coan.net: It already has to access the database to show the gametype, eventname, opponent, your colour, the current move number, and time left. Surely you'd think Fencer is able to change the SQL in such away that it doesn't require more accesses to the database (although he might need another join depending on how the database is set up)?

Beside, Fencer's objection was huge amount of data to transfer to the browser, not "more accesses to the database".