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The 2024 Spanish Team Championship was marred by controversy following the disqualification of grandmaster Kirill Shevchenko, who played for Silla. After complaints from two players, the arbiter determined that Shevchenko had used a smartphone in the toilet to analyse his games. As a result, he was excluded from the competition after two rounds and his game results were annulled.
Suspicion arose when Shevchenko frequently left his seat, returning to make quick moves before leaving again. Both Francisco Vallejo and Amin Bassem reported his unusual behaviour to the arbiter. An investigation revealed that he consistently used the same toilet cubicle for extended periods. Furthermore, a mobile phone was previously found in the venue's toilets with a suspicious note, and handwriting analysis later linked it to Shevchenko. A second phone was reportedly also found in the cubicle.
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Following these findings, the Arbitration Court decided to disqualify Shevchenko and award victories to his opponents. At first, Shevchenko denied all allegations and left the club, repaying his fee.
Five months after the incident, the First Instance Chamber of the FIDE Ethics & Disciplinary Commission (EDC Chamber), following an exchange of correspondence and online meetings, has reached a unanimous decision regarding the incident.
Read more about the incident...
Francisco Vallejo and Kirill Shevchenko | Photo: Heraldo
The First Instance Chamber of the FIDE Ethics & Disciplinary Commission (EDC Chamber), following an exchange of correspondence and online meetings, has reached a unanimous decision regarding the incident involving GM Kirill Shevchenko (the Respondent):
On 26 December 2024, the FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Commission (EDC) received a report from the FIDE Fair Play Commission (FPL) titled "Report of the FPL-Investigatory Panel in the Kirill Shevchenko Case (Cheating Allegation)". The Respondent, GM Kirill Shevchenko (FIDE ID 14129574), was accused by the FIDE Fair Play Commission of cheating at the Spanish Team Championship on or around 13 October 2024.
The FPL recommended a sanction of a worldwide suspension of three years, with one year suspended, as well as the revocation of the GM title.
The Respondent was given the opportunity to respond to the allegations. On 3 February 2025, GM Shevchenko's counsel, Mr. Sabin Gherdan, submitted a response on his behalf.
GM Shevchenko admitted to hiding a phone in the toilet and using it to access Lichess but denied that he had “effectively” cheated or that his actions influenced the game. He presented several mitigating factors:
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a) He fully cooperated with the investigation.
b) He admitted wrongdoing in a timely manner.
c) He had a clean disciplinary record.
d) He was 22 years old at the time of the offense.
e) His mental state was compromised, as he had been receiving death threats.
f) He demonstrated remorse on multiple occasions.
g) The cheating attempt was not fully executed.
Furthermore, according to the findings of Prof. Regan, there were no significant statistical deviations in the player's performance during this tournament compared to his usual rating performance.
The EDC Chamber found that GM Shevchenko did, in fact, hide a phone in the toilet at the Spanish Team Championship. It further concluded that he attempted to cheat but was unable to determine, with comfortable satisfaction, that actual cheating occurred.
The EDC panel acknowledged the mitigating factors presented by the Respondent, specifically noting his cooperation with the investigation, his admission of wrongdoing, and his remorse.
As the Respondent had already been provisionally suspended and had not participated in any events since the Spanish Team Championship, the ban will commence on 19 October 2024 and terminate on 18 October 2026, with the suspended portion ending on 18 October 2027. The Respondent's GM title will not be revoked.
The EDС's decision did not satisfy FPL. "Any penalty for fair play violations should serve as a strong deterrent, reinforcing FIDE's zero-tolerance stance on cheating. This decision appears too lenient and does not fully reflect our commitment to integrity in chess. We will carefully review the matter and determine whether to file an appeal within the prescribed period", stated Andrew Howie, Chair of the FIDE Fair Play Commission.
EDC Chamber decision on Case #6/24 (PDF)
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