“Grandmaster Kirill Shevchenko Receives Three-Year Ban from Chess for Cheating Scandal”

Grandmaster Kirill Shevchenko Receives Three-Year Ban from Chess

GM Kirill Shevchenko, ranked 75th in the world, has been handed a three-year worldwide ban from chess, with one year suspended, following a scandal during the Spanish Team Championship in Melilla in 2024. The 22-year-old Ukrainian grandmaster admitted to hiding a phone in the toilet but denied using it to cheat with an engine.

The ruling, announced by FIDE today, allows Shevchenko to return to competitive play in October 2026. The EDC Chamber found him guilty of breaching Article 11.7(e) of the FIDE Disciplinary Code. Shevchenko’s suspension will extend to 2027 if he reoffends during the suspended period.

Shevchenko, currently ranked 75th in the world and second in Romania, has won the 2021 European Team Championship with Ukraine and a major blitz tournament ahead of top grandmasters Fabiano Caruana and Arjun Erigaisi.

The Shevchenko Case

The scandal involving Shevchenko sent shockwaves through the chess world when a locked phone was found in the tournament bathroom during the Spanish Team Championship. His opponent, GM Francisco Vallejo Pons, raised concerns about Shevchenko’s prolonged absence from the board, leading to an investigation.

Shevchenko was expelled from the tournament and later received a 75-day ban, which was extended as the investigation continued. He admitted to using a phone during a game but maintained that he did not effectively cheat and that his actions did not influence the game’s outcome.

EDC Ruling: ‘Cheating Is An Existential Threat’

The EDC considered several mitigating factors in Shevchenko’s defense, including his cooperation with the investigation and clean disciplinary record. The panel acknowledged his admission of wrongdoing but emphasized the severity of attempted cheating, stating that cheating is an existential threat to chess competitions.

While the EDC did not strip Shevchenko of his grandmaster title, they noted that the sanction should serve as a deterrent to protect the integrity of the game. The Fair Play Commission may file an appeal against the ruling, citing concerns about the leniency of the decision.

Response From Shevchenko’s Legal Team

Shevchenko’s legal team expressed disappointment with the severity of the sanction, considering the mitigating factors present in his case. They highlighted the extreme psychological pressure Shevchenko faced due to death threats received during the tournament.

The legal team is considering an appeal, with the possibility of escalating the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The Romanian Chess Federation has been contacted for a comment on the situation.

Overall, the ban imposed on Shevchenko marks a significant development in the world of chess, emphasizing the zero-tolerance policy towards cheating and the importance of upholding the integrity of the game.