The Appeals Chamber of the Ethics and Disciplinary Commission of FIDE has intensified the punishment for former Ukrainian chess player Kirill Shevchenko in a fraud case. His grandmaster title has been revoked.

This was reported by the FIDE press service.

The former grandmaster was born in Ukraine and chose to represent Romania shortly after the war began. He is a champion of the 2021 European Team Championship as part of the Ukrainian team.

In October 2024, Kirill was suspended from the Spanish Team Championship due to suspicions of fraud. He was accused of using a hidden phone in the restroom. In March of this year, Shevchenko's disqualification was extended until October 2026.

According to the new verdict, Shevchenko has been stripped of his grandmaster title in addition to the initial punishment.

"FIDE takes cases of fraud among leading players very seriously. We actively work on both prevention and swift, appropriate sanctions. Ensuring fair play is non-negotiable - it is the foundation of our sport's reputation and future," stated Dana Reizniece, FIDE's Deputy Chair.

Suspicions regarding the 22-year-old player arose due to his frequent trips to the restroom, where mobile phones were found twice, one containing a note in Ukrainian handwriting. Kirill initially denied all charges but later admitted his guilt.