FIDE has banned chess grandmaster Kirill Shevchenko from all FIDE-rated tournaments for three years and stripped him of his grandmaster title due to cheating. While one year of the ban is suspended, it’s conditioned on Shevchenko avoiding further misconduct. This action reflects FIDE’s strong stance against cheating, essential for maintaining fair play and the sport’s credibility. The ban, effective from October 19, 2024, to October 18, 2026, was determined by FIDE, with the title revocation effective immediately. The initial decision by the FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Commission (EDC) was made on March 15, 2025, imposing the three-year ban. The case was re-examined after Shevchenko appealed, and the FIDE Fair Play Commission cross-appealed. The cheating incident occurred at the Spanish Team Championship in October 2024. A phone discovered in a restroom triggered suspicion, leading to an investigation. This investigation resulted in Shevchenko’s disqualification from the tournament. The suspicions arose when two of his opponents, GM Francisco Vallejo Pons and GM Bassem Amin, notified the arbiters of his long absences. Despite admitting to hiding a phone, Shevchenko initially denied using it for chess assistance. However, FIDE’s report confirmed his subsequent admission of using the Lichess application on the phone, leading to the final disciplinary measures. This case is significant because it is one of the most high-profile instances of cheating in recent chess history for a player of Shevchenko’s caliber and age (22).
