A former junior world championship runner-up to Gary Kasparov, Short was the top seed in the competition, which was held in Port Erin this week, but walked out on Saturday after his first match and returned to his home in Greece.

Short, 38, who won the Isle of Man tournament in 1998, said he was unhappy that the rules of the tournament had not been made clear after his scheduled opponent failed to show up.

He said the dispute is in the process of being settled by lawyers and is hoping he will return for next year's event.

Short told me: 'At the start of the tournament I was told I was paired against Alexander Nosenko from the Ukraine for my first match and so I prepared for this.

'I arrived at the tournament at 1.30pm and got myself set up however I was told my opponent had not arrived yet.

'In usual traditional for a Swiss-style tournament on this nature, held under international rules, I made my first move and started the clock.

'After one hour there was still no sign of Nosenko and under international rules I can claim a default win and add one point to my score card.'

Short said: 'The chief arbiter then came to the table and said I couldn't claim the point and had to be re-paired against another opponent.

'For Swiss-style tournaments the governing body FIDE (Fédérattion International d'Echec) handbook clearly states that a default match win can be claimed if an opponent does not show up after one hour.

'The chief arbiter said the tournament rules announced beforehand stated repairing was being allowed but my understanding of FIDE rules is that only minor changes to the tournament rules are allowed as long as they are clearly expressed to every competitor beforehand.

'I was not made aware of any rule changes.

'The arbiters then said the tournament was being played under British rules but how can that be possible if competitors are coming from all over the world.

'I have played professional chess in more than 70 different countries and it is long established that international rules are used to save any confusion.

'This is the first time in 31 years of playing tournament chess and 21 years of playing professional chess that I have ever walked out of a competition.'

Short said: 'I am happy that it is being resolved amicably and hope it is settled sooner rather than later.

'I would very much like to come back to the Isle of Man and hope I can be welcomed back at next year's tournament.'

Lawyers for Short and the tournament organisers met on Tuesday but the outcome has not been revealed.

Dennis Hemsley, director of the tournament, being staged at the Ocean Castle Hotel, Port Erin, said: 'It will be resolved in some sort of manner.

'Our lawyers have been instructed on behalf of the British Chess Federation and have met Mr Short's lawyers.

'The rules were clearly stated next to the pairing sheet.'

A spokesman for tournament sponsor Monarch Assurance declined to comment.