Kirill Shevchenko had been caught with a mobile phone in the toilet during the Spanish team championship in October of last year and was quickly expelled from the tournament. The Grand Master Romanian of Ukrainian origin will not be eligible to return to action before October 18, 2026.
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The Grand Master Romanian Kirill Shevchenko received a world ban by three years by Fide with a year suspended for having cheated during the Spanish team championship last October. Shevchenko had admitted to hiding a mobile phone in the toilet and using it during his games in the event that had taken place in Melilla, a Spanish enclave on the North African coast. The 22 -year -old, however, denied having used the phone to cheat with an engine.
Following the discovery, his prints in the first two laps were transformed into defeats. Shevchenko had raised suspicion for his frequent toilet visits during his matches, and it was during his meeting of the second round with the GM Francisco Vallejo that the referee decided to obtain the cabin that the GM of Ukrainian origin had been visited, where a locking mobile phone was found with a note written by the hand.
The FIDE World Director of World Director announced that Shevchenko was guilty of violation of article 11.7 (e) of the Fide Disciplinary Code. According to the decision of the EDC Chamber, he can return to play on October 18, 2026. However, the suspended part of the sanction which extends until 2027 will be activated if it is found guilty of cheating.
#Firstsports: Grand Master Romanian and number 69 World Kirill Shevchenko was accused of cheating and was expelled from the chess event of the Spanish team championship. @rupharamani Look at how Spain has failed to solve key problems surrounding its sports system. pic.twitter.com/ctqg9qwyhz
– Firstpost (@firstpost) October 15, 2024
Although the involvement in cheating generally brings a player to lose his title of grand master, Shevchenko can keep the title for the moment with a rare exception.
Shevchenko, ranked 75th in the world, becomes the deepest player to suspend for cheating by Fide. The great American master Hans Niemann had been involved in an even greater scandal of cheaters when he met Magnus Carlsen in the world n ° 1 in the Sinquefield 2022 Cup. Niemann, however, categorically denied the accusation of Carlsen de cheating during their game and received no suspension, that the organizers of the tournament or by Fide.
Who is the grand master Kirill Shevchenko?
Shevchenko, born in the Ukrainian capital kyiv, won his title of grand master at the age of 14 and 10 months in 2017, a year after winning his title of international master. He is currently ranking 75th in the world and second in Romania with a note of 2653.
Among the greatest achievements of Shevchenko’s career, you have to win Lindores Abbey Blitz in Latvia in 2021, where he beat the best rated players such as Fabiano Caruana and Arjun Erigaisi in India. A month later, he would be part of the Ukrainian team who won gold in the European team chess championship.
Six years after acquiring its GM status, Shevchenko has changed its allegiance to Romania and has since represented them.
