CHESS GRANDMASTER KIRILL SHEVCHENKO EXPELLED FROM TOURNAMENT OVER ALLEGED CHEATING

Thu 17 October 2024:

Kirill Shevchenko, a 22-year-old chess grandmaster representing Romania, was expelled from the Spanish Team Championship in Melilla after allegedly using a mobile phone during his matches. Ranked world no. 69, Shevchenko was disqualified for violating tournament rules regarding electronic devices, according to a statement by the Spanish chess federation, FEDA.

In their statement, FEDA emphasized their strong anti-cheating stance, expressing regret over the incident. “FEDA maintains its firm commitment against cheating in chess, acting in the strongest possible way in any case which is detected. We profoundly regret that these events have occurred … We also wish to state that, in any case, this individual behavior has nothing to do with the impeccable performance of his Club and the rest of his team members,” the organization stated.

Shevchenko’s club, Silla – Integrant Col·lectius, swiftly distanced itself from the grandmaster, announcing on Facebook that they had ended their sporting relationship with him following the allegations. The chess community was further stirred when Chess.com reported that Shevchenko’s prolonged absences from the board during the tournament had raised suspicions.

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Suspicious Discovery in Restroom

Oscar Bruno de Prado Rodriguez, a chief arbiter at the event, revealed that a mobile phone with a handwritten note was found in a restroom cubicle. The note read, “Don’t touch! This telephone has been left so the owner can answer it at night!” Arbiters noticed similarities between the writing on the note and Shevchenko’s scoresheets, prompting a deeper investigation.

In response to the allegations, the Romanian Chess Federation called for concrete proof, stating, “Such serious allegations (against Shevchenko) must necessarily be backed up by solid evidence.” The federation reiterated their “zero tolerance for violations of fair-play rules” as they await further details on the case.

Shevchenko, originally from Ukraine, became a chess grandmaster at 14 and switched to represent Romania in 2023. This controversy has cast a shadow over his otherwise impressive chess career.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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