Kirill Shevchenko, once ranked as high as number 75 worldwide and a rising star in the game, has been banned by FIDE for three years and had his Grandmaster title revoked. The reason? He was caught hiding a phone in the bathroom during a tournament and admitted to using it to cheat. Let’s see what happened and why this is such a big deal.
The Kirill Shevchenko Incident
The incident took place in October 2024 at the Spanish Team Championship. Tournament officials found not one but two mobile phones in a private restroom near public facilities on consecutive days. One phone even had a handwritten note that read, “Do not touch! The phone is left for a guest to answer at night.” Suspicious? Absolutely. Even more suspicious were complaints from Shevchenko’s opponents, who noted his unusually long absences from the board during matches. Eventually, Shevchenko was expelled from the tournament under strong suspicion of cheating.
But it didn’t stop there. Upon further investigation, Shevchenko confessed to having used the Lichess app on the hidden phone during games, a clear-cut violation of fair play. The digital assistant on the app provides moves and analysis, giving a cheating player an unfair and illegal edge. This confession significantly shaped the course of the disciplinary process by the FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Commission (EDC).
Kirill Shevchenko’s FIDE Ban
Initially, Kirill Shevchenko was handed a three-year ban by FIDE in March 2025, serving as a strict warning for such misconduct. However, this initial ruling did not strip him of his Grandmaster title, which sparked debates about whether the punishment fit the crime. Both Shevchenko and FIDE’s Fair Play Commission filed appeals. While Shevchenko argued the punishment was too harsh and claimed he only “attempted” to cheat, the Fair Play Commission pressed for even stronger consequences. They emphasized that merely possessing a phone during a game violates FIDE rules and that such breaches threaten the very credibility of chess as a sport.
On August 29, 2025, FIDE’s Appeal Chamber delivered a unanimous verdict. Kirill Shevchenko’s appeal was rejected, the punishment was upheld, and crucially, his Grandmaster title was revoked with immediate effect. This decision places Shevchenko among the very few Grandmasters in history stripped of their title, joining infamous precedents of players caught cheating with electronic devices.
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What does this mean for Kirill Shevchenko? At only 22 years old, his career faces a bleak road ahead. His ban will last until October 2026, with a probation period stretching through 2027, contingent on no further misconduct. Even after serving his ban, the shadow of scandal and loss of his GM title will linger, likely closing doors to top-tier competitions and sponsorships. His final hope lies in appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), but with a clear confession and FIDE’s harsh stance, the odds are stacked against him.
In the end, the case of Kirill Shevchenko is a reminder that, in the 64-square battlefield, every move counts, and playing fair is not just a rule; it’s the ultimate checkmate. The excitement may be on the board, but the real game is about upholding honor and trust in chess, which remains non-negotiable.
Also read: Who Is Li Haoyu: The Chinese Chess Prodigy Who Got FIDE Ban
