Kirill Shevchenko has sparked #Toiletgate2 after allegedly being caught cheating with a phone at the Spanish Team Chess Championship. After the FIDE Fair Play Commission comments on the incident , FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Commission handed 75 days suspension on Kirill Shevchenko.
Now almost an year after the incident, FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Commission came with the following sanctions:
- The Grandmaster title is revoked effective from the date of publishing this decision.
- A three-year worldwide ban from all FIDE-rated events.
- One year of the ban suspended, contingent on the absence of further misconduct.
The ban runs from 19 October 2024 until 18 October 2026, with the suspended portion in effect until 18 October 2027. See the full story below
Kirill Shevchenko’s alleged phone cheating case so far
14.10.2024 Breaking: Kirill Shevchenko caught with a phone at Spanish Team Chess 2024
14.10.2024 Kramnik: The cheating case of Kirill Shevchenko is expected
14.10.2024 The team captain not sure in the innocence of Kirill Shevchenko
14.10.2024 The chess world reacts to Kirill Shevchenko’s case
14.10.2024 Second phone found at the Spanish Team Championship
15.10.2024 Romanian Chess Federation issues a statement on the case of Kirill Shevchenko
16.10.2024 Mark Crowther: the alleged cheating in Shevchenko’s case is not sophisticated in any way
17.10.2024 Paco Vallejo on Kirill Shevchenko case, “Cheaters should get 10 year ban”
17.10.2024 EMP shockwave is a solution for chess tournaments
17.10.2024 FIDE Fair Play Commission comments on the incident
08.29.2025 Final decision on Kirill Shevchenko case
Summary of the decision
The FIDE Ethics & Disciplinary Commission (EDC), in its Appeal Chamber, has issued its final decision in Case No. 06/2024: “Alleged cheating at the Spanish Team Championship”. The appeal panel, led by Chairperson Mrs. Yolander Persaud with members Mr. Khaled Arfa and Mr. Ravindra Dongre, has strengthened the earlier sanctions imposed by the First Instance Chamber (Chaired by David Hater, together with Olga Baskakova and Alan Borda). The Chamber considered both an appeal of Kirill Shevchenko and a cross-appeal of the FIDE Fair Play Commission (FPL), dissatisfied with certain findings made by the EDC First Instance Chamber and the sanction imposed.
Having considered all arguments, the Appeal Chamber has decided, by unanimity of its members, that the appeal by Kirill Shevchenko fails and the guilt is confirmed, whereas a cross-appeal of FPL succeeds and accordingly, the first-instance decision was changed as follows:
Respondent GM Kirill Shevchenko, found guilty under Article 11.7(e) of the FIDE Disciplinary Code.
Sanctions:
- A three-year worldwide ban from all FIDE-rated events.
- One year of the ban suspended, contingent on the absence of further misconduct.
- The ban runs from 19 October 2024 until 18 October 2026, with the suspended portion in effect until 18 October 2027.
- The Grandmaster title is revoked effective from the date of publishing this decision.
Dana Reizniece, Deputy Chair of the FIDE Management Board, underlined FIDE’s firm commitment to chess integrity:
“FIDE takes cheating cases among top players with the utmost seriousness. We are working hard on both prevention and swift, appropriate sanctions. Ensuring fair play is non-negotiable – it is essential to the credibility and future of our sport.”
This reflects increasing efforts across FIDE divisions – including Fair Play, Arbiters, and Ethics – to strengthen detection systems, refine preventive training, and ensure swift disciplinary response when needed.
Full decision on the Kirill Shevchenko case