– It is perhaps the best player who has ever been caught with his pants down, says news’s chess expert Kristoffer Gressli. Kirill Shevchenko, who is number 69 in the world ranking, participated in the Spanish club championship for the team Silla-Integrant Col.lectius. NRKS CHESS EXPERT: Kristoffer Gressli. Photo: Jørund Wessel Carlsen / news In a press release, the Spanish Chess Federation (Feda) states that Shevchenko has been kicked out of the tournament on suspicion of cheating. The organizer states that they have found a mobile phone in the toilet in the games room, which they connect to the grandmaster. The organizer has therefore set him to lose in the two rounds he played. – Feda is committed to combating cheating in chess, and reacts as forcefully as possible in all cases that are discovered. We deeply regret that these events have occurred, writes the Spanish Chess Federation in the press release. Not convicted of cheating news has tried to get a comment from Shevchenko about how he reacts to the accusations, but has so far not received an answer. The Romanian association has not responded to our inquiries either. Shevchenko claims his innocence, according to several media, including El Pais. The 22-year-old is only banned from the tournament itself – he has not been convicted of cheating. – The phone in the toilet! A sad case for chess. But remember; everyone is innocent until proven guilty, writes Susan Polgar, one of the greatest female chess players of all time, on X. The Romanian aroused suspicion when he was constantly away from the board. A mobile phone was found in the toilet, which the judge believed could be linked to Shevchenko, because of a handwritten note that resembled the handwriting of the Romanian chess player, writes Chess.com. – It is quite brutal. He is incredibly good, so I don’t understand why he would cheat, says Gressli, who is also a chess referee. CHESS STAR: Kirill Shevchenko represents Romania and is ranked number 69 in the world. Photo: Hennadii Minchenko / Zuma Press – Clearly a lot of evidence Gressli assumes that Shevchenko will be banned for two to four years, if convicted, based on similar incidents in the past. – What is so good is that you obviously have a lot of evidence. The mobile phone in the toilet and his behavior during the party. He spent a long time in the bathroom, and a handwritten note was found there. The case is a “slam dunk” for those who will assess it, Gressli believes. Shevchenko has played against several of the best chess players this year, including Magnus Carlsen. The Norwegian chess star emerged victorious when the two met during the Grand Chess Tour in May this year. The Spanish federation praises Shevchenko’s team, as well as the refereeing team. – We would like to thank you for the cooperation with Silla-Integrant Col.lectius, which has facilitated the investigation and resolution of this unpleasant case. We also appreciate the hard work of the judging team and the championship’s appeal committee, writes the association. news has been in contact with chief referee Oscar Bruno de Prado Rodriguez from the tournament in Spain. He does not wish to comment on the case and refers to the press release of the Spanish Chess Federation. CHESS EXPERT: Tarjei Svensen. Photo: Federico Marin – Shocking Tarjei Svensen, chess journalist at Chess.com, points out that the 22-year-old has not yet been convicted of cheating, but says that the news is causing a great stir in the chess community. – It is very shocking. He is known as a young and promising player on the way up. He has been all the way up among the top 40 in the world and has played in several of the biggest tournaments. This is very startling. And then it must be emphasized that it has not been decided. He has not been found guilty, and we do not fully know the circumstances. Published 14.10.2024, at 18.32 Updated 14.10.2024, at 18.33
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