Chess grandmaster Kirill Shevchenko has received a three-year ban from all FIDE-rated competitions and has had his grandmaster title revoked due to a cheating scandal. Although a one-year portion of the ban is suspended, this suspension is contingent on his future conduct. The ruling signifies a serious stance against cheating within the chess community. The ban, effective from October 19, 2024, to October 18, 2026, was imposed by FIDE. The revocation of his grandmaster title is effective immediately. The FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Commission (EDC) initially made a decision on March 15, 2025, imposing the three-year suspension, though the title revocation came later. Shevchenko appealed the initial decision, and FIDE’s Fair Play Commission cross-appealed, leading to a re-examination of the case.
The incident occurred at the Spanish Team Championship in October 2024. A mobile phone was discovered in a private restroom with a note, raising suspicions. Tournament authorities investigated, and their inquiry led to Shevchenko, who was subsequently disqualified. Two of his opponents, GM Francisco Vallejo Pons and GM Bassem Amin, alerted the arbiters about Shevchenko’s extended absences from the board, prompting a deeper investigation. While Shevchenko admitted to hiding a phone in the restroom, he denied using it to access chess engines during games. However, FIDE’s report indicates he later admitted to using the Lichess application on the phone, contributing to the disciplinary action. This case marks a significant instance of cheating in recent chess history, given Shevchenko’s age (22) and high ranking.
