in a non chess related book?
This might have been the case.
How was the position on the board?
How was the position on the clock?
You might have played too fast, got into a totally lost position and then started thinking when it was too late, getting your opponent bored.

@tpr
No matter how the position on the board looks like, starting to read a book in front of your opponent is at least very disrespectful (no victim blaming!) and will normally get penalized (idk why this arbiter didn't do anything serious) for good reason.

[...] players are forbidden to use ANY notes, sources of information or advice [...]

The rule doesn't specify that a source of information has to be chess-related (by the spirit of the law: "creative ways to encode outside advice are forbidden too").

Not to mention that in this case, there's also the "no electronic means of communication" rule which is frequently applied even to things as hearing aid, so a Kindlefire should by all means qualify, too.

@CatctusBerrious If you have witnesses for your case (you probably do), you could try to appeal to the tournament's organiser. Especially if it was a FIDE-licensed one.

@tpr
Why not, if I am bored two pieces ahead and my opponent is thinking long, why would not I be allowed to read in a non chess related book?

The reason is that it is impossible to determine what is chess related. How about 'The Art of War?'

When a 1540 player is playing a 2219 player and when the board position is completely losing for the 1540 player, then the 2219 player has no benefit at all even from reading a chess book, less so from reading a non chess related book. In such circumstances I understand the tournament director's decision to just admonish to put the book away. The strict giving a loss to the 2219 player in the winning position would be outrageous.

I can only recommend to follow the instruction of the arbiter. It‘s better to stop reading before you get a „zero“.