Chess grandmaster Kirill Shevchenko expelled from competition for allegedly using a mobile phone during matches

A Romanian chess grandmaster was expelled from a national-level competition after being accused of using a mobile device during play. His results in the opening two rounds of the competition for his team were converted into defeats. The federation underscored its firm stance against cheating, emphasizing their regret over the incident and highlighting that this individual's actions do not reflect on the rest of his club or team.

The Romanian Chess Federation has expressed support for the grandmaster, who denies the allegations, awaiting further details and official communication on the matter. They emphasized their commitment to backing their chess players within existing regulations and promised to re-evaluate their stance should new information emerge.

The federation acknowledged the club's cooperation during the investigation and commended the refereeing team and the Appeals Committee's diligent efforts. The grandmaster, who has shifted from Ukraine to Romania in his professional chess career, obtained his grandmaster title in 2017 and achieved a top global ranking last year.